Jury duty is an essential part of the legal system in the UK, requiring citizens to participate in court proceedings and help ensure a fair trial. However, for self-employed individuals, attending jury duty can be a challenging obligation, potentially causing financial strain and disrupting business operations. If you’re self-employed, it’s understandable to seek ways to postpone or be excused from jury duty, especially when the consequences could impact your livelihood.

In this guide, we’ll cover how self-employed individuals can manage jury duty, explore valid reasons for deferral or exemption, and explain how CANGAF Accountants can assist with minimizing the financial impact.

Can You Get Out of Jury Duty as a Self-Employed Person?

Yes, you can request a deferral or excusal from jury duty if attending would cause undue hardship, particularly for self-employed individuals. While not guaranteed, you may have valid grounds to delay or avoid serving based on your personal and professional circumstances.

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However, you can’t automatically avoid jury duty just because you are self-employed. Each case is assessed individually by the Jury Central Summoning Bureau.

What Are Valid Reasons for Deferral or Excusal?

• Financial Hardship: If your business would suffer significant financial loss as a result of your absence, this could be grounds for deferral or excusal. You will need to provide evidence, such as how long you’ve been trading, your projected loss of income, and the lack of alternative support to manage your business while you serve.
• Pre-booked Commitments: If you have important business-related commitments like meetings, travel, or client work that cannot be rescheduled, you can request a deferral to a later date.
• Health Issues: Serious health concerns or caring responsibilities can also justify being excused or having your jury service postponed.
• Work Commitments: If you have an unavoidable project deadline, critical business work, or are a sole operator without any staff to take over, you may request a deferral.

How to Apply for Deferral or Excusal

When you receive your jury summons, you have the option to apply for a deferral or excusal. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Complete the Jury Summons Form: The form will ask for details about your availability and if you wish to apply for a deferral or excusal. Be sure to indicate that you are self-employed and specify how attending jury duty will impact your business.
2. Provide Evidence: To strengthen your request, include any relevant documentation such as:
   • Business records showing your trading activity.
   • Financial statements detailing the projected loss during the jury service period.
   • Letters from clients or contracts indicating that work cannot be rescheduled.
3. Submit the Form: Return the form and supporting documents to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau by the deadline indicated.
4. Wait for a Decision: The Jury Summoning Bureau will review your application and determine whether to grant a deferral or excusal. If granted a deferral, you may be required to attend at a later date.

What If Your Request Is Denied?

If your request is denied, you will need to attend jury service as summoned. However, you can still manage the impact on your business by planning ahead.

• Communicate with Clients: Inform your clients or customers about your jury duty commitment and discuss how your absence will be managed.
• Temporary Support: If possible, hire a temporary freelancer or contract worker to keep your business running while you’re away.
• Streamline Operations: Automate certain processes or delegate tasks to employees (if you have them) to ensure your business continues functioning smoothly.

What Compensation Is Available During Jury Duty?

If your deferral or excusal request is denied and you must attend jury duty, you are entitled to claim compensation for loss of earnings and other expenses from the court. However, the compensation may not cover all of your financial losses.

What Can You Claim?

1. Loss of Earnings: You can claim compensation for loss of earnings if jury duty causes you to miss work. You will need to submit a Certificate of Loss of Earnings or Self-Employed Financial Loss Form signed by an accountant or verified by HMRC.
2. Travel Expenses: You can also claim for reasonable travel expenses to and from the court.
3. Subsistence: If you need to buy meals while serving, you can claim a daily allowance for food and drink.

While these payments are helpful, they may not fully cover the income loss that many self-employed individuals face. Having professional help from CANGAF Accountants to document your financial situation can help maximize your claim.

How CANGAF Accountants Can Assist

CANGAF Accountants understands the unique financial challenges faced by self-employed individuals when called for jury duty. We can assist you by:

• Providing Evidence for Deferral: We’ll help you prepare the necessary documents, such as financial statements and loss projections, to strengthen your request for deferral or excusal.
• Filing Financial Loss Claims: If you end up serving on a jury, we can help you file your loss of earnings claim and ensure you receive the maximum compensation.
• Tax Planning & Support: If jury duty disrupts your income, we’ll work with you to adjust your tax planning and ensure there are no surprises when it comes time to file your Self Assessment return.

Conclusion

As a self-employed individual in the UK, jury duty can present significant challenges to both your business and personal finances. However, with careful preparation, you can either defer your service or mitigate the financial impact. By working with CANGAF Accountants, you can make the process easier, ensuring your jury duty obligations are met without unnecessary stress on your business.

If you’re concerned about how jury duty could affect your self-employed income, reach out to CANGAF Accountants for professional guidance and support in managing your finances effectively.

CANGAF Accountants
235 Tonge Moor Road, Bolton BL2 2HR
Email: info@cangafltd.com
Phone: 01204 859315