The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond presented his Spring Statement to Parliament on Tuesday 13 March 2018. Unfortunately, the contractor sector must wait a while longer for news on any potential IR35 changes. There is a lot of frustration within the industry as many publications are being waited upon. What are we still…
In the current labour market, with the introduction of new IR35 legislation, recruitment agencies have discovered many individuals who previously worked through PSCs, now opting to use umbrella services. However, according to Tania Bowers from the General Counsel at APSCo, “umbrella companies are largely unregulated” which is cause for concern as numerous recruiters are still…
Former BBC presenter, Christa Ackroyd has lost her legal battle against HMRC. This is the first IR35 court case that the HMRC has won in seven years. Ackroyd and is now facing a fine of £419,151 in outstanding income tax and national insurance contributions covering tax years: 2006/07 to 2012/13. This ruling made by the…
In response to Matthew Taylor’s Independent Review of Employment Practices in the Modern Economy in 2017, the government have revealed this week their new Good Work Plan that recommends new rights for the UK’s flexible workforce. Alongside further consultations on the future of the UK workforce, the government will also be looking to tighten penalties against…
Since the public sector reform in April 2017, we are still asked frequently by public sector contractors if they should continue using their own limited company or switch to an umbrella. The answer very much depends on each individual’s circumstances thus we would strongly encourage contractors to speak to us for tailored advice. Nonetheless, we…
The outlook of the job market in 2018 continues to look promising for contractors. Vacancies, billings and pay rates remain encouraging, persistently growing throughout December and into the New Year. According to recruitment agencies surveyed for the REC/IHS Markit Report on Jobs, the introduction of new projects and a greater demand for short-term workers contributed…
It has been a turbulent year for contractors, especially those who work within the public sector and have been hit by the introduction of the “off-payroll” reforms in April. Now a storm of risky umbrella firms are luring temporary workers with promises of higher take-home retentions in a bid to sidestep the tax crackdown that’s…
Since the public sector reform in April 2017, we are still asked frequently by public sector contractors if they should continue using their own limited company or switch to an umbrella. The answer very much depends on each individual’s circumstances thus we would strongly encourage contractors to speak to us for tailored advice. Nonetheless, we…
The 2019 Loan Charge is HMRC’s next step in their crackdown on tax avoidance. They aim to recover unpaid taxes they deem to be owed by thousands of contractors who have used a disguised remuneration scheme. HMRC will be looking to collect payment for retrospective taxes from any individual who has used a disguised remuneration…
APSCo recognises and supports excellence within the professional recruitment market, which provides client organisations, recruitment agencies, and suppliers with a recognised stamp of quality assurance. We are delighted to announce that Cloud9 Umbrella is now an APSCo affiliate member, which means we have joined APSCo as an approved supplier for the contractor and freelancer industry.…
Tax avoidance was once again at the forefront of the government’s agenda in the Autumn Budget. A topic that has been meticulously discussed, Philip Hammond announced during his speech on Wednesday 22nd November 2017 that “the Government is committed to tackling tax evasion, avoidance and aggressive tax planning.” We’ve already seen an increased focus from…
So you’ve secured a contract…great! But before you agree to take on any project, there are some points you should consider before signing on the dotted line. Particularly with the clampdown on IR35, every contract you are given should be read carefully to evaluate your IR35 status. Since IR35 is such a complex legislation, the…