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NEWSLETTER

February 2019

Contractor Calculator Newsletter, Feb 2019: Legal analysis shows why HMRC is wrong about blanket assessments

Dear Contractor

Welcome to the Feb 2019 edition of our Contractor Newsletter. As we approach the release of HMRCs consultation into the extension of the off-payroll tax into the private sector, we discover that the BBC are still in disarray two years after CEST was inflicted upon them. HMRC gets accused of abusing it's powers and legal analysis details why their position on blanket assessments is wrong.

CONTRACTOR NEWS

Legal analysis shows why HMRC is wrong about blanket assessments

HMRC comments that encourage a blanket approach to IR35 status assessments under the Off-Payroll rules are legally flawed, says Martyn Valentine.

The IR35 MP hit list - The 100 politicians most likely to lose their seats

We list the top 100 MPs who risk losing their seats in Parliament if they fail to lend backing to the self-employed over Off-Payroll and IR35.

HMRC caught red-handed “abusing powers” as part of Off-Payroll (IR35)

HMRC has been accused of abusing its powers after issuing misleading and threatening letters to contractors in an effort to enforce the Off-Payroll rules.

Why I quit contracting: the human impact of the IR35 changes

More than a year ahead of the proposed implementation date, the Off-Payroll rules are placing contractors under financial and mental strain.

BBC refutes Treasury claim it was satisfied CEST was accurate

BBC has shared fresh evidence documenting its implementation of the Off-Payroll regime, quashing Treasury claims that it was satisfied with CEST's accuracy.

Off-Payroll (IR35) small company's exemption fraught with difficulty, says JSA

Proposals to introduce a small company exemption to the Off-Payroll rules in the private sector pose numerous problems, says Chris James of JSA.

VIEW ALL NEWS ➝

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DAVE'S BLOG

How Off-Payroll toxifies relationships between business, agencies and the self-employed

Due to an imbalance of power and rife non-compliance, the Off-Payroll rules threaten a breakdown of relationships throughout the supply chain.

VIEW ALL BLOGS ➝

FEATURES

Role-based blanket IR35 assessments are unlawful and highly risky

IR35 blanket assessments based on assessing roles are unlawful and present huge risk, yet HMRC still encourages their adoption.

HMRC still conducted no formal testing of CEST, two years on from its release

CEST is yet to undergo any formal testing and hasn't been assessed to ensure it adheres to Government standards, two years on from its initial launch.

VIEW ALL GUIDES ➝

OTHER CONTRACTING NEWS

	BBC director general Tony Hall apologises to stars over tax BBC - Thu 31 Jan 2019
	Living in the shadow of a tax scandal FT - Sun 27 Jan 2019
	Many caught in tax avoidance scheme await final settlement FT - Wed 09 Jan 2019
	Tax avoidance crackdown to be reviewed amid fears it could bankrupt contractors Telegraph - Wed 09 Jan 2019

OUR MEDIA COVERAGE

	Accounting Web Off-payroll rules in 2019: A year to prepare for the inevitable What does the year have in store for Off-Payroll
	Real Business Business owners deliver warning to “rotten” Parliament as Brexit deadlock continues Who is really to blame for the current deadlock in the corridors of power? Business owners reveal the real villains they hold responsible.
	People Management Government proposes raft of new employment legislation under Good Work Plan The Good Work Plan – a smorgasbord of proposals meant to bring UK employment law into the modern era – contains something to affect almost every organisation.
	Recruiter HMRC refutes ContractorCalculator claims of CEST inaccuracies HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool comes under increasing scrutiny as FOI's reveal that it's still not been properly tested two years since its release
	The Global Recruiter HMRC tax tool (CEST) still not properly tested two years after release. HMRC Tax Tool (CEST) still not properly tested two years after release and has not been checked to Government's own standards.
	Smallbusiness.co.uk HMRC employment status test tool not working properly HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) is still not properly tested two years since its release, according to a Freedom for Information (FOI) request by UK contracting industry organisation
	The Register HMRC: We 'rigorously tested' IR35 tax-check tool... but have almost nothing to show for it The UK taxman has been slammed for a lack of transparency over the assessment of its tool to check contractors' tax status amid claims it has not retained full records of testing.

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