April’s IR35 tax reform is causing a mass exodus of public sector contractor talent and delays to projects agencies are recruiting for, according to research from contracting site ContractorCalculator.The findings of their survey of 1,500 contractors, released this morning, reveals 76% of public sector departments have lost top talent due to the reforms, with the talent drain causing 71% of projects to be delayed or cancelled.The research, which follows on from anecdotal evidence that … [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...]
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...]
The Sun Doesn’t Always Shine
IR35 Autumn Statement Public Sector (let's not forget the Private Sector) April 6th legislative change Apprenticeship LevyNot only have the above words been searched countless times on google, been on a plethora of agendas, they remain areas constantly being discussed.No longer a question of when or if the changes will be implemented or even delayed, the legislative landscape has changed – with changes implemented 6/4/17. If you’re not on the front foot now, there is still time, … [Read more...]
HMRC puts its own IT contractors inside IR35
The IR35 digital tool was delayed because the very IT contractors who built it quit the tax authority amid fears it would place them inside tomorrow's new legislation.In fact, the 18 limited company IT contractors who worked on the tool – the ESS – left HMRC on Friday before it was publicly unveiled, fearing for their own IR35 status.“This is why the launch date for the tool was delayed and also why HMRC have struggled to get it working properly,” said a PSC whose colleagues were on the … [Read more...]
An open letter to workers and contractors in the NHS
Dear NHS workers and contractors,We would first like to start this letter with saying thank you. Thank you for everything you have done, everything you continue to do and everything you will do as you continue to slave under the laborious and hard hours working for our National Health Service.After reading through articles by the BBC, Independent, Daily Mail and so on it is clear that you are seriously having a hard and worrying time working where you do. This past year has thrown … [Read more...]
NHS deems its entire PSC workforce inside IR35
The dozens of PSC contractors who will quit working at a London hospital before next Thursday look like a precursor to a much bigger exodus of such workers from the health service.In fact, despite warnings that 85% of PSCs will quit if decided inside IR35 by their client from April 6th, the NHS has told its entire PSC workforce that it will be caught by the new legislation.In an email seen by ContractorUK, NHS Improvement says “all” locum and agency staff will be “subject to PAYE and on … [Read more...]
Agencies slash PSCs’ pay rates, insist on umbrellas
PSCs are being blocked from staying as ‘Ltd’ companies and applying IR35 because agencies and public bodies want to head off hassle next month of assessing status and withholding tax.Ultimatums are therefore being sent to such PSCs before April 6th, in essence saying ‘convert to a PAYE umbrella, ignore the less-taxing model of being a PSC inside IR35, or be out of work.’“The best option for [you/a PSC], with regard to take-home pay, and us [the agency], from an admin and compliance … [Read more...]
HMRC comes under fire from providers
HM Revenue & Customs’ new Employment Status Service (ESS) tool to determine the IR35 status of public sector contractors has come under fire from contractor service providers. The tool, launched ahead of a new requirement on public sector companies to set the IR35 status of contractors they engage from 6 April, is facing criticism from service providers just a day after its launch. Commenting on the new tool’s launch, Dave Chaplin, CEO and founder of contractor portal ContractorCalculator, … [Read more...]
IR35 Reform of Intermediaries Legislation: Public Authorities
HMRC has published an update on it's Off-payroll working in the public sector: reform of intermediaries legislation page to include further information for public authorities. Gov.co.uk states under Public Authorities: "For the purpose of this reform, a public authority means a public authority as defined for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.This definition covers government departments and their executive agencies, many … [Read more...]