Questions and Answers
Jury Service for the Self-employed
I am a sole trader and have been called for jury service. This will last for approximately 2 weeks and therefore I have had to cancel all of my appointments for this period. Do I have any entitlement to claim for the loss of my earnings during my 2 week period of jury service?
As a self-employed individual, if you are called up for jury service you are entitled to claim a daily allowance for loss of earnings over the period of service. The rate at which you can claim is dependant on the number of hours and period you act as a juror. In addition, you can also claim a daily allowance for subsistence and travel costs incurred.
When making a claim for loss of earnings you will need to provide the court with some supportive evidence and you may need consult your accountant on this. Details of the rates payable can be obtained from the Crown Court where you have been asked to attend, or on the website at www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk.
Any payments you receive from the court to compensate you for financial loss will be treated as taxable receipts of the business. Any payments made to you in respect of personal expenditure you incur, such as a daily subsistence allowance and travel costs, will not taxable. You local TaxAssist Accountant can provide more information and assistance.
Date published 5 Dec 2012
This article is intended to inform rather than advise and is based on legislation and practice at the time. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this article, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.Choose the right accounting firm for you
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