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Maternity, Paternity and Sick Pay Rights for Umbrella Employees Understanding Statutory Rights as an Umbrella Employee When you work through an umbrella company, you’re classed as an employee rather than a contractor or self-employed worker. That means you’re entitled to many of the same employment rights as permanent staff, including […]

Umbrella Workers and Student Loan Repayments Explained When you work through an umbrella company and have a student loan, the umbrella handles your repayments automatically via PAYE — but it helps to know how the system works, what thresholds apply in 2025/26, and how to check your payslip. How repayment

Umbrella Companies and Mortgages: What Brokers Need to Know For many contractors, securing a mortgage is one of the biggest financial milestones. But when you’re paid through an umbrella company, things can get complicated. Unlike traditional employees, umbrella workers are employed, but their payslips and deductions can look confusing to

TUPE Transfers: What Contractors Need to Know When Moved Between Umbrella Companies Contractors working through umbrella companies sometimes find themselves caught up in a situation they didn’t expect: being “TUPE’d” across to another umbrella. TUPE stands for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. It’s the legislation that protects

HMRC September 2025 Update: Endeavour Services Ltd Added to Named Tax Avoidance Schemes HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published its latest update to the named tax avoidance schemes, promoters, enablers, and suppliers list. For September 2025, HMRC has added a new entity: Endeavour Services Ltd This follows a pattern

Should You Switch Umbrella Companies? A Step-by-Step Guide Working through an umbrella company is often the simplest way to contract inside IR35 — but not all umbrella companies are created equal. Contractors frequently ask: “Can I switch umbrella companies?” The answer is yes — and in some cases, you may

How IR35 Changes Push More Contractors Towards Umbrella Companies Ever since the IR35 reforms were introduced in the public sector in 2017, and later rolled out to the private sector in 2021, the contracting landscape has changed dramatically. What was once a straightforward decision between limited company contracting and umbrella

Employer’s National Insurance: Why Umbrella Workers End Up Paying It One of the most common frustrations umbrella company workers face is the deduction of Employer’s National Insurance (NI) from their pay. On the surface, this feels unfair – after all, it’s called “employer’s” NI, so why are contractors effectively footing

Can Umbrella Workers Claim Expenses in 2025? The Full Rules Explained One of the most common questions asked by umbrella employees is: “Can I still claim expenses?” The short answer in 2025: yes, but only in limited circumstances. Umbrella workers are employees for tax purposes, which means the ability to

HMRC Names Five Accountancy Firms Over Tax Avoidance Referrals HMRC has today (18 September 2025) named five accountancy firms for taking referral fees to connect clients with a tax avoidance scheme run by B2BTradecard Limited. The firms – HB&O Ltd, Ojak Consultancy Limited, Atlas Accountancy Limited, Henry Bramall & Co

How Much Do Umbrella Companies Cost? Hidden Fees Explained Understanding Umbrella Company Costs For contractors in the UK, umbrella companies offer a convenient way to manage payroll, tax deductions, and compliance obligations. Essentially, an umbrella company acts as your employer, invoicing your client or agency and then paying you a

MPs Reject Lords’ Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill: Why Umbrella Regulation Cannot Wait The Employment Rights Bill has once again dominated debate in Westminster — and the latest twist is worrying for contractors, agencies, and umbrella companies alike. Last week, MPs rejected a series of amendments proposed by the

Umbrella Company vs Limited Company vs Agency PAYE: Which Is Best in 2025? Choosing how to get paid as a UK contractor can have a major impact on your take-home pay, taxes, and benefits. In 2025, the three main options are Umbrella Companies, Limited Companies, and Agency PAYE. Understanding how

How Do Umbrella Company Payslips Work? A Simple Guide to Understanding Your Deductions If you’re new to contracting or freelancing in the UK, you may have already come across the term umbrella company. Many contractors choose to work through umbrella companies because they take care of tax, National Insurance, and

Top 10 Umbrella Company Questions Answered – For 2025/26 If you’re a contractor or freelancer working in the UK, choosing how to get paid is a crucial decision. Umbrella companies remain a popular option in the 2025/26 tax year — but they also come with a fair share of questions.

Barrister Named in HMRC Tax Avoidance Crackdown — A First for the Profession In a landmark move, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has publicly named a practising barrister as a promoter of tax avoidance schemes, the first time a member of the legal profession has been added to the government’s