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...]
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...]
We are giving away iPads
It really couldn't be any easier. 1 x iPad will be won by a Consultant - If you are a consultant working with us, you will be placed in the draw for every contractor you send to us. (There are no restrictions on how many times you can be entered) 1 x iPad will be won by a Contractor - All new contractors registering with us before the end of June 2017, will also be placed in the draw to win. (You will need to be fully registered and in an assignment to qualify) The draw will … [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...]
Self-employment models coming under scrutiny again
In 2014, HMRC introduced new rules designed to remove so-called false self-employment for workers engaged via intermediaries. These rules centred on ”SDC” tests designed to establish whether a worker was, or was capable of, working under supervision, direction and control. Unless an engager could evidence that no SDC (or right to) existed, PAYE/NIC would need to be applied to the worker’s earnings as though they were employees Not surprisingly, the number of self-employed contractors working … [Read more...]
Booming gig economy is bad for UK public finances, says TUC
Low-paid self-employment and zero-hours contracts are costing more than £75m a week in lost taxes and national insurance contributions, new research indicates. The rapid rise in insecure work in the UK is costing the government almost £4bn a year in lost tax income and benefit payouts, according to new research into the gig economy by the Trades Union Congress. The UK’s growing legions of low-paid, self-employed workers and those on zero-hours contracts earn significantly less than regular … [Read more...]
Umbrella vs In-house PAYE
Finding it difficult to decide? Are you stuck between using an agency which offers internal PAYE or working for an Umbrella company? There are a few things you’ll need to consider before you make a decision. One of the main benefits of Umbrella over in-house PAYE is that with Umbrella you are fully covered by employment rights throughout. This includes statutory payments, such as; sick pay, maternity/paternity pay and holiday pay (if you do not opt out). Your workers’ rights are not always … [Read more...]
Hermes facing legal challenge from its self-employed workers
Move is being led by GMB union on behalf of couriers who believe delivery company wrongly classes them as self-employed Hermes, the courier company that delivers parcels for John Lewis and Next, is facing a legal claim from workers who believe they are wrongly classed as self-employed, according to the Labour MP Frank Field. Speaking on Thursday, he said the move is being orchestrated by the GMB union. It follows a Guardian investigation that found Hermes was paying some of its couriers at … [Read more...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plans and their impact on employment law
Theresa May’s speech was welcomed by businesses who are seeking clarity on the long term plans for Brexit. Whilst certainty was provided on certain areas, such as whether the UK will remain a member of the single market, other areas remain deliberately vague as the final position is unknown due to the need to negotiate with the European Union (EU). For many employers, the Prime Minister’s confirmation that immigration will be controlled domestically is one of the most important objectives of … [Read more...]