Finance Bill 2011 tackles disguised remuneration
Employee benefit trusts and employment finance retirement benefits schemes are the latest to be targeted in proposed Treasury regulations.
Overseas tax havens may not be as safe as tax evaders hope
Umbrella company contractors and other freelance workers have been warned to be cautious of schemes that claim to be HMRC approved, when really they are referring to the reference number allocated to a scheme.
Interest rates will remain historically low for a bit longer
The Bank of England base rate is to remain at its historically low rate of 0.5%, at least for the immediate future, the Monetary Policy Committee has announced.
Will real-time PAYE information benefit umbrella company contractors?
HMRC has launched a consultation asking for opinions on the introduction of real-time information into the PAYE taxation system.
Do the government’s new broadband plans go far enough?
Umbrella company contractors hampered by poor broadband connections could welcome recent government announcements.
Will contractors form mass pelotons of cyclists in London?
The increased cost of travelling to work will encourage more people to abandon trains and buses and get on their bikes next year, according to reed.co.uk. Train fares are set to rise by up to 13% in the new year.
Should umbrella company contractors put their faith in an ISA?
Although the government spending cuts may not have a direct impact on everybody, it’s worth bearing in mind the underlying message that the coalition is trying to get through.
2011 won’t be too bad for IT contractors
There is a mixture of cautious optimism and trepidation amongst freelancers as we start the countdown to 2011. We still have to see the full impact of the government’s CSR and a lot of umbrella company contractors are feeling anxious about their future prospects.
Make sure your contractor earnings are working for you!
Although many people in the UK say they are worried about the state of their own finances, 67% of them have not made any changes to their saving habits since the recession started two years ago.
Freelancers must plan ahead
Umbrella company contractors should start considering their retirement now. Recent research, carried out by Defaqto, shows that 44% of adults in the UK are not confident that they will be able to sustain a reasonable standard of living once they retire. That’s a rise from 38% last year.
More opportunities for umbrella company contractors!
Contractors will no doubt be pleased to learn that the job market is improving and there has been an increase in the number of vacancies being advertised.
Encouraging private sector growth becomes a priority
On Monday, George Osborne and Vince Cable announced a fundamental review of the steps all areas of Government are taking to promote the best conditions to encourage growth in the private sector.
