The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
The BBC was recently told by HMRC whistleblowers that the Revenue has been instructed not to chase a lot of underpayment cases that are over two years old and which could be open to a legal challenge; a claim that has been strongly denied by an HMRC spokesman.
HMRC says it will continue to chase tax underpayment cases » Read the full story
New research shows that small businesses, recruiters and umbrella companies in the north have less chance of obtaining business loans than their counterparts in the south.
Northern companies struggle to obtain finance » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors will be pleased to hear that the first two quarters of this year saw a 9% increase in the use of interim managers, according to the latest Ipsos MORI survey findings, and 52% of all interim assignments were in the private sector.
Interim managers key to business critical change management » Read the full story
A fivefold increase in prosecutions against tax evaders could see HMRC bringing 800 people a year to court. In the year to September 30 2009, the Revenue brought 157 prosecutions against individuals.
Will HMRC clampdown affect umbrella companies? » Read the full story
The FSB is asking the government to do more to encourage competition in the banking sector. There have been concerns that the current lack of competition could lead us back into recession.
FSB calls for more competition in the banking sector » Read the full story
Rather than reversing the trend for late payments, a new directive from the EU could actually make matters worse, according to the FPB.
Contractors may have to wait longer for settlement » Read the full story
It was recently reported that many people are not prepared for the day to day financial changes that take place on retirement and one reason for this could be that we simply do not believe that 65 is old.
Have you considered a contractor pension yet? » Read the full story
Any contractors currently at work in the UK as either limited companies or sole traders may be interested in a new series of figures recently published by HM Revenue & Customs.
HMRC finds £42 billion tax gap » Read the full story
New data released recently by the Office for National Statistics illustrate that the current rates of unemployment in the country have dropped by an additional 8,000 people for the months of May, June, and July.
Unemployment rate sends mixed signals, expert says » Read the full story
UK contractors and freelancers may very well be among a new class of entrepreneurs who are of the belief that the current economic landscape will soon be improving.
New report on entrepreneurs released » Read the full story
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has issued a call to contract recruitment agencies, umbrella companies, and the clients they do business with to exercise caution when developing alternative worker policies.
Will umbrella companies look wildly different post AWR? » Read the full story
Nearly 150,000 small businesses in the UK are facing fears that they may become insolvent if they cannot maintain their contracts with the public sector.
SMEs and contractors face up to public sector cuts » Read the full story
In a recent announcement by the Government, its Spending Challenge has borne fruit in that three ideas submitted to it through both public sector workers and members of the public will soon be implemented as new governmental policy.
Government implements savings regime » Read the full story
New data revealed recently illustrated that while IT contract worker demand has risen lately, pay rates for IT contractors has not kept up.
IT contractor pay rates are not keeping up with demand » Read the full story
Due to recently discovered errors, HMRC has sent out its first round of approximately 45,000 letters to taxpayers, potentially including umbrella company contractors, informing them that their taxes were wrong. The total number of letters sent out should top 6 million by the end of this year.
Contractors contacted by HMRC told not to bury their heads in the sand » Read the full story
According to new data released from the British Chambers of Commerce, contractors across many UK industries may be in for some good news: the BCC predicts that British GDP will rise by 1.7 per cent this year and 2.2 per cent the following year.
Good news for UK contractors » Read the full story
