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I was a sex worker at uni

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Original post by Trinculo
If you are working for cash in unreceipted work, under an assumed name, there is a zero chance that HMRC will come looking for you.

Until I read this thread, I had no idea that a prostitute would ever pay SA tax or NI - or indeed register for VAT.


It's not zero.

You have to be fairly silly to get to the VAT threshold, unless you're going to go waaay over it. You'd either add it to your rate, probably losing some business, or effectively shag one in six men for free (to add to the ones you're already doing to cover other costs). Much better to take a break if you're getting close.
Original post by littlenorthernlass
She's already said her current boyfriend knows everything. :smile:


If he's happy knowing that, then fair enough.
Reply 182
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Napp
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As in stripper, hooker what?
Original post by unprinted
It's not zero.

You have to be fairly silly to get to the VAT threshold, unless you're going to go waaay over it. You'd either add it to your rate, probably losing some business, or effectively shag one in six men for free (to add to the ones you're already doing to cover other costs). Much better to take a break if you're getting close.


I don't know a lot about the details of the industry - but I would have thought that a full time sex worker would easily meet the VAT threshold. If she's renting a place in London and seeing two people a day at £150 an hour, that's already £75k.

But that's all nonsense. I didn't even think escorts would ever paid tax, let alone VAT.
Original post by Anonymous
Except women aren't fairground rides and he's mature enough to know we both have a past.


They're not? This is news to me
Original post by Trinculo
But that's all nonsense. I didn't even think escorts would ever paid tax, let alone VAT.


A lot don't. However, it's prudent to pay your taxes so that it never catches up with you. Also from an ethical standpoint, it wouldn't feel right to not pay tax. This is why me & my hoe friends did it.
Original post by Anonymous
A lot don't. However, it's prudent to pay your taxes so that it never catches up with you. Also from an ethical standpoint, it wouldn't feel right to not pay tax. This is why me & my hoe friends did it.


Working cash in hand, it probably wouldn't, but you are correct that there are potential ethical issues.

Though what you can legally do is set yourself up as a limited company. Call yourself "sex worker ltd" or whatever. Pay your business the several thousands of pounds and pay YOURSELF £7.5K or whatever the tax threshold is these days. You then (legally) pay no tax, and you get to claim expenses, though I guess the law sees a bit of a grey area between "escorting" and prostitution, so you could basically claim dresses I guess, food, travel, business costs etc... The downside is that the accounting can cost like £120 odd a month, but you pay a lot less in tax so it's worth it from that POV

That and I guess it isn't particularly ethical
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by The_Internet
Working cash in hand, it probably wouldn't, but you are correct that there are potential ethical issues.

Though what you can legally do is set yourself up as a limited company. Call yourself "sex worker ltd" or whatever. Pay your business the several thousands of pounds and pay YOURSELF £7.5K or whatever the tax threshold is these days. You then (legally) pay no tax, and you get to claim expenses, though I guess the law sees a bit of a grey area between "escorting" and prostitution, so you could basically claim dresses I guess, food, travel, business costs etc... The downside is that the accounting can cost like £120 odd a month, but you pay a lot less in tax so it's worth it from that POV

That's not really how it works. The only difference with being the director and sole shareholder of a limited company would be that she wouldn't pay National Insurance on dividends.The accounting wouldn't necessarily cost any more - but there would be a return at the end of the year.


Original post by Anonymous
A lot don't. However, it's prudent to pay your taxes so that it never catches up with you. Also from an ethical standpoint, it wouldn't feel right to not pay tax. This is why me & my hoe friends did it.

Still mystified as to why you paid any tax if you worked only one or two days a week.
Original post by Trinculo


Still mystified as to why you paid any tax if you worked only one or two days a week.

What's the mystery?
Original post by Anonymous
What's the mystery?


After deductions, you'd have had to profit £10,000 just to pay at 20%. and I'm assuming the deductions were considerable.

And £10k is good going if you're only working one or two days a week
Original post by Trinculo
I would have thought that a full time sex worker would easily meet the VAT threshold. If she's renting a place in London and seeing two people a day at £150 an hour, that's already £75k.

But that's all nonsense. I didn't even think escorts would ever paid tax, let alone VAT.


Not everyone does (or wants to do) two clients a day and not every woman works through her period, for example.

It's a common belief, which makes it more likely that someone who's jealous / thinks escorting is illegal / otherwise annoyed will attempt to dob you in to HMRC.

Original post by The_Internet
Though what you can legally do is set yourself up as a limited company.


Won't work: while legal, the business of prostitution is not an acceptable purpose for a company. See the Miss Whiplash case.
Original post by unprinted
Not everyone does (or wants to do) two clients a day and not every woman works through her period, for example.

It's a common belief, which makes it more likely that someone who's jealous / thinks escorting is illegal / otherwise annoyed will attempt to dob you in to HMRC.



Won't work: while legal, the business of prostitution is not an acceptable purpose for a company. See the Miss Whiplash case.


Yes I understand the prostiution thing, but "escorts" is legal isn't it? ie: "im meeting so and so and they're paying for my company hence I need a good dress"
Original post by Trinculo
After deductions, you'd have had to profit £10,000 just to pay at 20%. and I'm assuming the deductions were considerable.

And £10k is good going if you're only working one or two days a week


Hahaha. You're really concerned with the contents of my purse aren't you?
One or two days a week doesn't mean only one or two hours a week. My rates began at £150/H and soon moved to £250+ extras/tips/gifts. Few clients want a 60 minute quickie, and will infact hire you for all evening and sometimes even overnight - for which rates are extortionate :wink:
Original post by Anonymous
Hahaha. You're really concerned with the contents of my purse aren't you?
One or two days a week doesn't mean only one or two hours a week. My rates began at £150/H and soon moved to £250+ extras/tips/gifts. Few clients want a 60 minute quickie, and will infact hire you for all evening and sometimes even overnight - for which rates are extortionate :wink:


Not really. I just can't get over the irony. It's not unreasonable to say that many people might find your former work immoral. Yet you paid tax and stamps.

On the other hand, I would say that the overwhelming majority of people who work in cash-intensive activities that are not on the face of it "immoral" such as market trading, hairdressing, cafes etc, at the very least understate their tax liability dramatically.
Original post by Trinculo
Not really. I just can't get over the irony. It's not unreasonable to say that many people might find your former work immoral. Yet you paid tax and stamps.


On the other hand, I would say that the overwhelming majority of people who work in cash-intensive activities that are not on the face of it "immoral" such as market trading, hairdressing, cafes etc, at the very least understate their tax liability dramatically.


I totally get that. I personally have always taken paying tax as a responsibility. You know, it's a privilege to live in a country with good healthcare, etc. so I can't be making appointments with my NHS GP but then also not paying tax?!
Original post by Anonymous
I totally get that. I personally have always taken paying tax as a responsibility. You know, it's a privilege to live in a country with good healthcare, etc. so I can't be making appointments with my NHS GP but then also not paying tax?!


mind....blown.
I love all the people who are like "I feel so sorry for you" etc. why would you feel sorry for someone making 250 bank per hour, has a degree, comes from a middle class family with a nice father and in a loving relationship. Feel sorry for damaged kids in Syria not the OP you weirdos. She's doing pretty fine in life :lol:
Original post by 99_Problems
I love all the people who are like "I feel so sorry for you" etc. why would you feel sorry for someone making 250 bank per hour, has a degree, comes from a middle class family with a nice father and in a loving relationship. Feel sorry for damaged kids in Syria not the OP you weirdos. She's doing pretty fine in life :lol:


Hahah right? Good to see not everyone believes that a woman's soul crumbles into dust the minute she has sex without love.
Original post by The_Internet
Yes I understand the prostiution thing, but "escorts" is legal isn't it? ie: "im meeting so and so and they're paying for my company hence I need a good dress"


Prostitution is legal (and if it weren't, HMRC would still want to tax you on your profits) but it's not something a company can get involved with.

Original post by Trinculo
mind....blown.


And for free, too.

'Not everyone is like me' is a useful phrase to bear in mind.
Original post by unprinted
Prostitution is legal (and if it weren't, HMRC would still want to tax you on your profits) but it's not something a company can get involved with.



And for free, too.

'Not everyone is like me' is a useful phrase to bear in mind.


I see. Fair nuffs then :smile:

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