![]() | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (September 2023) |
Self-employment is the state of working for oneself rather than an employer. Tax authorities will generally view a person as self-employed if the person chooses to be recognised as such or if the person is generating income for which a tax return needs to be filed. In the real world, the critical issue for tax authorities is not whether a person is engaged in business activity (called trading even when referring to the provision of a service) but whether the activity is profitable and therefore potentially taxable. In other words, the trading is likely to be ignored if there is no profit, so occasional and hobby- or enthusiast-based economic activity is generally ignored by tax authorities. Self-employed people are usually classified as a sole proprietor (or sole trader), independent contractor, or as a member of a partnership.
Self-employed people generally find their own work rather than being provided with work by an employer and instead earn income from a profession, a trade, or a business that they operate. In some countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the authorities are placing more emphasis on clarifying whether an individual is self-employed or engaged in disguised employment, in other words pretending to be in a contractual intra-business relationship to hide what is in fact an employer-employee relationship.
Country | Rate (%) |
---|---|
![]() |
53.1 |
![]() |
33.3 |
![]() |
31.8 |
![]() |
31.8 |
![]() |
30.2 |
![]() |
26.6 |
![]() |
24.6 |
![]() |
23 |
![]() |
21.8 |
![]() |
19.7 |
![]() |
19.7 |
![]() |
15.9 |
![]() |
15.8 |
![]() |
15.8 |
![]() |
15.5 |
![]() |
15.3 |
![]() |
14.6 |
![]() |
14.1 |
![]() |
14.1 |
![]() |
14 |
![]() |
13 |
![]() |
12.4 |
![]() |
12.6 |
![]() |
12.5 |
![]() |
11.9 |
![]() |
11.6 |
![]() |
10.6 |
![]() |
10.2 |
![]() |
9.8 |
![]() |
9.5 |
![]() |
8.8 |
![]() |
8.8 |
![]() |
7.7 |
![]() |
6.8 |
![]() |
6.3 |
![]() |
4.7 |