How to become your own boss

A cautionary tale from the BBC – freelancers should make sure their tax affairs are in order, says Ruth Jackson.

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Kirsty Lang: let's face tax
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As growing numbers of us go freelance, there are also more and more stories in the press of people falling foul of the taxman. For example, more than 100 BBC staff now face huge tax bills after years of working for the corporation as freelance contractors rather than direct employees.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.