Obtaining work through an agency

Obtaining work through an agency can affect whether the PSI rules apply to your income.

This information is relevant to you if your business receives PSI and obtains work through an agency (for example, a labour hire firm, group training organisation or employment agency).

If you’re contracting through an agency, where the agency provides your services to a client, the agency will ultimately be responsible for the payment for your services.

There are many factors you need to consider when working out if the PSI rules apply. Obtaining your contracts through an agency may prevent you from passing some of the personal services business (PSB) tests.

PSI does not affect you if you’re an employee receiving only salaries and wages. However, if you’re operating through an entity, such as a company, partnership or trust, and are an employee of that entity, then the PSI rules may still apply.

Personal services income

Steps Progress

What is PSI?

4 mins

Is the income PSI?

5 mins

Income that is not PSI

9 mins

Whose PSI is it?

7 mins

Working out if the PSI rules apply: self-assess as a personal service business (PSB)

2 mins

The 80% rule

5 mins

Results test

8 mins

Unrelated clients test

5 mins

Employment test

5 mins

Business premises test

7 mins

Obtaining work through an agency

5 mins

Apply for a personal services business determination (PSBD)

3 mins

What to do when the PSI rules apply

2 mins

What to do when the PSI rules apply: claiming deductions

11 mins

What to do when the PSI rules apply: how to attribute PSI

8 mins

What to do when the PSI rules apply: PAYG

18 mins

What to do when the PSI rules apply: completing your tax return

4 mins

What to do if the PSI rules don’t apply

3 mins

Record keeping for PSI

1 mins

Help for PSI

1 mins

Case study: instructions

1 mins

Case studies: sole trader

11 mins

Case studies: partnership

12 mins

Case studies: company

12 mins

Case studies: trust

12 mins

Related courses

1 mins

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