Latest Contractors

Only days after Budget 2020 confirmed that IR35 reforms to the private sector would go ahead, the changes have been postponed until 6 April 2021. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay MP, confirmed “This is a deferral and not a cancellation”. Amongst the unintended consequences of this legislation, the lack of employment rights for…

There are less than two months to go until the proposed new rules apply regarding who determines IR35 status for freelancers hired by medium and large companies. Our Brief Guide will help find out how this affects you and what you can do   A Brief Guide to Off-payroll Working_Feb 2020

Those personal service companies working in the private sector (referred to, variously, as freelancers, consultants or contractors) should now be aware that new tax rules will apply to them with effect from 6-Apr-20.  These rules, off-payroll working, aim to finally clamp down on the abuse of the Inland Revenue Press Release number 35 tax rules…

As the planned changes to who determines IR35 status are fast approaching, contractors would be well advised to review their contracts on HMRC’s updated CEST (Check Employment Status for Tax) tool. Having provided answers to questions regarding substitution, control and nature of the work, the updated tool will give HMRC’s view of the workers employment…

Knowledge based contractors working in the private sector will hopefully now be well aware that, subject to any possible Government last minute change of heart, new tax rules are coming next April. For many, who are not currently following IR35 rules, this will mean a large increase in the tax they pay; perhaps tens of…

Readers, particularly knowledge based contractors working through their own personal service companies, will hopefully now be familiar with the new ‘off-payroll working’ tax rules being introduced in the private sector on 1 April 2020. These are being introduced as part of the Government’s general strategy over recent years to eliminate tax avoidance, tax evasion, and…

Confused by the new CIS reverse charge VAT rules that come into effect from 1 October 2019, then HMRC have issued further guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-domestic-reverse-charge-for-building-and-construction-services#overview.   The basics are as from 1 October 2019 if you are a VAT registered subcontractor working for a contractor you will no longer be paid for the VAT element…

This week HMRC have published draft legislation that will affect private sector personal services companies (PSCs)  from 6 April 2020. PSC’s supplying services to medium or large-sized organisations will no longer decide if they are employed or self-employed, the end engager will assess this. If caught by these rules, known as IR35, employment taxes and…

A recent series of HMRC high-profile court cases have brought Contractors back into the tax spotlight. TV presenters Lorraine Kelly, Kay Adams and Christa Ackroyd have all defended their working practices with mixed success.   HMRC claimed all three should have been taxed as employees rather than business owners. HMRC won the case against Ackroyd…

  The team at Whiting’s payroll bureau have produced their latest newsletter, to keep clients updated on relevant recent changes to payroll and related legislation.   Edition 10 – March 2019