Paying tax playing on cruise ships?

[AndyBob09]

Hey all, I'm hoping this can be answered here.

I've recently taken my first cruise ship contract - I'm more than excited about this but then I thought about taxes whilst earning abroad. I know for a fact that I pay no tax to any country whilst I'm aboard the ship and anything that I earn there is mine.

I'm a self employed musician in the UK and fill in self assessment and the likes and declare all of my UK earnings. Now, if I'm away on a ship for 6 months, do I declare those earnings to the HMRC when I fill in next year's tax return?

Can anyone who's been away on ships please help me out here?

Ta!

[ambient]

You do pay tax on what you earn, it's treated as if your earning in this country.

I played on one a few years ago, and just declared it on my return.

[jakenewmanbass]

I'm pretty sure that whatever you bring in is taxed unless you can provide evidence that is has been deducted in the country in which it was earned. it's worth checking that this is right on your case because if the cruise line (likely american) has deducted tax then withe the appropriate paperwork you would not have to pay, I think it most likely though that tax will not have been paid.

[ambient]

I think I was told that you only don't pay if you've been abroad for more than 6 months. I was on a P and O ship, and got paid when I came home. I just declared it in that years return.

Either way, you'll get taxed by someone, sorry.

You really need to speak to your tax office, someone telling you something on a muso forum won't be much of a defence if you get it wrong.

Edited November 4, 2013 by ambient