Can I work as a self-employed nanny

As a nanny, it can be confusing to understand whether you are self-employed or an employee. While the legal status depends on several factors, it is essential to understand your rights and obligations under both scenarios.

In most scenarios nannies work for one or two families on a regular basis, and the families have a significant degree of control over your work, such as setting your hours, telling you how to care for the children, and dictating where the work is done. Under these circumstances, you are likely to be considered an employee rather than self-employed.

However, there are some roles where you may have more autonomy in your work, such as setting your own schedule, choosing your own methods and location for caring for the children, and working for multiple families. In these cases, you may be able to be considered self-employed.

As a nanny, it is crucial to know your legal status, as it determines your entitlements, such as the minimum wage, pension, holiday pay, maternity/paternity/adoption pay and sick pay. If you are considered an employee, your employer is responsible for deducting taxes and National Insurance, and you are entitled to these benefits. If you are self-employed, you must handle these aspects yourself.

In conclusion, whether you are self-employed or an employee as a nanny depends on several factors, and it is essential to seek professional advice to understand your legal status accurately.

As a nanny, you must ensure that you meet all of your legal obligations and receive the entitlements that you are entitled to under the relevant status.

If you are considering working as a nanny, it is important to seek professional advice on your employment status to ensure that you are meeting all of your legal obligations. HMRC have a ‘Check Employment Status for Tax’ tool on their website which will ask you a series of anonymous questions and will determine whether you are an Employee or Self-Employed.