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...]
FCSA says HMRC’s online tool is ‘not fit for purpose’
A new online tax tool designed to offer reassurance over the rules regarding IR35 status is likely to cause more problems than it will solve, according to the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA).HM Revenue & Customs has designed the tool to be used by contractors, agencies or hirers to provide a definitive document to prove that a contractor is working according to IR35 rules, assuming that the questions are answered honestly.But the trade association for umbrella … [Read more...]