Government publishes staggering response to IR35 report

Government publishes “staggering” response to IR35 report

Response to House of Lords IR35 report “lacks any substance”

The Government’s long-awaited response to the damning House of Lords report into IR35 reform is “staggering”, “lacks any substance” and shows it has its “head buried in the sand”, experts have said. 

Earlier this month, the Government responded to the highly-critical House of Lords investigation into the off-payroll working rules, in which a number of the concerns highlighted by the Finance Bill Sub-Committee were addressed. 

Despite promising the private sector additional support and enhancements to HMRC’s IR35 tool, CEST, the Government dismissed concerns that IR35 reform will negatively impact contractors and glossed over fears made in the report regarding non-compliant blanket determinations.

Government has “head buried in the sand” over IR35 reform

Having explained its reasons for rolling out IR35 reform in the private sector on 6th April 2021 – which is now a certainty – the Government was criticised for overlooking many of the recommendations put forward in the report.

Qdos CEO, Seb Maley, commented: “It’s clear from the Government’s response that it still has its head buried in the sand when it comes to IR35, with recommendations in the Lords report having been all but ignored. From what I can see, the few promises made by the Government have been made before, with no positive change resulting from them.”

Of the same view was Dave Chaplin, CEO of Contractor Calculator. He slammed the response, which he said lacks any substance and gives light promises that HMRC will work to help businesses to prepare. Don’t hold your breath.”

CEST concerns rejected

In response to the criticism regarding HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool, used by businesses to determine IR35 status, the Government “disagreed” with the Finance Bill Sub-Committee who said it is “not fit for purpose.” 

The time and resources invested in developing the tool were then referenced before the Government committed to making continuous improvements to the technology – a promise that has been made a number of times previously. 

Qdos’s Seb Maley found it “incredible, but unsurprising, that the Government refuses to acknowledge CEST’s failings”, while Contractor Calculator’s Dave Chaplin said, “it is staggering that the Government continues to spout out the same debunked messages that the tool has been robustly and rigorously tested.”

He then explained, “everyone knows, from FOI requests, that they do not hold any detailed evidence to prove their claims. It’s interesting to note that Mutuality of Obligation was not even addressed – it’s a key element of case law and it was omitted from CEST.”

Blanket decisions and contractor bans largely overlooked

The Government also responded, to a degree, to the points raised in the report regarding blanket IR35 determinations, widespread contractor bans and the impact these decisions will have on the independent workforce. 

Drawing on the public sector experience, the Government claimed similar measures introduced in 2017 do not suggest that there is an overall reduction in the demand for the skills and services contractors offer as a result of these changes.” 

The Government then all but dismissed the Finance Bill Sub-Committee’s concerns regarding blanketing, stating that as part of the February 2020 review into IR35 reform, it had found “that the vast majority had put in place processes to ensure accurate status assessments.”  

That the Government hasn’t acknowledged that firms are reportedly forcing contractors inside IR35 or banning independent workers altogether is “derisory” said Dave Chaplin: “It’s well known that many firms, including all those in the financial sector, are using the tax issues as their primary reason, with many now moving lots of their project work abroad.”

Response doesn’t change the “overall picture”

In addition to referring to the research promised into public sector changes, which will be complete before the introduction of private sector changes next year, the Government then vowed to continue engaging “with a wide range of stakeholders on the implementation of the reform, working with different sectors to ensure businesses understand the changes.”

However, this rhetoric mustn’t sidetrack businesses given it doesn’t change the reality of the situation, said Seb Maley: “While this response is inadequate and frustrating, it doesn’t change the overall picture. IR35 reform is arriving in the private sector next April, which means businesses must prepare for the changes immediately.”

To read the Government’s entire response, please click here.

9 Comments

  • Tony says:

    I have provided contracted services to many government departments over several decades, since the introduction of IR35 in the public sector I have refused In-Scope role, except for one occasion where the day rate was increased.
    I currently work in the private sector and after April 2021 will only accept Out-of-Scope roles, or have more time off.

  • IR35 Victim says:

    Well no surprise there

    Let’s see if the is an surprise shown when the revenues from freelancers dries up completely

    I will be signing for Universal Credit this week

    In 30 years I have never had to draw on the benefits system but since the financial sector outsource ALL work to India It now looks like that will be my default

    5 months without a client and they say all is well

  • IR35 Victim says:

    Well no surprise there

    Let’s see if the is an surprise shown when the revenues from freelancers dries up completely

    I will be signing for Universal Credit this week

    In 30 years I have never had to draw on the benefits system but since the financial sector outsource ALL work to India It now looks like that will be my default

    5 months without a client and they say all is well

    • IR35 Serf says:

      don’t worry you can go perm with Indian consultancies like CRISIL.

      You still get to keep the exciting contractor job insecurity but only half your previous cashflows.

  • Taxed from the future says:

    IR35 and Loan Charge are weapons in this war against contractors. A hostile environment for freelancers, contractors, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

  • Guy eastwood says:

    No surprise at all.

    Like they intend for Hard Brexit, it’s part of the Plan, just like voting voting down foreign control of the NHS. The Plan Will Be Done regardless.

    They know it, we know it. They’re just too cowardly to say it in public cos all their voters who ‘Hope They’re Not Doing That’ would realise they really are. Like everyone else has been telling them.

    If anyone thinks this is nonsense and conspiracy go away and read some Noam Chomsky. It’s how they work.

  • Colin Wheatley says:

    What can I say apart from the Treasury, HMRC, and UK Government have the wonderful habit of looking at things with their Eyes Wide Shut.

    This is going to be an ecomonic diaster, and has already cost the Public Sectors £1,000’s in extra and additional costs..

    As the Lord sub-committee stated, IR35 was a sick child when it was conceived in 1999, and is still that sick child.

  • IR35 The Well Thought Through Rule says:

    There is no point in reporting this stuff anymore.

    We lost and the work has been moved offshore.

    Indian visa costs are being lowered and entry requirements reduced.

    The vibrant UK IT sector has been moved to intensive care and the Tories have hung a

    “Do Not Resuscitate”

    sign round its neck.

    “Zero Hour Contracts”

    and

    “Zero Rights Employment”

    The ‘NEW’ Tory normal

  • Unfair Fight says:

    Since dismantling the contractor structure: Millions lost in VAT. Millions lost in tax to HMRC. Tens of thousands of earning contractors sidelined, on the bench or earning a fraction and therefore paying a fraction in tax.

    Meaning companies forced to turn to big consultancies plugging the gap and charging govt and business circa £2k a day for ‘expertise’ a fraction as broad as a contractor on £650. This expertise aimed solely at prolonging their support rather than getting the job done.

    Toothless business leaders and myopic public sector sycophants unable to challenge ignorant government stupidity.

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