Most performers have both employed and self-employed income. The important bit is knowing which type your earning. Learn how to record and track correctly.
EMPLOYED (PAYE)
Tax deducted automatically. Pay-As-You-Earn. You get a payslip each month.
SELF-EMPLOYED
You're responsible for taxes. You invoice clients. Freelance gigs, private events.
gee thanks, PAYE
Employed Income
With employed income, your employer takes on a few responsibilities for you — like deducting tax from your pay and giving it to HMRC on your behalf. This is the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system. Some of that tax may come back to you when you file your tax return — that "money back" is called a tax rebate. More of these please!
Your payslip, decoded
Each employer should give you a payslip for every month you work: your gross income (before anything's taken off), your net pay (what's left) and a breakdown of deductions — income tax, pension, National Insurance. It also shows which tax year the income lands in. Hang on to them until you've submitted your tax return!
Check you're being paid
Keep a clear record of what you're expecting to be paid each month. We've had one too many bad experiences with employers not paying correctly — some not paying at all! Do yourself a favour: make sure you're getting everything you're owed.
P60s and P45s. For each tax year, every employer must give you a P45 (if you leave their employment) or a P60 (if you're still employed on April 5th) — a full summary of your income from them that year plus the income tax and National Insurance deducted. Check it agrees with your records, then it goes straight into your tax return.
your show, your admin
Self-Employed Income
Unlike employed work, you're entirely responsible for your own tax — and there are two ways to record when income counts: cash basis and accruals.
when the money lands
Cash Basis
Record income when you're paid — not when you work or invoice. Worked 20th March but paid 10th April? It counts in next year's tax return, because you were paid after April 6th.
when the work happens
Accruals
Record income when you earn it — the date you do the work or invoice, even if the money arrives later. That same 20th March job counts in this year's tax return.
Which should you pick? Honestly, it doesn't matter — both are perfectly fine with HMRC. What matters is that once you choose one, you stick with it — chopping and changing between years is where the drama starts. You can do either in the SansDrama App; the default is accruals for invoice generation accuracy. Update the income to the date you're paid after invoice generation for accruals.
Agree terms up front
Make sure you (or you and your agent) agree terms before you perform the work. It avoids any unpleasant surprises when it comes to getting paid — we've had a few!
Record, record, record
Keep everything in as much order as you can: the employer, the amount you're owed, any expenses agreed (like travel), the dates worked — and the date you're actually paid (for cash-basis purposes).
Invoicing — this is how we get paid! Invoice immediately after the work (unless your agent does it for you), include all the details above plus your bank details, and a line like "I am responsible for my own tax implications". Full walkthrough in our Invoicing guide.
Earned under £1,000? You don't need to register or report. The trading allowance means if your total self-employed income for the tax year is £1,000 or less (before expenses), you don't need to register as self-employed, tell HMRC or file a tax return for it. Still keep records though — you'll want proof if you're ever asked, and to know when you tip over the £1,000.
the safety net situation
Protections & Perks
It's not just about who sorts the tax. Being employed comes with a bundle of legal protections; being self-employed swaps those for freedom and flexibility. Neither is "better" — but knowing what you do (and don't) get means no nasty surprises.
Employed — you get
Holiday pay — at least 5.6 weeks of paid leave a year (pro-rata on shorter contracts).
Statutory sick pay — if you're too unwell to perform, you're not left with nothing.
Statutory maternity / paternity pay — paid leave when you grow the fan club.
Workplace pension — you're auto-enrolled and your employer pays in too. Free moola!
Minimum wage & employment rights — plus redundancy pay and protection from unfair dismissal (after qualifying periods).
Self-Employed — the trade-off
No holiday or sick pay — if you don't work, you don't earn. Build a buffer into your rates.
No statutory maternity pay — but you may qualify for Maternity Allowance from the government instead.
No workplace pension — nobody enrols you. Set up a personal pension and you still get tax relief on what you pay in.
Claim expenses against tax — travel, training, agent fees and more reduce your tax bill. See our Expenses guide.
Freedom & flexibility — set your own rates, pick your own gigs, be your own boss.
Doing both? You get both. Most careers mix the two — your employed contracts still come with all their protections, and your self-employed work keeps its flexibility and expense claims. Just be your own safety net for the freelance side: put a little aside for holidays, sick days and your pension if/when you can.
watch how easy it is
Recording Income in the App
A couple of taps and your income is recorded, tallied and ready for your tax return. Here's the whole performance, start to finish:
1
Tap 'Add Income'
Straight from your dashboard.
Drop screenshot: your dashboard
2
Add your income
Select the 'type' of income and fill in the boxes which apply.
Drop screenshot: adding income
3
Submit
Safely tallied against your expenses live — see what tax to set aside or rebate is due (if minus).
Drop screenshot: income saved
budget wisely
Save for Your Tax Bill
Unlike employed work where tax is deducted automatically, you'll get a bill when you file your tax return. If you'd like to see your predicted tax bill live through the tax year, it'll appear on your SansDrama App dashboard.
take the drama out of tax
Your tax, sorted.
The tax app built just for performers, creatives and side-hustlers — track your income, expenses and live tax bill in one tidy place, ready for your return.
