Contractor Doctor: I’m going to contract in the UK. Can I claim flights, rent & food?
Contractors coming from overseas to work in the UK are subject to the same business expenses rules as UK-based umbrella & limited company contractors.
Contractor Doctor: When applying for contractor roles online what rate should I give?
Contractors applying for roles online can be asked to provide a rate before the application is accepted, but this is only the start of negotiations.
Contractor Doctor: Can my agency insist on paying me only when it has been paid?
Contractors receiving a contract from an agent with a paid-when-paid clause should not initially be concerned, says Parity’s Alan Rommel.
Contractor Doctor: We’re divorcing – what happens to our contractor limited company?
David Colom of DJ Colom explains his experience of contractor options when divorce is on the cards for a husband and wife contracting team.
Contractor Doctor: My fee income has dropped – should I deregister for VAT?
Abbott Moore’s James Abbott explains that contractors should deregister for VAT only when their business has changed focus, or is closing.
Contractor Doctor: My client has asked me to move location – do I have to relocate?
Contractors faced with a client request to change location must review their contract to consider available options, advises Roger Sinclair of Egos.
Contractor Doctor: Half my contract is onsite and half at home – am I caught by IR35?
Significant variations during a contractor’s contract can lead to different treatment.
Contractor Doctor: If my client blocks a substitution can I claim breach of contract?
Contractors refused their right of substitution may find their client in breach, and termination could be one outcome, says Roger Sinclair of Egos.
Contractor Doctor: Why won’t my umbrella let me claim expenses during my notice?
Parasol’s Rob Crossland explains that different expenses rules come into play when an umbrella contractor gives notice, over-riding the 24-month rule.
Contractor Doctor: Is my umbrella company using the correct car mileage calculations?
Rob Crossland of Parasol warns contractors against umbrellas that use expenses policies to maximise their VAT income at their contractors’ expense.
Contractor Doctor: Can Entrepreneur’s Relief help extract cash from my ltd company?
James Abbott of Abbott Moore explains that for most contractors ER won’t make it worth accumulating a large cash surplus in their limited company.
Contractor Doctor: How can I get out of my first contract with my former employer?
Contracting for a former employer can create a range of challenges for contractors, even for umbrella company contractors with no fears.
Contractor Doctor: Can the firm that bought my client refuse to approve timesheets?
Roger Sinclair of Egos highlights the potential risks contractors can face when they choose to continue working without a current contract.
Contractor Doctor: Can I still qualify for benefits after a short-term contract?
James Doyle from Tarpon advises how unemployed contractors can take advantage of short term contracts whilst minimising the interruption of benefits.
Contractor Doctor: Can I legally challenge early termination by my client?
When contractors are terminated early, close examination of contracts can sometimes confirm there is no legal solution, warns Roger Sinclair of Egos.
Contractor Doctor: I’ve bought a house to be near my clients: what costs can I claim?
Contractors who buy a second home to be closer to clients can claim a range of costs as expenses, explains David Colom of DJ Colom & Co.
Contractor doctor: how can I deal with staff who keep asking me for expert advice?
Sometimes clients expect you to train their staff as part of your contract. If you had never agreed to this then you don't have to - but you could turn it into an opportunity.
Contractor Doctor: Can I claim for training as a pre-incorporation expense?
Contractors have limited scope to claim for training expenses incurred before incorporation, explains Steve Crouch of Crunch.co.uk.
Contractor Doctor: My client was taken over – can the agency change my contract?
Mergers and acquisitions resulting in clients changing ownership are commonplace, potentially meaning early terminations or renegotiations.
Contractor Doctor: Can I claim for regular lunch and food expenses?
Contractors based at client’s offices can claim subsistence expenses for food and lunches if they keep receipts, explains Steve Crouch of Crunch.co.uk
Contractor Doctor: How do I work out my NICs when I leave my job to be a contractor?
Many employees are choosing contracting as an alternative career choice and want to keep their NICs in order. Phil Richards of BFCA explains how.
Contractor Doctor: How can I convince my agent to cut their margin and pay me more?
The vast majority of agencies negotiate fair deals, but what can a contractor do if they suspect their agent is taking too high a margin?
Contractor Doctor: Can I renegotiate a poor rate mid-way through the contract?
Contractors can ask for higher rates during a contract, but prospects of success depend on their negotiating position says Roger Sinclair of Egos.
Contractor Doctor: Can I pay back an HMRC tax refund in instalments?
Contractors who get tax refunds should think before spending the cash as they may owe money to their company and HMRC, explains Phil Richards of BFCA.
Contractor Doctor: Can my agency refuse to pay an approved and signed timesheet?
If a contractor has a signed timesheet from their client, and with no complaints, the agency must generally pay up, says Roger Sinclair of Egos.
Contractor Doctor: Can clients cancel confirmed shifts without notice & compensation?
Some contractors working on short term freelance contracts don’t have a signed contract in place, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
Contractor Doctor: Can I claim Statutory Maternity Pay from a contractor ltd company?
Contractors can pay themselves Statutory Maternity Pay from their contracting limited company and reclaim costs from HMRC, says BFCA’s Phil Richards.
Contractor Doctor: Should a self-employed contractor get holiday pay?
Contractors engage in a business-to-business relationship with their clients. So, they are not employees and do not get paid holiday pay.
Contractor doctor: can my agent lock me into a low rate?
Restrictive convenants often figure in agency contracts. But the agent cannot use them as a bargaining tool.
Contractor Doctor: Are restrictive covenants enforceable on overseas contracts?
It is commonplace for UK contractors to have a restrictive covenant in their contract with an agency, but can this be enforced outside of the UK?