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A threshold increase in April has still probably not been taken advantage of by every eligible contractor on under £80k.

If the best time for the Tories to realise IR35 reform has been damaging was yesterday, the next best time is today -- as the opposition.

The Points of View presenter has his own point of view thrown out by the FTT, cueing up a full blown hearing into his IR35 status.

IT contractors may know it as a fintech company, but an arrangement HMRC says to withdraw from is among six of the newly ‘named and shamed.’

Some 8.5million Windows devices with Blue Screen of Death reminds companies they can’t always know who they’ll need from IT, with what tech skills, or when.

Scratching beneath the surface of what Sir Kier Starmer’s new government probably wants Single Worker Status to achieve.

Bolstering economic growth across the UK bodes well for IT freelancers -- we must now hope for differentiation, collaboration and frankly, more contract skills support.

The new Employment Rights Bill to ‘upgrade’ worker protections is unsettling the many non-inside IR35, who are workers but don’t want protecting.

Tech teams must balance AI use with GDPR compliance, or risk possible repercussions under data protection rules.

Little wonder 60% of the £39.8bn tax gap is down to small biz, what with IR35 reform; going ‘LTD’ because a mate told you to, and the HMRC disconnect.

‘Political noise’ blamed for hirers hitting the hiring brakes, with the screeching most painfully felt by IT operations, helpdesk, and software development candidates.

Imagining a world without the Intermediaries legislation (reformed or original), quickly reminds us that it’s probably ‘better the devil you know.’

What’s happened to TV’s Adrian Chiles, and what seven things contractors can do to avoid a similar fate. 

APSCo tells ContractorUK what the professional contract labour market should make of Sir Keir Starmer as the new PM.

We’ve got an anti-Tory result with no great enthusiasm for Keir Starmer. That’s what the people are really saying - and it’s a verdict IT freelancers will find hard to disagree with.

Sir Keir Starmer ejects Rishi Sunak from No 10, vowing to ‘restore Britain to the service of working people.'

As a new political dawn breaks, let’s not be rose-tinted about the future of IT contracting under the architects of IR35, but it’s clear a bum deal is now behind us.

Contractor Voice on HMCs – being brought out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Whichever party wins on July 4th a PPC pledge by the Liberal Democrats is one to lose, if the UK really wants to eradicate late payments.

Why Rachel Reeves saying ‘we will take on the tax dodgers’ sounds good in principle, but also has small companies quaking in their (HMRC-compliant) boots.

An already ticking dormancy clock for some PSCs should now sound deafening, due to a likely change of colour at Number 10 on July 5th.

A timely excavation of one of the (crumbling) cornerstones of late payment policy in the UK, which is meant to help contractors get paid on time.

Signing a commonsense commitment (following this government’s nonsensical approach), is the first step to getting your future MP to do their bit to right a wrong ruining 40,000 lives.

An exploration of getting the taxman totally off your back if you max out on contributions.

Hays finds that despite many feeling apprehensive about AI, most IT contractors will undergo Artificial Intelligence training -- before it ‘really takes hold.’

Two highly technical grounds of appeal succeeding for the taxman don’t make the UT’s decision necessarily right, according to IR35 advisers who have no less than six misgivings.

How to cope and get hired in a yoyo-ing market, where ghosting, rejection, and no callbacks are taking a toll.

Two political parties say the Single Enforcement Body is back in contention, which probably won’t disappoint contractors -- or a few Labour Market Enforcement officials.

PSCs face the odd prospect of having to put their divi deets on an ‘employment page,’ so HMRC can deepen its IR35 insight.

Four ways the physical helps the mental -- ideal if you’re an IT contractor stuck behind a screen.

A Labour pledge to rethink the government’s OPW rules would be a marginally bigger vote-winner than a vow to repeal, but the manifesto favourite, SWS, ‘could remove IR35 altogether.’

The victors on July 4th must end the ‘us versus them’ of IR35 reform repeal, in favour of a more nuanced path forward.

An Ed Davey-led government says it would review the Tories' OPW rules ‘to ensure self-employed people are treated fairly.’

Companies are ‘still stalling on hiring decisions,’ but the knock-on negative appetite for IT contractors is now reducing, month-on-month.

Not reinventing the wheel is fine for just 5% of the business community; for the remaining vast majority, it’ll just perpetuate abject unfairness.

What the Tories and Labour claim they would refrain from unveiling -- like an emergency Budget, is currently all that UK contracting has to look forward to.

HMRC says that where car allowance payments have been or will be made for use of a qualifying vehicle, they may now benefit from a higher amount of disregard.

Skims, scams and schemes likely to land you in hot water with HMRC be like…

A new probe by the taxman might trigger you to work in the ‘Prefer Not to Say’ sector. Assuming you give any answer at all.

The Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader says the ‘IR35 scandal’ is part of the 'raw deal' for the self-employed, in line with calls by FCSA, cross-party MPs, and now IPSE.

FCSA: With General Election 2024 just 34 days away, no party with skin in the game can afford to ignore the burgeoning temporary labour market, and its 5.4million votes.

There’s a twist to IR35 reform but if parity matters, there’s also a rub, as there isn’t ‘any government department’ immune to the OPW rules.

Voting has started as to whether the contractor sector wants to wake up to Sir Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak in No 10 on July 5th.

A supposedly US firm is trying to fleece UK umbrella companies by seeking an initial line of credit for 'phantom' contractors, with convincing nods like ‘due diligence,’ IR35, and HMRC-risk.

A first-person account of a Teams call with a scammer, which hopefully proves third time’s a charm.

Top 10 considerations ahead of you working from the UK for a company based wholly overseas.

Contractor advisers: ‘If there was ever a hint or wake-up call to get due diligence in place now, this is it’ -- so ‘ignore it at your peril.’

Contractors ‘strongly advised’ to pull out of four avoidance schemes, newly ‘named and shamed’ by HMRC and accused of ‘destroying lives’.

Contrary to popular belief there’s actually a few ways to sweeten the bitter pill of moving from limited to umbrella. Or if not sweeten, make palatable.

The idea that the former midfielder can take the ban (not the ball) on the chin (not his head), is probably wishful thinking.

Replies to MPs not according with the status struggles we see day-to-day is proof that the taxman no longer lives in the real world.

Unlike demand, rates are holding up even as engagers seemingly resort to every trick in the book not to splurge on talent.

It’s essential to value your tech expertise but it’s wise to factor in budgets, trends, and tomorrow, too.

Complexities abound, but nevertheless running a UK limited company business from sunnier climes is indeed entirely possible.

More ‘due diligence’ on umbrella companies is useful - but the truth is that we need regulation and enforcement for things to actually change.

Five schemes of varying levels of sophistication get newly ‘named and shamed’, and three others are put under HMRC stop notices.

It’s been 17 years since they first struck, but the MSC rules getting a guidance refresh should help the contractors of today ‘understand, identify, and respond.’

How to politely place ‘Do Not Cross’ lines around your business, so ‘You Shall Not Pass’ achieves respect.

There’s no shortcut to the long, complex process of making contractor umbrella companies compliant, safe and viable.

Government claims to accept PAC’s recommendations despite one recommendation stemming from fears the taxman’s OPW approach puts off legitimate business activity.

Next time you hear the phrase the ‘party of business,’ you’d be forgiven for asking ‘which party is that then?’

This stance as an agency boss on regulating umbrella companies will banish me from the Christmas card list of the big staffing bodies.

Systematic issues plague the contractor umbrella market, making tools an inadequate fix and the devils to beware numerous.

A life coach shares top tips on turning stressful contract or client situations into water off a duck’s back.

The unfortunate, disorientating, guinea pig-like experience of Richard Alcock is grounds for government to ‘seriously consider other options’ -- IR35 advisers.

Buried in the government-speak, the worrying signs are that UK contracting is looking at the sister of CEST, and a new avoidance mission for HMRC.

It’s far past time for forceful action to purge the unscrupulous from the umbrella industry. But this government’s next move is probably to pass the buck.

Receiving a fixed regular fee irrespective of work done is now enough to satisfy the ‘uncomplicated’ MoO test.

Disappointed, insulted, and back in ‘wait and see’ mode, contractor umbrella companies at least know the future is a ‘due diligence’ requirement for agencies to police.

Two cases concerning notification to HMRC have just been put to judges, and neither went in favour of the avoidance scheme provider.

Hiring fraud is becoming endemic, triggering toolkits, red-flag systems, and digital defences to keep contractors and other job-seekers safe.

An IT consultant who won on IR35 back in 2019 is told the judge got it wrong, meaning an HMRC bill of  £240,000 is still ‘hanging over’ him. 

IR35 contractual best-practice looks like this…(but just make sure to show your client/hirer too).

Money matters, but it’s not just costs to consider as an umbrella employee paying to keep your own limited company running. 

Hopes raised that despite falling further last month, IT contractor demand has now bottomed out -- ahead of a potential April-June boom.

The number of techies set to start temp roles (like our projects pipeline), turned a corner in March 2024.

In the second leg against another football pundit, HMRC has won hands down, hoisting numerous status red flags for business and contractors to beware.

A 90% cut in the dividend allowance takes the gloss of ‘a good IR35 thing likely to have very little impact.’

When the cost of reading an email wrong is avoiding a £100 late filing penalty but not the subsequent HMRC enquiry.

A tip to buy six £50 food vouchers before the tax year ends isn’t going down well with all limited company tax advisers -- for fear it may not go down well with HMRC.

Naysayers think CEST logic should be changed, but to what and based on what case law?

Now or never: PSCs who paid IR35 bills in 2019/20 have until Friday to submit ‘overpayment relief claims.’

Avoid looking the fool later on, by checking now how yesterday’s new hourly rate of £11.44 affects your minimum assignment rate.

HMRC no longer being free to continue on as a ‘non-ministerial department’ is important enough to warrant a place in our manifesto – IPSE.

Been benched for three months? Then our award-winning CV and LinkedIn profile-writing service could be yours, totally free of charge.

Winning work expert Matt Craven shares his new quick and dirty tips -- and previews a secret offer for ContractorUK readers not feeling very Warren Buffet.

UK contractor service providers will be recognised in 23 distinct categories. Who will you root for from Aug 1st, and cheer on in London on Nov 13th?

SG Accounting tots up how much thresholds would need to rise to make the government’s tax cut make work pay (in real-terms).

Seven ‘new’ schemes which the taxman says contractors should withdraw from were ‘named and shamed’ in 2024’s first quarter.

Nine in 10 hiring managers say the legal line between internal employee and contingent worker needs greater clarity.

A workplace should do right by its entire workforce but where it doesn’t, an experienced life coach is essential for your wellbeing, productivity and emotional health as a contractor.

Recruiters are right to warn IT contractors that the days of looking for squiggles to find evidence of contract acceptance are over.

The politically-motivated changes for non-domiciled individuals are arguably Spring Budget’s biggest tax certainty of the future.

Frustrated CEOs, candidates waiting longer, and concerned agents asking if last month’s ‘uncertainty’ is a ‘sign of harder times to come.’

SThree: The narrative that Artificial Intelligence will displace us human labour organisers is now outdated, because it’s already bedding in as an ally in workforce and recruitment processes.

'Let’s just hope the wait’s been worth it' - and other sentiments ahead of brolly regulation ‘next steps’ being finally revealed by officials.

It's hard not to condemn the government as presiding over a series of missed opportunities with contractors paying the price.

Like all of us, contractors need to know the difference between everyday stresses and too much to bear alone.

Chancellor has nothing to say on the ‘onerous and impractical’ HMRC framework linked to ‘deterring legitimate economic activity.’

Freelancer Financials homes in on Jeremy Hunt’s key announcements affecting UK housing, including implications for your own bricks and mortar.