Income Tax question

crinno

I am living in Northern Ireland but work freelance. I have payed taxes in the south for the past 8 months but have been living in the north for 12 months. I have never claimed social welfare in the north or south.

My question is this...I am applying for a grant to return to study but the condition is that i have been living in the north for 12 months (perfect i have been) and that you have been employed the last 12 months (i've been self employed the last 8mnths) .If i tell a wee white lie that i have been freelancing for 12 months instead of 8 have they any right to ask for my tax record? I'm not one to bend the rules and don't condone it but I have towed the line going out on my own instead of claiming and feel somewhat justified given my limited choices in this economic climate.

thanks for any advice you can offer.

srsly78

Why are you paying taxes in a country you are not tax resident in? Does HMRC not have a problem with this? Do you realise you would probably pay less tax in the north anyway?

Ask your accountant to sort it out.

crinno

thanks srsly78. I wasn't sure how long I would live in the North and predicted moving to the south and hence payed tax in the south. The projects were across the border anyway and I was being paid in euro so seemed easier to do the books that way.