Despite the important role that umbrella companies play in supporting contractors, providing all employment rights and ensuring tax and NICs are paid, there are numerous misunderstandings about how umbrellas work in practice.Five ‘myths,’ if you will, still doing the rounds, writes Julia Kermode, CEO of the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association.Myth 1Hidden charges!When trade unions first became aware of umbrella companies, they were concerned about the apparent … [Read more...]
Are Agencies taking a contractor’s earnings serious enough?
With workers becoming more and more in demand and a lack of work currently available for skilled temporary/contracted workers, there is more emphasis on the agencies to offer a better service. This is not only with their on-boarding, but also to give the worker the flexibility to be able to earn more. A happy worker will not only return, but also spread the love by recommending to fellow co-workers on their experience.This experience not only works for agencies but also from a payroll … [Read more...]
New HMRC Spotlight on umbrella companies ‘does not go far enough’
Umbrella companies inspiring HMRC’s new ‘Spotlight’ publication – dedicated to schemes that avoid tax – has been endorsed by payroll company bosses themselves, albeit tentatively.In fact, far from disliking brollies being in a HMRC series on abusive arrangements, Contractor Umbrella says it is “useful,” CWC Solutions deems it overdue and the FCSA said it was "welcome.”HMRC putting beyond doubt that 80, 90 or 95% take-home pay is not tax-compliant; that brollies are “never HMRC-approved”, … [Read more...]
Don’t settle for expecting the unexpected
With hundreds of provider’s advertising their wares within the Umbrella Payroll market space it is difficult for a contractor to compare all of the different figures that they are provided. Finding the right Umbrella Company is important as these will be the companies that ensure that a contractor is paid accurately and on time. Since the implementation of the IR35 changes in April 2017, the main grievance from contractors who have had to utilise an Umbrella Company’s services, has been that not … [Read more...]
To Prefer or not To Prefer…. That is the question
Whilst many Recruitment Agencies utilise a Preferred Supplier List (PSL) of umbrella companies and contractor accountants, how sure can stakeholders of an agency be that this is being enforced by their workforce?Unfortunately, not everyone plays fair and with the introduction of various pieces of legislation in the past few years, the need for an agency and its directors to protect itself has never been greater. The new Criminal Finance Act especially includes the corporate offence which … [Read more...]
IR35: what private PSCs could see in April 2019
While some people talk about fairness and parity between freelancers and the employed, I doubt the government is looking at changing the IR35 legislation because they feel a moral obligation to create greater fairness, writes Mark Lee, founder of ContractElite.The government needs to collect more tax; that’s the real incentive. As chancellor Philip Hammond has already flagged up (and quite nicely, given that his Spring Statement 2018 is just around the corner), the greater propensity for … [Read more...]
Weathering the storm
Julia Kermode, CEO at Freelancer & Contractor Services Association on why umbrellas should continue.A storm of negative media coverage has enveloped umbrella companies over the last few years and the political environment for umbrellas still presents our sector with many challenges. The right, the left and the unions in between have all got something to say about umbrellas but it was pleasing to hear Matthew Taylor come out and support umbrellas with a balanced view when he published his … [Read more...]
Calls to outlaw umbrella firms in the NHS (by a union that doesn’t understand how umbrella works)
Yet again, this news proves that organisations that should be educated and look at the best interests of its members, clearly has no grasp of reality. Working through a compliant umbrella company would mean that the worker does not lose eligible earnings, the agency should create an Agency Rate that includes an uplifted amount above PAYE to include such deductions as employers NI, holiday pay, pension contributions and an amount for margin/fee. It is not the umbrella that is a parasite … [Read more...]
Umbrella working offers better rates of pay, says FCSA
Umbrella working is being adopted by an increasing number of high-end professionals in a diverse range of occupations, according to research by the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA).Key findings from the study, which compares umbrella working in 2015 with 2017, show that the average assignment rate has risen significantly over the last two years, with 73% of umbrella workers earning £15 per hour or more, compared to 53% earning the same rate in 2015.The average length … [Read more...]
The Criminal Finances Act will come into force this Autumn! Just as we’re getting our heads, and procedures, round GDPR
Criminal Finances Act (APSCo Quarterly Board Pack Briefing)Overview: The Criminal Finances Act came into force on 27 April 2017 and introduces new corporate offences of failing to prevent the facilitation of UK or foreign tax evasion. Part 3 will come into force through a Statutory Instrument in Autumn 2017. It introduces a new corporate criminal offence for businesses that fail to put in place reasonable procedures to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion by their employees and … [Read more...]