Self Employed in the UK BUT working for US companys

I have done the research and below is a link to read up on it.

http://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/uk.html

I wrote the HMRC to request the certifiate on continuing liability (which means I wont pay self employment tax or medi/ss to the US)

HMRC sent back a very nice letter stating: Once you are registered as self employed in the UK and taken on work in the UK for at least 4 months send back the application for certificate.

Name of Application: Application for Certificate of Continuing Liability for Reciprocal Agreement countries

Now to wait till August to send all this in but at least I got a response and a good starting point.  I foudn this by searching and our friend who is an accountant wasn't sure as its hard to find a UK/US person in such a small village.

Just thought I would post this as genreal knowledge and MY experience.

Thanks for this, JennBean, there are some really helpful links on the HMRC website!

I noticed that form asks for a NIN - have you already applied for that? Or are you waiting until closer to the time to register your business?

I already have my NIN and I am already registered..Now I jsut pay the National Insurance for 4 months and submit my form for the certificate.

Most people meeting the UK definition of self-employed (ie those who are not instead employed) register as self-employed by telephone these days:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/iwtregister-as-self-employed.htm

I did all mine online - easy breezy

Well done!

All you have to do now is choose an accounting period and understand opening year rules such as overlap relief as well as US rules on scaling down expenses and you'll be a true international expert!

oh yeah tax season will stink! Thank god I know a UK accountant ;-)