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Saving for retirement: contractors need to act now
With the inevitable future meltdown in state pensions contractors need to act now to ensure a healthy retirement.
…HMRC.] As a contractor you can reduce the pain of IR35 with a contractor pension and also help to avoid…
Category: Articles: Pensions | Mon, 15 Nov 2004

How pensions work for contractors
This article explains how pension contributions can save you a fortune in taxes and enable you to enjoy your savings plus interest when you reach age 55.
…ou work through a limited company and are outside IR35 first the company pays corporation tax on the com… …nt. Now contractors can place up to 100% of their contract income into a pension. In addition the rules rega…
Category: Articles: Pensions | Fri, 06 Feb 2015

5 reasons you shouldn't consider property investments via your company
Considering using company profit to invest in property? Here's 5 reasons why it's a very bad idea.
…rsonally. 5. Business climate Since the advent of IR35, the settlements legislation (formerly known as S… …rplus profits in your limited company, tying your contracting affairs to any property investments is fraught wi…
Category: Articles: Pensions | Mon, 26 Jun 2017

Contractor Doctor: Can I claim for packed lunches or do I have to eat out?
Contractors on business trips away from home can claim for subsistence costs, such as weekly shops for packed lunches, says James Abbott.
…ear the site and I don’t use the canteen to avoid IR35 issues. Instead I shop for a week’s worth of pack… …racting unwelcome attention.” Good luck with your contracting! Contractor Doctor…
Category: Articles: Contractor Doctor Q+A | Thu, 29 Mar 2012

Contractor Doctor: My client asks me to work through lunch – should I charge?
Contractors aren’t usually paid for time they don’t work, like lunch hours, but ultimately it depends on what has been negotiated into the contract.
…r to have employee-like characteristics and their IR35 status could be in jeopardy. The basis on which a… …, accordingly. Day-rate contractors are typically contracted to work an eight-hour day excluding lunch, althou… …Dear Contractor Doctor, I’m new to contracting and have just started work on my first IT contrac… …racting and have just started work on my first IT contract with a financial services client. Within days of…
Category: Articles: Contractor Doctor Q+A | Wed, 04 Apr 2012

Contractor Doctor: Can my client sue me if I get too ill to work?
Technically a contractor is in breach of contract if they can’t work because of illness, but in reality a client wants a replacement, not a lawsuit.
…places a contractor at risk of being found inside IR35 , specifying the contractor as the ‘authorised re… …his first contract via an agency. Not having been contracting before, I’m worried about what happens if I have… …for delivering the services, is a feature of most contracts. Early termination and replacement Most clients a… …first-time IT contractor about to start work on a contract with a major engineering group. I’ve started my o…
Category: Articles: Contractor Doctor Q+A | Thu, 28 Oct 2010

Contractors should understand margins and tax
Contractors need to understand the rules about how they are paid.
…it, or you can take it as a dividend (if outside IR35 ) in which case you only pay a percentage as tax.… …With An Agency Let's suppose you've just signed a contract with an agency . Agencies don't like to deal with…
Category: Articles: Tax Issues | Tue, 13 Nov 2007

Contractor guide to what information their accountants should share with HMRC
Contractors receiving HMRC information requests should seek professional assistance and not tackle them alone, says James Abbott of Abbott Moore.
…Abbott’s experience, particularly in the case of IR35 investigations , even if HMRC got it wrong it can… …inspector knocking on the door when they are out contracting.” But Abbott confirms he has rarely seen HMRC res…
Category: Articles: Tax Issues | Sun, 02 Sept 2012

Contractor limited company checklist for moving company address
Moving business address can be stressful for contractors, but an organised approach will make the legal side of it relatively hassle-free.
…specialist legal advisers or consultants, eg for IR35 Financial advisers (separate from accountants), p… …For most contractors who contract through a contracting limited company , their company address is the sa… …For most contractors who contract through a contracting limited company , their com…
Category: Articles: Limited Companies | Thu, 02 Apr 2009

6 tips for choosing an accountant for your limited company
Decided to use a limited company for your contracting? Then you'll need a specialist accountant. Here are 6 tips on how to find and choose one.
…which will specifically concern you, for example, IR35 and other “hot topics” relevant to your industry.… …Have you decided to start contracting using a limited company? Then you will need to ge…
Category: Articles: Limited Companies | Wed, 04 Oct 2017