Banks and building societies are to carry out immigration checks on 70m current accounts from January in the biggest extension of Theresa May’s plans to create a “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants in Britain, the Guardian has learned.The Home Office expects to identify 6,000 visa over-stayers, failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders facing deportation in the first year of the checks, which are to be carried out quarterly.The accounts of those identified will be … [Read more...]
Are you and your business ready for the Criminal Finances Act 2017?
With so much red tape and other recent changes to IR35 passing your desk, you can be forgiven for taking little notice of this legislation passed by Parliament last April. An introduction date of 30th September means that action may need to be taken to ensure you remain compliant.The Government believes that relevant bodies should be criminally liable where they fail to prevent those who act for, or on their behalf from criminally facilitating tax evasion.Here is a link to the draft … [Read more...]
IR35 reform in the private sector: waiting for the other shoe to drop
Long before controversial public sector IR35 reform was introduced in April, speculation was mounting that the private sector would face similar changes. And in fact, public sector reform was simply seen as a test-run for the private sector by many, writes Seb Maley, Qdos Contractor's CEO.While private sector IR35 reform has not yet been confirmed by the government, the rumour that this might well happen in time does have substance. Along with increasing media attention, private sector IR35 … [Read more...]
HMRC winning majority of tax avoidance cases
One of the three cases lost by HMRC concerned InvestecHM Revenue & Customs lost just three of the 26 tax avoidance cases heard in 2016/17, data from the Government department shows.A list of litigation decisions that involved tax avoidance on the HMRC website shows that there was also one mixed decision – concerning brewer Greene King – where the outcome was found partially in favour of HMRC.The three cases it lost concerned Investec, Project Blue, which is a subsidiary of … [Read more...]
Moving back to a trusted umbrella service from an expensive PSC provider!
Following changes for off payroll working in the Public Sector, many contractors may have found themselves assessed as working inside IR35. Many end clients do not want the hassle of deciding each individual case and so have placed a blanket ban on all contractors. Many of these contractors cease operating through their own limited company, and opt instead for umbrella employment as their agency and end client have suggested. For a contractor working inside IR35 this is usually the better … [Read more...]
Attention Social Care Workers!
Don't Miss Out - Optimise Your Net PayIn the ever evolving legislative landscape, working within Social Care you may be entitled to offset expenses.This is particularly relevant when providing home care support and/or when your work takes you across multiple sites.At ePayMe, we recognise how hard you work for your money, and we work hard to ensure your net pay position is the best it possibly can be.Of course, we do this with compliance front of mind and ensure all deductions and … [Read more...]
NHS IT agency foresees PSCs moving to brollies
Contractors who supply the NHS through limited companies will likely move to umbrella companies before April’s IR35 reform comes into force, a health service IT recruiter predicts.Contractors’ next best alternative is to leave the public sector or the NHS for the private sector instead, says Don Tomlinson, managing director of NHS IT staffing firm max20.Tomlinson sounded aware that contractors who don’t act before April will have a third option -- stay as a limited company and accept the … [Read more...]
No More Hiding
Two things in the coming weeks are certain;1. Christmas is on its way2. We will soon be in 2017“You can’t hide” (from the above), and nor can providers continuing to operate in murky waters (the net continues to close). Compliance is King – ePayMe understands this. Ensure you are engaged with a payroll partner whose reputation precedes them whilst delivering a “customer first” mentality.ePayMe, along with their client base are working tirelessly to ensure 2017 starts off at … [Read more...]
NHS boss ‘orders a stop to payments to PSCs’
Hospitals have been ordered to simply stop paying external managers through personal service companies.Jim Mackay, chief executive of health service regulator NHS Improvement, reportedly issues the order in a letter he sent to hospital leaders on Tuesday.Seen by the Times, the letter states that interims in leadership roles can be hired only if they are set clear goals and held to account for failure to achieve them.The criteria come after Mr Mackay wrote there is sometimes either … [Read more...]
Do you operate within the Public Sector?
Last Monday saw the release of the HMRC’s draft finance bill, detailing the reforms as to how the IR35 legislation must be operated in the public sector from April 2017.There have been strong reactions from industry bodies to the Government’s new ‘Draft provisions for Finance Bill 2017’, nearly 400 pages of new tax legislation setting out the draft provisions for technical consultation, including changes to National Insurance contributions, clampdown on salary sacrifice contracts for new car … [Read more...]