Share fisher: Income Tax and National Insurance contributions
How Income Tax and National Insurance contributions rules work if you’re a share fisher.
You’re a share fisher if you work in the fishing industry and you:
- are not employed under a contract of service
- are a master or a crew member of a British fishing boat manned by more than one person
- get all or part of your pay by sharing the profits or gross earnings of the fishing boat
You may also count as a share fisher if you used to work on a British fishing boat, but now work ashore in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). This could be making and mending gear, or any other work for a British fishing boat.
Fishers employed under a contract of service are not share fishers.
Register as self-employed
A share fisher is classed as self-employed. You must register for Self Assessment as self-employed by the 5 October after the end of the tax year you began to be a share fisher.
Fill in a Self Assessment tax return
You must fill in a Self Assessment tax return each year so you can declare all your income from any source, for example:
- self-employment
- employment
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
You can also claim for any business expenses on your tax return.
You must keep business records to support information you put in your tax return.
Do not record any tax that has been deducted by your settling agent on your tax return.
Complete a fees and commissions — statutory notice (FAC-01) if you’re a boat owner
If you are a fishing boat owner, HMRC will send you a Schedule 23 notice at the beginning of each tax year.
In April 2024, Schedule 23 notices will be issued for the 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 tax years.
The Schedule 23 notice will tell you:
- what HMRC needs from you — this will include details of your crew of share fishers and their share of the catch, in monetary terms
- to complete a fees and commissions — statutory notice (FAC-01) and where to send it
- what you must do by law
By law, you must send HMRC your information using the fees and commission — statutory notice (FAC-01). The FAC-01 must have the information asked for in the Schedule 23 notice.
You will need to send the information by the date specified on the Schedule 23 notice.
Read more information on how to complete a return.
The share fishers in your crew need to include the details of these amounts on the self-employment supplementary page of their Self Assessment tax return.
For more information, you can contact us by:
- telephone 03000 561605
- email sharefishermennationaladminteamisbc@hmrc.gov.uk
Paying Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions
When you register as self-employed, you must make sure you also register for National Insurance.
Class 2 National Insurance
As a share fisher, you pay a special rate of Class 2 National Insurance contributions. This counts towards Jobseeker’s Allowance, as well as the normal benefits Class 2 National Insurance contributions count towards.
If your profits from self-employment are at or above the Small Profits Threshold, you do not need to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions. Your contributions are treated as having been paid when you file your tax return, to protect your National Insurance record.
If your profits are below the Small Profits Threshold, you can pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions voluntarily to help qualify for:
- State Pension
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- the normal benefits Class 2 National Insurance contributions count towards
Class 4 National Insurance
Depending on your profits from self-employment, you may also need to pay Class 4 National Insurance contributions.
You will usually pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions through Self Assessment.
Claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance between the first Sunday in January and 31 January, there might be a delay in getting your Jobseeker’s Allowance if you have not:
- already filed your tax return
- paid Class 2, if you are paying voluntarily
If you are paying Class 2 voluntarily and owe HMRC any other money, contact us first before making the payment. We will normally apply payments to your oldest debts first.
Making it easier for you to pay your next tax bill
You can set up a Budget Payment Plan if you want to make regular monthly or weekly payments towards your next Self Assessment tax bill.
Updates to this page
Last updated 6 April 2024 + show all updates
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Information about paying Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions has been updated.
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Information for boat owners who receive a Schedule 23 notice has been updated to tell you what form must be completed and when Schedule 23 notices are sent out.
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The register as self-employed section has been updated to advise you need to register by 5 October.
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Information has been added about S23 letters in the 'Fill in a Self Assessment tax return' section.
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Information has been added about Class 2 National Insurance contributions if your profits are between the Small Profits Threshold and the Lower Profits Threshold.
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A new section on 'Making it easier for you to pay your next tax bill' including details on Budget Payment Plans, and more information to help you complete a 46G Share Fishermen return if you're a boat owner have been added.
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The Class 2 National Insurance rates have been updated for 2022 to 2023.
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Rates have been updated for tax year 2021 to 2022.
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We have added guidance on how to send share fishermen returns for 2019/20.
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Rates, allowances and duties have been updated for tax year 2020 to 2021.
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Rates have been updated for the tax year 2017 to 2018.
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Rates, allowances and duties have been updated for the tax year 2016 to 2017.
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First published.