clients from outside your tax country

[czerwony]

I was asked to do a job for a client who is from outside the country I work in (I'm based in the UK). As all previous clients been UK based. I'm not quite sure how to put that job (if I take it) in my tax return. Can self-employed work with clients not based in the UK? How to invoice that?

Sorry if this question sounds silly but I'm not a tax expert.

[Mike]

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask this question to a tax expert in the country you live in?

[creativeretouch]

I think this should be OK. If you are self-employed in the UK you will prepare usual invoice. You can pass Inland Revenue - they should be able to give you an advice.

[czerwony]

Originally Posted by Mike

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask this question to a tax expert in the country you live in?

It probably would but as the business is very slow at the moment and I dont have a budget to see a "tax expert", I was hoping to get some advice here, from fellow retouchers.

creativeretouch thanks and will try them as well.

[Mike]

Does that mean that you have to pay to talk to the government tax collector?

I always start with the government people, then if I feel that I need to bring in a person that I have to pay, I have some idea of what to ask and/or what they are telling me. We are blessed with tax laws that are so complex that no one knows what they mean and even the advice from the government is not binding when being considered by another government office.

[czerwony]

So spoke to some people and got some advices. Though I'd put it here...

When you do retouch for clients from outside the UK you just invoice them as normal. The job goes like any other UK job to your tax books. If you VAT registered you dont add this tax.

[ftp-Jeff]

Don't talk to the inland revenue unless you really have to! Yes just treat it as a UK client. You cannot charge them VAT.

I have always employed a big accounts company in the west end. Yes they charge a fortune, But they are so knowledgeable, they save me more. They know the tax laws better than the Inland Revenue!

[Cathy Duncan]

I also keep same thoughts as ftp-Jeff do, because big accounts company is of more use these days than the other forms.

[creativeretouch]

Everything is on the internet today. You need to take your time to find the right part of law and you need to learn how to talk to IR or similar institution. But I agree. If you have spare money is better to hire professionals ...