Anyone thought of doing Deliveroo?

Or Uber Eats, or Just Eat...

Over the summer evenings, as a way to earn some extra for bicycle treats and/or holidays... problem is it will be taxed on top of my salary, so it will end up in the 40% band, which seems hardly worth it, when you maybe get £ 10 an hour on a good day... that would become £ 6 after tax...

Of course, I could register my wife for it, as she currently has no income and gets no help from the state (one of those 2 million self employed... ), and then do the deliveries myself... that would become tax free

Thoughts?
left the forum March 2023
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Comments

  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965
    If you want to do tax fraud with your wife then crack on.
  • john80 said:

    If you want to do tax fraud with your wife then crack on.

    That's my point... is it tax fraud?
    left the forum March 2023
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Well yes. Of course it is.

    You are doing the work and getting paid for it and you are telling the tax man she is getting paid for it. And your employer will have you on their pay roll and be declaring on employee returns that you are working for them.

    And you've just said what you're going to do on an open forum.

    Have you been hanging out with Richard Chasey?

    #seriouslyseriouslyseriously?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,172
    edited January 2021
    OK,

    The employer would have her on the payroll, but I would actually do the deliveries...

    If that's illegal, then it's a non starter...

    I just thought it was the same as those people putting their partner in charge of their second business, although they have no real involvement in it... and that seems to be endorsed by accountants

    left the forum March 2023
  • ... could still do it and pay all my tax on it... one has just to see whether it makes sense to work 3 hours and bring home a tenner...

    Is there any upfront investment? Do they supply you with the bag and stuff free of charge?
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,594

    ... could still do it and pay all my tax on it... one has just to see whether it makes sense to work 3 hours and bring home a tenner...

    Is there any upfront investment? Do they supply you with the bag and stuff free of charge?

    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    As for Deliveroo, I gather they give you a bag and access to an app. That's it.
    You do all the work and have to use your own bike. You'd have to be desperate, or looking for pocket money while doing interval training.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,121
    There's a few videos on YouTube where people have tried it.
    For me, the attraction of Deliveroo was that it was done by bike but around here it seems to be mostly motorbikes and cars doing it. I thought about doing it just for fun and for the exercise but couldn't see how I'd manage to keep anyone's pizza toppings on the pizza by the time it arrived.

    Wouldn't it be better for you to sign up for it in your name and then make your wife do the deliveries? It's still tax fraud but she can do all the work and you can get the money ;)
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 20,510
    edited January 2021
    Obvious solution is that your wife delivers Deliveroo while you go out for a bike ride. That way you get the full income and exercise.
  • pblakeney said:



    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    .

    Fair enough... won't do that then...

    Shame the tax free allowance is not combined for the household. It would make more sense. Everything else seems to be, for instance she has no right to claim any benefit, in view of the combined household salary, but yet we only get half of the possible tax allowance...

    Oh well...

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney said:

    ... could still do it and pay all my tax on it... one has just to see whether it makes sense to work 3 hours and bring home a tenner...

    Is there any upfront investment? Do they supply you with the bag and stuff free of charge?

    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    As for Deliveroo, I gather they give you a bag and access to an app. That's it.
    You do all the work and have to use your own bike. You'd have to be desperate, or looking for pocket money while doing interval training.
    Your wife could sign up then subcontract the work to you, which you do for free, ahem...
    This is very similar to how most self employed business owners operate. Even MPs employ their wives on the staff payroll but they do bugger all.
  • Don't forget, if you are doing it fraudulently you won't be insured and any other insured driver won't pay up either. You could be on the hook for serious money.
    If you ern less than 1000 pounds it might be taxed at flat 20%, same as if you do external examining at another uni.
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,121

    Obvious solution is that your wife delivers Deliveroo while you go out for a bike ride. That we you get the full income and exercise.

    This is even better than my suggestion
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,172
    edited January 2021


    If you ern less than 1000 pounds it might be taxed at flat 20%, same as if you do external examining at another uni.

    So not on top of my current earning? That makes it much more interesting... 20% I can live with

    I've always managed to avoid external examining... stealth, I am... :D

    I didn't know Deliveroo came with an insurance... that's very posh for the zero hour economy

    left the forum March 2023
  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    thistle_ said:

    There's a few videos on YouTube where people have tried it.
    For me, the attraction of Deliveroo was that it was done by bike but around here it seems to be mostly motorbikes and cars doing it. I thought about doing it just for fun and for the exercise but couldn't see how I'd manage to keep anyone's pizza toppings on the pizza by the time it arrived.

    Wouldn't it be better for you to sign up for it in your name and then make your wife do the deliveries? It's still tax fraud but she can do all the work and you can get the money ;)

    That's my observation as well.
    Apart from in Central London it's quicker to deliver by car/motorbike/modified e bike and people want their hot food to still be hot when it arrives.

    i imagine the central London work has dried up anyway given that no one is at the office now ordering a fancy lunch.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,594

    pblakeney said:

    ... could still do it and pay all my tax on it... one has just to see whether it makes sense to work 3 hours and bring home a tenner...

    Is there any upfront investment? Do they supply you with the bag and stuff free of charge?

    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    As for Deliveroo, I gather they give you a bag and access to an app. That's it.
    You do all the work and have to use your own bike. You'd have to be desperate, or looking for pocket money while doing interval training.
    Your wife could sign up then subcontract the work to you, which you do for free, ahem...
    This is very similar to how most self employed business owners operate. Even MPs employ their wives on the staff payroll but they do censored all.
    Bit of a hassle setting up a company, doing books etc, etc for a tenner a day. 😉
    PS - There may be a cut-off but I thought if your wife isn't earning then you can claim an extra tax allowance, but you're probably doing that already. Right?
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 14,498

    pblakeney said:



    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    .

    Fair enough... won't do that then...

    Shame the tax free allowance is not combined for the household. It would make more sense. Everything else seems to be, for instance she has no right to claim any benefit, in view of the combined household salary, but yet we only get half of the possible tax allowance...

    Oh well...

    https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance

    Not tax avoidance. 120 hours is quite a lot on top of another job.
  • pblakeney said:


    PS - There may be a cut-off but I thought if your wife isn't earning then you can claim an extra tax allowance, but you're probably doing that already. Right?

    I am not aware of being eligible for any extra tax allowance... one of the downsides of being employed and therefore not having an accountant, I guess...

    In 20 years, I have never had any direct dealing with HMRC, believe it or not... payroll sorts everything and I have no idea if I am due anything back

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney said:



    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    .

    Fair enough... won't do that then...

    Shame the tax free allowance is not combined for the household. It would make more sense. Everything else seems to be, for instance she has no right to claim any benefit, in view of the combined household salary, but yet we only get half of the possible tax allowance...

    Oh well...

    https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance

    Not tax avoidance. 120 hours is quite a lot on top of another job.
    Not eligible for marriage allowance, just over 50K...
    left the forum March 2023
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 58,161

    pblakeney said:


    PS - There may be a cut-off but I thought if your wife isn't earning then you can claim an extra tax allowance, but you're probably doing that already. Right?

    I am not aware of being eligible for any extra tax allowance... one of the downsides of being employed and therefore not having an accountant, I guess...

    In 20 years, I have never had any direct dealing with HMRC, believe it or not... payroll sorts everything and I have no idea if I am due anything back

    Doesn't work for you as you have said you are higher rate taxpayer. It only applies to couples where one earns less than the tax free allowance and the other one is a basic rate taxpayer.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 14,498

    pblakeney said:



    Using your wife's allowance is not even tax avoidance, it is tax evasion. Not advised.
    .

    Fair enough... won't do that then...

    Shame the tax free allowance is not combined for the household. It would make more sense. Everything else seems to be, for instance she has no right to claim any benefit, in view of the combined household salary, but yet we only get half of the possible tax allowance...

    Oh well...

    https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance

    Not tax avoidance. 120 hours is quite a lot on top of another job.
    Not eligible for marriage allowance, just over 50K...
    Honestly, at that salary level you are better off just riding your bike for fun. Or marking exams a few evenings while watching telly.
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 58,161
    I was going to ask if he was really so hard up that he needed to moonlight as a delivery rider.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,216
    Could you use it to write off the cost of bike parts against tax though?
  • There never seems to be money to go on holiday... of course we could use credit cards, like people do, but I really don't want to get into debt...
    left the forum March 2023
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Do you have a crack habit or something as according to what you write. You don’t drink, socialise, eat out, go to the theatre, go on holiday, spend money on clothes or spend money on bikes.
  • webboo said:

    Do you have a crack habit or something as according to what you write. You don’t drink, socialise, eat out, go to the theatre, go on holiday, spend money on clothes or spend money on bikes.

    I know...

    We spend a lot more than average on food... about 20% of my salary goes in food, the average in the UK is 10%... that's the problem with eating mostly organic.

    I do spend a bit of money on bikes... tyres, clothes, spares, the odd upgrade...

    The rest is mortgage, bills and overpayments on the mortgage

    Anyway, back to delivering junkfood to the masses...
    left the forum March 2023
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Over paying your mortgage is fine but not if it stops you living. Given the current situation it might be more about living for today.
  • webboo said:

    Over paying your mortgage is fine but not if it stops you living. Given the current situation it might be more about living for today.

    Maybe...
    If I don't do anything, I'll be paying until the age of 69... I'd like to bring it down to 60
    left the forum March 2023
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 14,498

    webboo said:

    Over paying your mortgage is fine but not if it stops you living. Given the current situation it might be more about living for today.

    Maybe...
    If I don't do anything, I'll be paying until the age of 69... I'd like to bring it down to 60
    Any elderly relatives?
  • webboo said:

    Over paying your mortgage is fine but not if it stops you living. Given the current situation it might be more about living for today.

    Maybe...
    If I don't do anything, I'll be paying until the age of 69... I'd like to bring it down to 60
    assuming you are paying a couple of % interest why not put the overpayments into a tracker fund in an ISA and let it grow at circa 7%

    Vanguard are virtually free and you can chose products that dynamically de-risk as you get closer to your goal
  • john80
    john80 Posts: 2,965

    OK,

    The employer would have her on the payroll, but I would actually do the deliveries...

    If that's illegal, then it's a non starter...

    I just thought it was the same as those people putting their partner in charge of their second business, although they have no real involvement in it... and that seems to be endorsed by accountants

    This would not be defendable in court as in this scenario they would look at the actual relationship and what each party did.