{"id":4712,"date":"2024-03-25T10:02:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T10:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=4712"},"modified":"2026-05-06T11:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T11:54:46","slug":"what-self-employed-actors-need-to-know-about-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/self-employment\/what-self-employed-actors-need-to-know-about-tax\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Tips for the Self-Employed Actor"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How performers can register as self-employed and what is tax deductible as an actor.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being a performer requires a lot of work \u2013 you have to learn lines, film self-tapes and go to auditions \u2013 all while juggling the rest of your life. Self-employed actors in the UK also manage their financial aspects and are responsible for tax and National Insurance contributions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting to grips with all of this can seem overwhelming at first, but there are millions of self-employed people across the UK, so don\u2019t worry. If you\u2019re self-employed or about to register as such, this guide will help you navigate the process and provide helpful tips.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is an Actor a Sole Trader?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Actors only need to register as self-employed once their income exceeds \u00a31000 in a tax year, after which they need to submit a tax return.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your turnover reaches this amount, you will need to set up as a sole trader by registering for Self Assessment with HMRC and need to register by 5 October after the end of the year you become self-employed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a sole trader, you work for yourself, meaning you can keep all the profits and are responsible for all the losses.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must also follow certain rules on running and naming your business, although most actors trade under their name.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can be employed and self-employed, meaning you can still work a PAYE job alongside acting work.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An actor\u2019s income can fluctuate throughout the year, but you need to put money aside for tax so you have enough to pay your tax return. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/a-guide-to-tax-returns-for-actors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe amount to put aside will depend on current\/expected earnings and could be anywhere between 20-50%, depending on levels of income.\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Actors Can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Register as Self-Employed or a Sole Trader<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a straightforward process and the first step is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/register-for-self-assessment\/y\/no\/yes\/self-employed-as-a-sole-trader\/yes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">registering for Self Assessment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is a system HMRC uses to collect income tax. You will need your National Insurance number and personal information, such as an address and contact details, to complete the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Unique Taxpayer Reference\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve completed the Self Assessment, you will get a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), a 10-digit number you receive in the post 10 days after registering. Keep the letter safe; you will need your UTR for your tax return.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>VAT<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a sole trader, you must <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">register for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/how-vat-works\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VAT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if your turnover is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/register-for-vat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more than the current threshold, which can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping Records and Receipts<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping accurate records throughout the year will make filing your tax return a much easier process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The information you need to keep records of according to HMRC are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All sales and income<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All business expenses<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VAT records (if you\u2019re registered for VAT)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PAYE records (if you employ people)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Records about your personal income<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your grants, if you claimed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme \u2013 check how much you were paid if you made a claim<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need to send any of these records to HMRC when you submit your tax return, but you must keep all of them for at least five years after the 1 January submission deadline of the tax year, as HMRC might request to check your records at a later date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Dates for Filing Taxes<\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><b>The Tax Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UK tax year, also known as the financial year, runs from 6 April and ends on 5 April. For example, the 2023\/2024 tax year runs from 6 April 2023 and ends on 5 April 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Tax Return Deadlines<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper tax returns need to be completed by 31 October after the end of the tax year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online tax returns need to be completed by 31 January after the end of the tax year.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your tax return is submitted after the deadline, HMRC will enforce penalties, the amount of which varies depending on how late the tax return is filed.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"tax-deductible\"><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claiming Expenses and What is Tax Deductible as an Actor?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being a performer is not cheap and essential expenses such as headshots, classes and travel quickly add up, so it\u2019s good to know that many of these are tax deductible.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clothing, makeup and props, if bought for work in theatre, film, or TV performance. You cannot claim for something you wear to an audition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travelling for research, such as train travel and petrol costs, including theatre and cinema tickets, and any books or plays used.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assets that are purely used for business purposes, such as computers, mobile phones and software like Microsoft Office. Anything that is also used personally will only be allowable on the business use element.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Household bills \u2013 if you use your home as a home office, then a percentage of certain household bills are tax deductible. More guidance on these can be provided by HMRC.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Education and accreditations\u2013 relevant to your profession, such as acting\/dance\/singing classes or a course.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Subscriptions and memberships such as Spotlight. That\u2019s right \u2013 your Spotlight membership is tax deductible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agent fees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the Tax Return Process?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two methods to file a tax return, either in paper format or online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Paper Tax Return<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A paper tax return needs to be submitted by 31 October following the end of the tax year. To submit a paper return, you call HMRC and request an SA100 form or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/self-assessment-tax-return-forms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download one from HMRC&#8217;s website<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Online Tax Return<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An online tax return has to be submitted by 31 January following the end of the tax year and you will need a Government Gateway account to do this. You will require your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number to register for an account.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can save your tax return as you go and come back to it at a later date if needed, but having all the records you need beforehand will make the process easier. Once you\u2019ve filed your tax return, HMRC will calculate what you owe based on the information you\u2019ve given.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do I Need an Accountant?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It really is personal preference as to whether you feel the need to use an accountant or not to assist with filing your tax return. Some people prefer the reassurance of using a qualified professional, others find the process straightforward, especially if you keep detailed records of your income and expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Search here for a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/app.spotlight.com\/contacts\/listing\/search?Category=Contacts%5CService+Providers%5CAccountants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">local accountant through Spotlight Contacts<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Does an Accountant Charge?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.protaxaccountant.co.uk\/post\/how-much-tax-accountants-charge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On average, a typical tax accountant in the UK charges around \u00a3250 for annual tax returns like self-assessment tax. However, the actual fee depends upon so many different factors.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also choose to go to an accountant specialising in performers. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Showbiz Accountant <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offers a flat fee of \u00a3350 for a tax return and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accounting 4 Actors <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will submit your tax return for \u00a3239 plus VAT.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bookkeeping is the general day-to-day upkeep of your financial records and some performers find doing it themselves via a spreadsheet sufficient. Others prefer using accounting software such as <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quickbooks<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoho Books,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which are affordable options to keep everything in one place, such as receipts and invoices. Setting up a business bank account is also an option, if you want to keep your performing income separate from your personal banking \u2013 but not necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The income of a performer can vary, but it\u2019s essential to get into a consistent routine of keeping accurate records and putting aside tax as soon as you get paid from a job as this will create time to focus on developing your professional career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a look at our website for more <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/?search=self-employed\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advice for self-employed actors<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">acting tips<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><em><span class=\"imgLeftSmall\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-replace hoverZoomLink\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/spotlightuk\/image\/fetch\/w_400,c_limit\/https:\/\/spotlight-cmsmedia.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/media\/3261\/sarah-ridgway-photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/spotlightuk\/image\/fetch\/w_{width},c_limit\/https:\/\/spotlight-cmsmedia.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/media\/3261\/sarah-ridgway-photo.jpg\" \/><\/span>Sarah Ridgway trained as an actor and has dabbled in stand-up comedy. Sarah is now a freelance writer, and her credits include Backstage and Actors Pro Expo; she is also passionate about empowering solo female travel.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Headshot credit: Sarah Ridgway<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How performers can register as self-employed and what is tax deductible as an actor. Being a performer requires a lot of work \u2013 you have to learn lines, film self-tapes and go to auditions \u2013 all while juggling the rest of your life. Self-employed actors in the UK also manage their financial aspects and are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":4714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[68,136,44],"class_list":["post-4712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-employment","tag-finances-legal","tag-self-employed","tag-starting-out"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tax Tips for the Self-Employed Actor | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What you need to know about paying tax as an actor, including what is tax deductible, how to register as self-employed and what sole trading is.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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