The Lords’ PSC inquiry wasn’t a waste of time, despite the Coalition’s limp response
Contractors will benefit from the Lords’ PSC inquiry, which highlighted key issues – as well as glaring flaws in the political process.
HMRC IR35 Contract Review Service – contractors should still steer clear
HMRC’s IR35 Contract Review Service should be avoided by contractors at all costs, despite a major plug for the taxman in HMRC’s new IR35 guidance.
How could the government dismiss the Lords’ direct hits on IR35?
Despite compelling evidence in the Lords’ review of PSCs that IR35 simply isn’t working, the government effectively dismissed all the findings.
Rate cuts for UK oil and gas contractors will only worsen skills shortages
Oil and gas contractors face across-the-board rate cuts by leading clients, but the move will only worsen skills shortages as contractors leave.
Tax avoidance schemes - contractors should keep 'eyes wide open'
Contractors thinking about using tax avoidances schemes should ponder on the recent spate of HMRC wins over providers and keep their ‘eyes wide open’.
What's gone wrong with our tax code when we can't work out how much to pay ourselves?
Contractors should be able to work out how much they pay themselves, but the UK tax code is so complex they need accountants or online calculators.
IT contractors have too many options now for banks to get away with cutting rates
IT contractors have too many alternative options to be frightened by banks threatening rate cuts. Clients are simply harming their own prospects.
Contractor livelihoods under threat by an increasingly out of control taxman
Contractor livelihoods are threatened by an increasingly uncontrollable tax gathering authority, so taking action is now more important than ever.
Do taxpayers really want cost-effective expert interims driven from public service?
Those doing public sector work through their own limited companies are again unfairly targeted, with the risk they’ll de-camp to the public sector.
Contractors and trade unions – can they be compatible?
Contractors are independent professionals and also self-employed. Trade unions claim to be all about representing workers? Is there a meeting point?
The evidence to bury IR35 has finally been acknowledged. But who’s listening?
The House of Lords committee looking into Personal Service Companies has diplomatically poured scorn on HMRC and questioned IR35’s future.
Abolish IR35: what Lords should, but won’t, conclude from their PSC inquiry evidence
A politically unacceptable outcome to abolish IR35 is the only conclusion that the Lords can reach based on the evidence from the inquiry.
Oil and gas contractors stand to benefit whatever the outcome in the North Sea
Oil and gas contractors are highly mobile and working in a globalised industry, so are likely to benefit regardless of what happens in the North Sea.
False Self-Employment legislation: could it be even worse to implement than IR35?
The proposed False Self-Employment test is like saying someone who lives along the M1 but not in London must therefore by default live in Leeds.
Contractors have fared well from the Lords’ PSC inquiry, but IR35 and HMRC less so
Limited company contractors have emerged in a positive light so far in the Lords’ PSC inquiry, but IR35 and HMRC are looking rather more tarnished.
False self-employment test and IR35 clash: will they stay or will they go?
False self-employment and IR35 could both apply to contractors, or one or both could be changed or amended, which may actually benefit contractors.
PSC contractor witchhunt against talent like Paxman may hurt BBC and cost millions
Adding PSC contractors like Paxman to the BBC payroll could result in the corporation shooting itself in the foot and costing licence payers millions.
Will the Lords PSC inquiry achieve anything? Will an IR35 review result in action?
Contractors have been here before. Will the Lords PSC inquiry be as ineffective as previous reviews, or will an IR35 review finally result in action?
Understanding contract law can go a long way when agencies misbehave
Contractors who take the trouble to learn some basic contract law are much better equipped to know when to seek legal advice if agencies misbehave.
HMRC’s refusal to publish IR35 data: if the results are poor, let’s call it a pilot
HMRC’s continuing refusal to publish any IR35 performance data coupled with its resumption of using the word pilot suggests the results won’t be good.
Let’s open the UK’s borders to foreign contractors and entrepreneurs
Contractors and other high earners pay a third of all income tax. We need a tax regime that encourages more of them to live and pay tax in the UK.
What price must contractors, taxpayers and the nation pay for a coalition ‘headline’?
One year since their imposition, we have shown that the off-payroll rules have failed. Must contractors and taxpayers continue to finance a headline?
Have business confidence – and contracting – finally turned a corner?
Have we reached the turning point when contractors across all core disciplines can look forward to sustained contract growth and rate recovery?
Off-payroll rules: as bad as we predicted, but clear guidance would help
Contractors, taxpayers and the public sector have all been hit by the off-payroll rules. And that’s after only the first year.
Was s/he wearing a wedding ring at interview? If so, you might be on to a good thing
Contractor clients and employers hiring only married contractors might be onto a good thing – the chance to make massive savings from hiring costs.
IT contractors already have the knowledge-centric skills set to dominate IT by 2017
IT contractors must recognise and build on their knowledge-centric skills, or many may become another statistic as Europe’s IT industry changes focus.
Zero-hours contracts: workers being abused in the name of the flexible workforce
Zero hours contracts deliver a flexible workforce that in no way resembles contracting, and can lead to the abuse and exploitation of workers.
Threat or contract opportunity? The rise of the online contractor marketplace
Contractors can view oDesk’s $1 billion milestone with either dread or anticipation. Whatever your view, doing nothing won’t be an option forever.
If the fight against retrospective tax fails, many more taxpayers may face hardship
The fight by No To Retro Tax (NTRT) against section 58(4) is bigger than those affected: if it fails then many more contractors may face hardships.
Tax avoidance: it’s time to let the facts get in the way of a good argument
The tax avoidance debate is too often focused only on direct taxation, such as income and corporation tax, and fails to see the whole picture.