I am currently self employed, spanish but live in the UK / resident here and make my income from my etsy store, my store is relatively new (only made enough money last year to be taxed) and so i’m not too good at this tax stuff. I’ll be studying in Tokyo for 1 year in language school and might extend it another year if i feel it’s necessary.
I know about only being able to work up to 28 hours a week on the student visa, but my store runs itself passively. (I sell digital documents which automatically get sent to customers on purchase.) I’m just confused as to whether i will have to pay tax once in japan and to the UK. To make extra money whilst in japan to support my studies, i was also considering getting a part time job if i could, (since i’m self employed there is no consistency in my payments and whilst some months are high others can be really low.)
Does anyone know if it’s okay for my store to remain open, whilst i also get a part time job or if the UK and japan have a tax treaty? i’ve tried to look this stuff up, but my situation is a bit specific since it’s kind of like freelancing but not really and i’m not too sure who i have to contact.
Thanks in advance, would appreciate any advice on this sort of topic!
1 comment
>Does anyone know if it’s okay for my store to remain open
Yes, as long as you don’t spend more than 28 hours maintaining it. I know you said it runs itself passively, but I’m sure you spend ***some*** time working on it. Even logging in to check how much you’ve sold in a given week counts as “working on it”.
>whilst i also get a part time job
As long as your total hours don’t exceed 28 it’s fine.
>if the UK and japan have a tax treaty?
That you’ll have to consult an accountant about. By “working” on your store from Japan and then (I’m assuming) transferring the money to Japan to use you’ll be making yourself liable for Japanese income taxes.
Again: Consult an accountant. Or two, one in Japan and one in the UK. It’s going to cost some money, but you *really* don’t want to run afoul of immigration on the working hours, or the National Tax Agency on your taxes.