ContractorCalculator published its IR35 factsheet today, which intends to set the record straight on the damaging effects that the off-payroll rules have had on the public sector.
The release is a direct response to HMRC’s factsheet – published alongside the Off-Payroll working in the private sector consultation – which contained multiple questionable claims and mistruths, providing an inaccurate representation of the impact of the changes.
“Our factsheet debunks the falsehoods that HMRC is purporting, and counter-balances the taxman’s blinkered and biased view,” says ContractorCalculator CEO, Dave Chaplin.
“So far, HMRC has published their preferred version of the story, but we can’t allow the general public, and more importantly the country’s key decision makers, to be misled.”
ContractorCalculator’s IR35 factsheet: debunking HMRC’s falsehoods
“HMRC has banded around these figures emphasising the supposed cost of non-compliance with IR35. Elsewhere, it claims that the reforms have improved compliance. None of this has been substantiated,” comments Chaplin
“Mystery statistics and misleading claims have been a recurring theme in HMRC’s promotion of the off-payroll rules. By contrast, everything within our factsheet is verifiable; much of it coming from a collection of studies into IR35 in the public sector, which HMRC ironically dismissed in its consultation as ‘anecdotal’ or 'rumours'.”
ContractorCalculator’s factsheet draws on a body of evidence, including:
- A survey of more than 1,500 contractors by ContractorCalculator
- Findings gathered from 1,494 recruitment firms by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)
- A Freelancer and Contractor Services Association survey of intermediaries supporting more than 33,500 public sector workers
- A survey of 450 healthcare locums by ContractorCalculator and the Independent Health Professionals Association (IHPA)
- Findings gathered from more than 500 contractors, hiring managers and business leaders by Harvey Nash
- Multiple investigative journalism items from ContractorCalculator and The Times.
Help prevent further drastic change to IR35
“This compilation of facts and figures provides a true representation of the chaos that has ensued as a result of the public sector IR35 reforms, and will hopefully encourage Government to think twice before introducing further drastic changes,” adds Chaplin.
To help sustain the future of flexible working by preventing Government from acting upon HMRC’s misrepresentations, please share this factsheet with your colleagues, clients and local MPs.
Join our IR35 campaign
ContractorCalculator is actively campaigning to put a stop to Governments plans to expand the public sector IR35 reforms to the private sector.
To support the campaign against IR35, please subscribe to our mailing list, and help raise awareness by following the instructions set out on our IR35 campaign page. Please follow or connect with our CEO Dave Chaplin on LinkedIn. Dave regularly posts about the IR35 reforms and is an essential contact to have for keeping abreast of the latest news surrounding the legislation.