How artists, writers, presenters and other on-air contributors are paid for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ engagements will depend on your “employment status for tax”.
Employment status for tax
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is responsible for making the determination of employment status for tax.
If the engagement is determined to be one of employment for tax then the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is required to deduct PAYE and National Insurance Contributions from your fee. You will be engaged as a worker.
If the engagement is determined to be one of self-employed for tax then the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ can pay your fee gross.
When you'll get paid
When a payment is processed depends on how you are contracted.
Freelance Payment Portal
If you are engaged on a and have a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Personal Number you will be able to manage your payments on the .
Artists & Contributors (ACON) IR35 Payroll
Contributors engaged on a contract where tax and employee’s National Insurance Contributions are deducted and are paid via the Artists & Contributors (ACON) IR35 payroll process will be paid on the 15th of the month.
The Artists & Contributors (ACON) IR35 Payroll is closing and future engagements will be through the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s freelancers process. You will be able to manage your payments on the .
Payments to self-employed contributors
If Production has engaged you via the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s automated FastFee system then payment will be actioned automatically on the date set by Production in the system. This is usually a date after the work has been done.
If your contract is raised by Business Affairs, then a payment schedule will be set by Business Affairs and recorded in your contract.
COVID-19: impact on remittances
​Remittance advice letters may take longer to arrive, as Royal Mail delivery times may be affected by Coronavirus/COVID-19.
Artists & Contributors Portal (A&C Portal)
The A&C Portal is a web-based platform, available to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ artists and contributors (ACON), and their agents, to access remittances and royalty statements online. .
A new A&C Portal is being introduced that will continue to provide you with secure online access to remittances and royalty statements.
There will be a period of downtime from midnight on Friday 28 June until the week commencing 8 July to allow time to migrate and validate the data from the current A&C Portal. There will be no access to the existing or new A&C Portal during this time. You will receive an email from bbc.connect@ccs.bbc.co.uk when the new portal is ready with details on how to activate your account on the new A&C Portal.
Your access to the existing portal has been deleted (you will receive email notification) – you will receive an email from bbc.connect@ccs.bbc.co.uk when the new portal is ready with details on how to activate your account on the new A&C Portal.
What we'll need to process payments
Freelance Payment Portal
If you are on the , you can update your details there.
All other payments (A&C IR35 payroll and self-employed)
We’ll need to know your:
- Legal name
- National Insurance number
- Date of birth (in some circumstances)
- Personal Service Company name (if applicable)
- Bank details (sort code, account number, account name)
- Statutory address
- Correspondence address (if different from statutory address)
- Agent's details (if applicable)
So you can receive the payments you’re entitled to, you need to tell us when your bank details, address or other contact details change. Please use .
For payments to a foreign bank account, you may need to provide additional details. Let your Production contact know as soon as possible, if you want to be paid to a foreign bank account.
For VAT payments, refer to the section on being VAT registered.
VAT registered?
Please note we do not pay Agent’s VAT – we operate on what is called a “disclosed agent model” when engaging on-air/screen talent.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will only pay the VAT to a contributor, Personal Service Company, etc. actually providing the services to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and with whom the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has the contractual arrangement and where the VAT number of that contributor, PSC, etc. is provided to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
We can’t pay VAT to individuals where the engagement is deemed to be one of employment for tax - for more info, refer to the Employment status section on this page.
If you, your Personal Service Company, etc. are VAT registered, then sign up to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s VAT self-billing scheme. VAT will then be paid automatically without the need to submit VAT invoices.
TCS usually invite you to set up VAT self-billing when you are first contracted. Alternatively, you can request the VAT self-billing form from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Contributor Payments. Your VAT registration would be reviewed by TCS every 12 months.
Business Affairs can tell you more about VAT self-billing.
Workplace pension
The law requires the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to automatically enrol certain people who work for it in a workplace pension scheme. This includes some artists and contributors.
Business Affairs must assess you against set criteria to ascertain, if you must be enrolled in a workplace pension. You can opt out, if you do not want to contribute to a workplace pension.
You can ask to be enrolled, if you do not meet the criteria for auto-enrolment.
Statement of Earnings
Statement of Earnings reports are issued annually to presenters and contributors receiving £5,000 or more via the Artist & Contributors process.
You can .
Contact for payment queries
For engagements on standard worker contracts (non A&C IR35 Payroll): Refer to for more information.
Other contributor payment enquiries should be directed at:
- Email: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Contributor Payments
- Phone (UK Toll Free): 0800 058 1870
- International Access: +44 (0)203 9597352
If you experience any issues trying to contact the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Finance Service Desk, please visit bbc.co.uk/finance. The page includes a full list of contact email addresses and updates on service availability will be posted there.
If you wish to escalate a payment query, then you can do so by emailing Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Feedback and Escalations.