Before starting to use the Employment Status Indicator (ESI) tool, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) recommends that you read the guidance on employment status. This explains the factors that determine whether a worker is considered employed or self-employed. You must also read and accept the conditions of use set out below.
Read more guidance about employment status
If you are unable to access the tool or if you experience any technical problems when using it - please contact the Online Services Helpdesk on Tel 0845 60 55 999.
HMRC value your feedback. To tell them about your experiences of using the tool or to suggest any improvements please use the link below.
The current version of the tool is V1.3.0.2 which was released on 10 August 2010.
HMRC will use this page to inform you whenever a new version is released.
Employment status is determined by the contractual terms of an engagement. Normally, this will be the written agreement between the parties. However, where the written document does not represent the whole bargain, or where the terms have been varied either by express agreement or by practice, or where there is no written agreement, then the information entered into the ESI tool may reflect the terms of the contract, what the parties carry out in practice, or a combination of both.
The information you provide should, to your knowledge, accurately reflect the working arrangements. HMRC routinely carries out compliance activities. In the course of these activities, they will check that the working arrangements reflect the information provided.
If you wish to use the ESI tool for a group of workers then they must all have the same material terms of engagement. Otherwise you must submit a separate ESI enquiry for each individual worker.
