Treasury admits income tax and NI cannot merge completely
Some limited company contractors have been hoping that the government’s proposal to align income tax and National Insurance would be the final nail in the coffin for IR35.
national insurance
Should umbrella companies be concerned about income tax/NI merger?
Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that a firm of chartered accountants has expressed concerns about the plan to merge income tax and national insurance.
Firms need tax breaks to encourage them to hire young people
Prospects aren’t looking too bad for contractors at the moment, but unfortunately the UK’s young people are still struggling to find employment.
Confidence amongst small businesses collapsed in Q3, says FSB
Umbrella company contractors may be concerned to learn that small business confidence collapsed in the third quarter, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
Poor service standards have been going on for years in HMRC
Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that MPs do not accept HMRC’s excuse that problems with implementing NPS were to blame for poor standards of service.
Umbrella companies warned on using expense scheme
HMRC has issued a warning to recruiters, including umbrella companies, against the adoption of a new business model for travel and subsistence.
Limited Company? Umbrella? Self-Employed Umbrella?
If you are entering into a contract with an agency you will no doubt have been faced with the daunting options of choosing your route – either going PAYE directly with the agency, going limited or using an umbrella company.
Should sole traders be exempt from certain legislation?
The British Chamber of Commerce recently called on the coalition to encourage sole traders to grow by making them exempt from certain legislation.
Small businesses want to see a reduction in employers NICs
A new survey from the FSB confirms that small businesses would be more willing to take on staff if the coalition reduced employers National Insurance Contributions.
HMRC staff still receive high bonuses despite blunders
Despite various blunders by HMRC last year that affected umbrella company contractors, the department still spent nearly £800,000 more on bonus payments to staff than it paid out the previous year.
HMRC finds £42 billion tax gap
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.
SMEs and contractors face up to public sector cuts
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.
Government implements savings regime
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.
Travel and subsistence expenses guidelines for umbrella companies
On Tuesday the government published their proposed amendments to the travel and subsistence expenses scheme for workers receiving the National Minimum Wage.
Small businesses are feeling less than optimistic
The Voice of Small Business Index shows that confidence amongst SMEs deteriorated in the 2nd quarter of 2010.
Will the employer’s NIC holiday benefit my umbrella company?
The FSB had urged George Osborne to give small businesses time to implement any changes to the VAT rate and he did indeed do so in his budget speech yesterday.