The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) is pleased to welcome new guidance from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), created to help people in our sector understand whether they’re classed as employed or self-employed for tax purposes.
The guidance is especially useful for those working under the popular ‘rent a chair’ model — where professionals pay a fee or a percentage of their earnings to use a chair or space in a salon, barbershop or clinic.
Put together with input from the NHBF and other sector groups, the guidance includes practical, easy-to-follow information about common working setups, along with real-life examples. It also explains how to use HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool to figure out someone’s tax status — whether that’s as an employee or a self-employed business owner.
There’s also a short video included, which clears up some of the confusion around employment status, tax responsibilities, VAT registration, and why having written agreements in place when renting a chair or space is so important.
Caroline Larissey, Chief Executive of the NHBF, said:
“We’re delighted to have collaborated with HMRC, along with NHBF members, on this important guidance for employment status in our sector. This partnership represents a step forward in providing the sector with clearer, more accessible information on tax obligations.
The new resources, will be valuable for salon, barbershop and clinic business owners, and professionals across our diverse sector. As with any guidance, there are naturally opportunities for continued refinement to reflect the full breadth of business models in our sector, particularly VAT exemptions for some beauty/ wellbeing treatments.
The NHBF will be actively signposting members to these helpful new resources alongside our own established guidance for hair and beauty business owners and chair/space/room renters. We look forward to our continued work with HMRC to ensure everyone in our vibrant and evolving sector has the tools they need to confidently navigate their tax responsibilities.”
Kelvin Shorte, Deputy Director, Taskforces & Specialist Compliance at HMRC, added:
“We understand the hair and beauty industry operates with various working arrangements, and it’s vital that both salon owners and professionals get their tax status right. This new guidance responds directly to requests from the industry for clearer, sector-specific information.
Whether you’re a salon owner with staff or someone who rents out chairs in your premises, this guidance will help you understand your obligations, so you can get your tax right first time.”
The NHBF will continue working with HMRC to make sure the guidance reflects the reality of how our industry works and supports everyone in meeting their responsibilities with confidence.
For more information on how to join the NHBF visit www.nhbf.co.uk
@nhbfsocial