HMRC support for self employed.

[Alex115]

I can't find information on this anywhere so please only post replies if you are sure of how this will be applied, not only your thoughts.

I consider myself self employed , have for the last 3 years filed a tax return with most of my earnings being from guests from staying at my own home.

I have worked in other jobs but always earned less than my airbnb hosting and often my hours with airbnb has been the same as full time work hours.

This past year I paid a considerable amount to HMRC due to airbnb earnings. And needed a loan to pay.

However my accountant implied that as airbnb is classed as land & property I would not be able to receive any grant as part of the self employed scheme in UK due to covid 19.(announced 26th March)

Does anyone else have any information as to how airbnb hosts will be considered , since I am sure many of us rely solely on this as our main source of income and will be put into a very bad situation through this failed season.

[Helen3]

If you were self-employed you would have paid NI self-employed contributions. Did you @Alex115 ?

Your accountant is right I believe rental income does not equal being self-employed.

If you have no other income outside of Airbnb I would suggest you apply for universal credit/mortgage break/apply for one of the short term jobs that have come up at supermarkets/delivery drivers/NHS.

I was a little concerned to see that you have been taking booking from guests escaping London because of the corona virus, when the government and NHS has made it clear that that we should only accept bookings from LOCAL KEY WORKERS and that travel is one of the key ways in which the virus is spread.

[Alex115]

Thanks for your reply and self righteous certainty. Even my accountant was not as sure on the absolute details as you. I will permanently shut up shop and get a job at tescos.

To answer your snipe, that guest I received  was long ago way before the lockdown although the review appeared more recently as they usually do on airbnb.  Besides surely that is for airbnb to decide.

Additionally i was aware of the coronovirus , it's impact and preparations for health matters as I had lived through it in China for a job I now can't return to. So please save your sanctimonious advice for your immediate family. Glad to see the understanding sympathetic nature on these forums in full swing and not full of Mr/Mrs know it all's as I expected it to be.

[Huma0]

@Alex115  I am self employed (as an editor) as well as an Airbnb host. On my tax return, these are listed separately, i.e. the Airbnb income is from property and the other income is self-employment. So, I think your accountant is right. Airbnb income does not count as self-employment. 

[Alex115]

Assuming your income primarily comes from your work as a editor. Do you think that if the majority of a hosts income and considerable amount of tax comes primarily from airbnb that they will take this into account or the tax return could be resubmitted ?(rather than using the 7500 a room relief ) thanks for your understanding and reply