{"id":6442,"date":"2024-08-09T13:43:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T13:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=6442"},"modified":"2025-06-02T16:26:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T16:26:24","slug":"getting-started-as-a-freelancer-in-uk-acting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/self-employment\/getting-started-as-a-freelancer-in-uk-acting\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Yourself Up as a Freelancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When actors need to register as sole traders, how they calculate tax and how taking on additional work affects this.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a self-employed actor, whether you have an agent or not, you\u2019re a freelancer. In most cases, for the purposes of HMRC, your legal status is \u2018sole trader\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These terms might appear daunting at first, but you don&#8217;t need to worry about them. It\u2019s simpler than you might think to become a freelancer in the UK \u2013 including setting yourself up, calculating taxes and managing your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>When Do I Need to Set Up as a Freelancer?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMRC recommends registering as a sole trader as soon as possible. Legally, you must register once you earn \u00a31000 from self-employed work in a tax year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest you can sign up is 5 October in your second year. If you haven\u2019t registered by then, you could face a fine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally speaking, it\u2019s advisable to set yourself up as soon as you graduate or decide you want a career in acting or performing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>How Do I Start Myself as a Freelancer?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that this process is simple and free.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just go to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/become-sole-trader\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMRC website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and choose \u2018Set up as a sole trader\u2019 (or you can apply by post if you prefer). Remember \u2013 you won\u2019t find an option to set up as a freelancer as that\u2019s not a recognised business structure for HMRC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When registering, you\u2019ll need to provide the following information:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Name (it\u2019s recommended that performers also use their name as their business name)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Address<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Insurance Number<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date of Birth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freelancer start date (use the date you\u2019re registering unless you\u2019ve already started working)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact details<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, you\u2019ll receive your UTR number and activation code by post within 10 days of registering. Once you receive them, activate your account, and you\u2019re officially ready to start your freelance career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no need to register with Companies House \u2013 you don\u2019t have to worry about VAT (unless your taxable turnover is expected to be more than \u00a390,000) and you won\u2019t need a lawyer or accountant at this stage. You can, of course, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/register-for-vat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">register for VAT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> voluntarily if you wish.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>How do I Calculate Tax as a Freelancer?<\/h3>\n<h4><b>Profits and Expenses<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll only pay tax on your profits, which is calculated by subtracting any eligible expenses from what you earn. These must be costs specifically related to your work, such as job-specific clothing or travel. Agent fees, your Spotlight membership and expenses associated with role research are also deductible. So, if you need to go to the theatre or buy a DVD to nail your next role, this may be an eligible cost!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things like phones, which you also use personally, are not tax deductible. While travel costs are allowed, if you land a long-term role in one location, this is likely to be classed as a commute and is no longer tax deductible. Likewise, you can\u2019t claim for food and drink purchased on the go as these are standard daily expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chances are you\u2019ll do admin, learning lines and role research from home. If you work more than 25 hours a week from home, you can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/simplified-expenses-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMRC&#8217;s simplified expenses table<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0rather than spending time and effort trying to calculate the proportion of personal professional use of your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re unsure about whether you can claim for a specific expense, it\u2019s best to call HMRC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Keeping Track of Your Income and Spending<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accurate accounts are essential, but you won\u2019t be responsible for working out how much tax you owe. All you\u2019ll need to do is keep a record of your income and expenses for the tax year. You can do this with pen and paper, a spreadsheet or using third-party bookkeeping software. The most important thing is that you keep all invoices, receipts, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most freelancers open a new bank account for their business income and expenses to avoid confusion with personal spending.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Tax Bands and Your Personal Allowance<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s advisable to make yourself aware of your tax obligations. At the time of writing (August 2024) the personal tax allowance in the UK is \u00a312,570. That means you won\u2019t pay any tax on your profits up to that amount.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll pay 20% tax on any profits between \u00a312,571 and \u00a350,270 and 40% on \u00a350, 271-\u00a3125,140. If and when you start to earn more than that amount, taxes can become more complicated and it\u2019s worth hiring an accountant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your National Insurance (NI) class will depend on the amount you earn in a year. If your profits are below \u00a36,725, you don\u2019t need to make Class 2 contributions. However, you can make voluntary contributions. This is recommended to make sure you keep up to date with your annual contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your profits are between \u00a312,570-\u00a350,270 per year, you\u2019ll pay Class 4 contributions of 6%. Profits in excess of \u00a350,270 will be subject to Class 4 contributions of 2%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your personal tax allowance and the tax bands may change from tax year to tax year, so keep an eye on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/income-tax-rates#:~:text=Your%20tax%2Dfree%20Personal%20Allowance,income%20is%20over%20%C2%A3100%2C000.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HMRC website for up-to-date rates and amounts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Submitting Your Tax Return<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. After the end of the tax year, you\u2019ll need to submit your self-assessment tax return by the end of January the following year. However, as a sole trader, your accounts should be relatively simple and it\u2019s advisable to submit your return as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can submit your financial information online and as soon as you complete your return, HMRC will calculate how much you owe in tax and National Insurance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>When Will I Need to Pay my Tax Bill?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like any other sole trader, you\u2019ll need to pay your tax bill by 31 January the following year. So, if you set yourself up as a freelancer in April 2024, you\u2019ll submit your first self-assessment tax return after 6 April 2025 and must pay your tax bill by 31 January 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also be required to pay a \u2018payment on account\u2019 in July 2026. This will be the first 50% of your anticipated tax bill for 2025\/26 and is designed to save you from having to pay your entire bill in one hit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t worry too much if this seems a bit of a stretch. HMRC call centre staff are very helpful and you can always call them for advice or support in managing your tax account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to make sure you stay on top of your taxes is to set up a savings account and put 26% of all your earnings into it whenever you get paid.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>If I\u2019m a Freelance Actor, Can I Take on Other Work?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. There\u2019s nothing to stop you from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/finding-a-side-job-as-an-actor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">taking on other work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 often, when you\u2019re starting as an actor or performer, this is essential. If you\u2019re employed in a PAYE role alongside your acting work, you\u2019ll need to inform HMRC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bear in mind that you can only have one personal tax allowance (the \u00a312,570 you can earn before paying tax). You can apply this to just one job or split it between them. In either case, when your total profit or earnings for the tax year goes above \u00a312,570, you\u2019ll be liable for tax.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a PAYE position, tax is typically deducted from every pay packet. If you end up paying too much tax in any year, you\u2019ll usually get a rebate shortly after 6 April, after you have filed your tax return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the benefits of being a sole trader is that there are no restrictions on how you earn money. You can get a job in the gig economy, use your performance skills (singing, coaching, etc.) or take on any other freelance work without having to inform HMRC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lots of graduate performers do other types of freelance or gig economy work that allow flexibility to attend auditions and can help top up income when they land their first acting\/performing roles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, you\u2019ll need to make sure your accounts remain accurate and you can account for all income and expenses. When it comes to submitting your tax return, you\u2019ll only need to submit the overall figures for income, expenses and profit. But anybody can be asked to provide evidence of this, so you\u2019ll need to keep the information to hand. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use an accountant, they will need to see this evidence in order to accurately calculate the tax owed. By law, you must be able to provide accounts for the past five years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Sick Pay and Pension Contributions<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a freelance performer, you won\u2019t have benefits such as sick pay or pension contributions. It\u2019s also important to remember there is no statutory sick pay for self-employed people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might not want to think about it, but if you were to pick up an injury that prevented you from performing, how would you make money? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/spotlight-launches-extra-cover-pack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-employed income protection insurance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you avoid falling into financial difficulty if injury or illness strikes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likewise, retirement might seem like a long way off right now. But the earlier you start saving for retirement, the more comfortable it\u2019s likely to be. Many pension companies allow freelancers to take out a flexible plan with a minimum monthly contribution of around \u00a325. Top-up payments are allowed so that you can put in more in the months you do well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>How Can I Freelance with No Experience?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important thing to remember when starting out is that \u2018freelance\u2019 is just a term to describe your self-employed status. Your expertise and experience come from your acting training and previous work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By following the steps outlined in this guide, you\u2019ll tick all the administrative aspects of freelancing. Then it\u2019s down to your talent and determination to make your career a success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be realistic with your expectations and sensible with your money. Calculate the minimum amount you need to earn each month and make sure you have a plan in place for when acting work is scarce, but take care of yourself as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There will be quiet times when you have less work coming in. During these times, gig economy roles can be really useful, but it\u2019s also important to make sure you allow yourself to take a break.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acting can be full-on and when you\u2019re in work, you won\u2019t always have time to fully enjoy your downtime. So, when you do get some, embrace it and give yourself some time to breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help. If you have any questions about freelance work, go online or speak to other actors for advice. Often, there are simple answers to your questions that will not only help you make the most of freelancing but will also take away some of the stress associated with self-employed work.\u00a0<\/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\/?category=Self-Employment\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tips and advice for self-employment<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You may also find our podcast episode about <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-spotlight-podcast\/tips-for-self-represented-actors-on-spotlight\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to use Spotlight as a self-represented performer<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interesting.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When actors need to register as sole traders, how they calculate tax and how taking on additional work affects this.\u00a0 As a self-employed actor, whether you have an agent or not, you\u2019re a freelancer. In most cases, for the purposes of HMRC, your legal status is \u2018sole trader\u2019.\u00a0 These terms might appear daunting at first, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":6444,"comment_status":"closed","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-6442","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>How to Set Yourself Up as a Freelancer | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Everything actors need to know about setting themself up as a freelancer, paying tax, sick pay, and taking on extra work.\" \/>\n<meta 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