Contractors may be hit with a tax hike on businesses, pensions and second homes in Autumn budget The Treasury is currently putting together Autumn Budget plans for a '£30 billion tax raid' that is aimed at the wealthy and businesses as…
Will a risk-assessment impact my IR35 position? Q. I worked from my home office during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The client is now reopening its offices to staff and contractors, and I will have reason to travel there. The client…
Contractors key to boosting productivity and creating jobs Firms that have at least 11% of their workforce as contractors are more productive businesses, with each employee generating on average an extra £4,669 for their organisation, a study by Trinity Business…
Can contractors claim a refund from inaccurate IR35 assessments? Q. With IR35 reform now nailed on for next April, like many of my fellow contractors, I’m bracing myself for the worst - working off the assumption that my client, who…
Businesses turn to contractors over employees to assist recovery Firms are more likely to engage freelancers and contractors than employees to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, new research has revealed. Figures published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)…
How can contractors spot non-compliant umbrella companies? When perusing umbrella companies, it’s important that you know what to look out for. It’s vital that you’re not lured into working through an unscrupulous disguised remuneration scheme masquerading as a compliant umbrella…
COVID-19 sees contractor earnings drop by 1/4 in Q2 The “devastating” financial impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s freelancer and contractor workforce has been revealed, with independent professionals on average reporting a record 25% drop in earnings in the second quarter…
Self-employed numbers and earnings fall at record rates in Q2 The number of self-employed workers in the UK fell by a record 238,000 in the second quarter of 2020, latest figures released by the ONS have revealed. This is a “disproportionate…
Pandemic and IR35 changes could see contractors quit The combination of COVID-19 and next year’s reform to the IR35 rules threaten a "contractor exodus”, contracting authority Contractor Calculator has warned. Following a survey completed by over 1000 contractors, independent workers…
Can contractors prove they 'Control' the service they provide? Q. With IR35 reform on the horizon, I’ve been doing some thinking about what it means to provide a service that legitimately belongs outside IR35, which is where my contract currently…
HMRC records "rare" victory in £140,000 IR35 case appeal HMRC has overturned an IR35 case verdict carrying over £140,000 in tax liabilities, as it was decided at the Upper Tribunal that veteran broadcaster and Talksport presenter, Paul Hawksbee, belonged inside IR35.…
Contractors will not receive further COVID-19 support, Chancellor says The Chancellor has said after having “carefully considered” the case for creating a new COVID-19 support system for limited company contractors, "for practical reasons” individuals who pay themselves salary and dividends…
Can contractors draw up a contract with their PSC? Q. I am a contractor and recently saw an article which suggested there may be financial benefits if I had a contract in place between myself and my limited company. Unfortunately,…
The short and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the jobs market The UK jobs market has experienced unprecedented changes over the past few months as a consequence of the global Coronavirus pandemic. And though the media is rife with stories…
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. …
Share your views about independent working Think back to the last 12 months of your contracting career: have you achieved everything you wanted? Are you satisfied with the experience you’ve gained? What would you have done differently if you had…
