Contracting UK not viable. Where then?

[d000hg]

What are viable alternatives to contracting in the UK, now that the government have effectively killed the industry overnight?

It's not viable to pay less tax overall than a permie, while earning far more?

You're seriously saying that paying a fairly typical level of tax on £400/day is no a sustainable way of living?

How out of touch with the real world can you be?

[alphadog]

I would suggest NZ, but I am pretty sure everyone's a permo there

[oliverson]

Probably, but as a lifestyle choice, you can get a **** off big house, big V8 car and life it large like a footballer compared to the UK.

Depends on where you are looking in NZ. The nicer parts of Auckland are prohibitively expensive. I was once offered a job in Christchurch but it fell through. Thank heavens for that given the earthquake.

It is a lovely country though. However, the contracting market is pretty non-existent.

[vetran]

Didn't Australia bring in their own version of IR35 making LtdCo use pretty much impossible?

AIUI its a bit more logical it measures how many customers you have and decides so if you have 8 customers a year where most of your income comes from equally then you are outside, if you haave employees and a substantial premises you are out etc.

its not HMRC think you are so lets go to court.

[oliverson]

It's not viable to pay less tax overall than a permie, while earning far more?

You're seriously saying that paying a fairly typical level of tax on £400/day is no a sustainable way of living?

How out of touch with the real world can you be?

It's not just the dividend tax. I typically contract in London but live elsewhere. My travel and accommodation expenses are around £ 25k per annum. If they shut that door as well I'm doomed.

[BrilloPad]

I would suggest NZ, but I am pretty sure everyone's a permo there

Avoid NZ. Tay is there.

[Stamkos91]

Greece!

Always best to get in on the ground of a whole new venture right?

[d000hg]

It's not just the dividend tax. I typically contract in London but live elsewhere. My travel and accommodation expenses are around £ 25k per annum. If they shut that door as well I'm doomed.

a)Why is that anyone's fault but yours?
b)Why does it make that big a difference (genuine question)?

[alphadog]

a)Why is that anyone's fault but yours?
b)Why does it make that big a difference (genuine question)?

You sound like a slightly brainwashed bbc reporter

[Gumbo Robot]

It's not just the dividend tax. I typically contract in London but live elsewhere. My travel and accommodation expenses are around £ 25k per annum. If they shut that door as well I'm doomed.

Same here.

I'd have to move close to somewhere where there's a good constant supply of contract work, i.e. the South East.

I'm already completely disillusioned with IT work so this could be the nudge that would force me to go and do something completely different.

I'm not talking going permie - getting out of the whole game altogether.

I've got no kids so downshifting to something less lucrative is a viable option.