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Do you have to register as self employed once you've published a book

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  • 21-04-2015 11:19am
    #1
    Sophia_G
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭


    Okay, so I'm not sure if here is the right place to put this, but I said I would give it a go here anyway.

    My friend is on disability allowance for a condition that means she's in and out of hospital and the doctor a lot and cannot work. Over the last year she wrote a story (novel length) and had wanted to self-publish it. So I asked on another section here if that would cause problems with her disability, if she were to self-publish and someone replied that she should publish the first one as a hobby for now and if she publishes a second one then she should consider registering as self-employed. But she (and I) always believed you have to register as self employed when you publish a book, no matter how much you earn. Is this the case?


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    #2
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    No. It's based on how much you make.

    You can earn a certain amount before declaring for tax. You'd need to be quite successful as a writer to hit that point.


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    #3
    Sophia_G
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭Sophia_G


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    No. It's based on how much you make.

    You can earn a certain amount before declaring for tax. You'd need to be quite successful as a writer to hit that point.

    Good to know. Thank you! :)


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    #4
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Actually, don't take my word for it. Maybe take a look at the citizens advice website. I'm not sure how disability benefit works.


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    #5
    Sophia_G
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭Sophia_G


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Actually, don't take my word for it. Maybe take a look at the citizens advice website. I'm not sure how disability benefit works.

    Okay. Thanks. Will pass the info on.


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    #6
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    "For 2015 and subsequent years the first €50,000 per annum of profits or gains earned by writers, composers, visual artists and sculptors from the sale of their work is exempt from income tax in Ireland in certain circumstances. For the years 2011 to 2014 the maximum amount which was exempt was €40,000."

    From here...

    http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/artists-exemption.html


    There's a truism about tax. There's only one thing worse than paying tax and that's not earning enough to have to pay tax :pac:


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    #7
    Sophia_G
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭Sophia_G


    Geniass wrote: »
    "For 2015 and subsequent years the first €50,000 per annum of profits or gains earned by writers, composers, visual artists and sculptors from the sale of their work is exempt from income tax in Ireland in certain circumstances. For the years 2011 to 2014 the maximum amount which was exempt was €40,000."

    From here...

    There's a truism about tax. There's only one thing worse than paying tax and that's not earning enough to have to pay tax :pac:

    Thanks for the link! I'll pass it on. :)


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    #8
    Trisha_H
    Registered Users Posts: 62 ✭✭Trisha_H


    This thread could definitely be helpful to me. Will have to check out that link. :)


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    #9
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    Any questions let us know.


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    #10
    EllaMae
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭EllaMae


    I'm so glad I stumbled across this because I was wondering the same thing. But I'm still a little unsure on whether you would be considered self employed or not?

    Thanks. :)


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    #11
    kaloshma
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭kaloshma


    I think it should be based on the amount of money being made as income.


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    #12
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    EllaMae wrote: »
    I'm so glad I stumbled across this because I was wondering the same thing. But I'm still a little unsure on whether you would be considered self employed or not?

    Thanks. :)

    Why the doubt? After reading the article, what makes you think you'd not be exempt.

    Journalistic income, for example, would not be exempt.


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    #13
    Sophia_G
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭Sophia_G


    Geniass wrote: »
    Any questions let us know.

    Thank you! :) Now to try and see if it affects disability payments or not.


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    #14
    Geniass
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Geniass


    Sophia_G wrote: »
    Thank you! :) Now to try and see if it affects disability payments or not.

    It could, but it would be based on self employed income which, if earned in 2015, would not be returned until near the end of 2016.

    However, I wouldn't worry about it. Very few authors would make significant money.

    If you did make money on it, after deductions, you would need to add it to other income to see if you pass any particular threshold.


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