Contractors who work hard find they soon can become part of a client's organisation. This can be dangerous.

First, you risk tax problems, because becoming what the taxman calls 'part and parcel' of the client's organisation could put you inside IR35. This can be annoying, because even simple things like eating in the company canteen or getting a security pass can be used against you. And the Revenue looks at this sort of thing.

But it's also easy for a contractor to lose track of the original contract in the desire to do a good job. You want to be helpful and liked, but if you go too far, you'll find yourself becoming a virtual employee--without any of the extras employees get!

Have you found yourself getting too close to the client? Tell us how it happened, and what you did about it.

Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2007