Over a week after Giant Pay became the “victim of a sophisticated cyber-attack”, an update on the company’s website confirmed that on Friday 1st October 2021, Giant Pay had been able to make “over 18,000 payments to workers” and had “processed and paid all outstanding payrolls”. The full announcement from …
The security threats faced by Giant Pay and Unified Payroll have sent shockwaves through the umbrella company marketplace. Thousands of contractors have failed to receive their hard-earned salaries, and a lack of communication has caused extreme frustration by those impacted. We sincerely hope everything is resolved shortly. Our thoughts are …
There has been a long-standing wish from numerous stakeholders in the temporary workforce sector for the government to regulate umbrella companies. However, is regulating the umbrella company industry the correct solution to improve compliance and protect contractors, freelancers and agency workers? We’ve had a look at the pros and cons …
The pros and cons of regulating the umbrella company sector » Read the full story
We’re reading more and more trash online about umbrella companies and how “dodgy” and “unethical” they all are. We’re not here to mislead our readers, and some umbrella companies have acted poorly in the past and should be black-listed. However, most UK-based umbrella companies provide a valuable service that’s reliable …
Finding a good umbrella company: 10 tips for temporary workers » Read the full story
We’ve noticed a lot of contractors moaning about their umbrella company because of pay retention. Nobody wants to lose large chunks of their income in taxes, but unfortunately, we all have to contribute to society. It’s not the umbrella company’s fault you’re inside IR35, and we’ll explain more in this …
It’s not the umbrella company’s fault you’re inside IR35! » Read the full story
Nobody wanted a third lockdown, but after the rising numbers of coronavirus cases and associated deaths, the government was left with very little choice. And, to the governments credit, they have provided several support packages for businesses and workers to help keep the impact of lockdown number three to a …
The FCSA fights for contingent workers in response to lockdown #3 » Read the full story
Using an umbrella company is a simple, hassle-free way to get paid as a contractor, and the majority of umbrella companies operate in a compliant fashion. Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous tax avoidance schemes that disguise themselves as umbrella companies, and using one of these could land you in …
The warning signs of a tax avoidance scheme » Read the full story
Contracting through a limited company has many benefits, with the most obvious being the tax advantages for those who are outside IR35. However, using an umbrella company has its advantages too! We’re going to investigate both options so that we can help you decide which one is best for your …
Limited vs umbrella: which option should you choose? » Read the full story
A report published on the 26th November 2020 by HMRC discusses marketed tax avoidance schemes, and it makes for some fascinating reading. Entitled ‘Use of marketed tax avoidance schemes in the UK’, HMRC cover the size of the UK’s tax avoidance market, promoters of tax avoidance schemes, and what HMRC …
Changes to off-payroll in the private sector were scheduled to roll out in April 2020. However, after one of the most stressful and unpredictable years of all time, the amendments were put on hold for 12 months (Coronavirus pandemic). Despite a few rumours that the legislation changes will be postponed …
If you are a director of your own limited company, you will probably be used to claiming tax relief on a variety of business-related expenses. While this used to be the case for umbrella company employees, the rules have recently tightened around umbrella company expenses, and the tax relief you …
A Quick Guide to Umbrella Company Expenses » Read the full story
One of the most frequently asked questions by contractors and freelancers before they register with an umbrella company is how much they will get paid? We thought we’d answer this question in a simple and straightforward way so you can easily understand the umbrella company take home pay. The margin …
Understanding umbrella company take home pay » Read the full story
If you are new to the world of contracting, there are lots of different options to consider. Arguably the most critical decision is whether to set up your own limited company or work through an umbrella company. With the legislation changes to off-payroll working in the private sector just around …
Umbrella company benefits – 10 reasons why using a brolly is a good idea! » Read the full story
Everyone likes a bargain! As a result, you should absolutely look for an attractive deal from an umbrella company. After all – the umbrella market is pretty competitive due to the rising number of providers. And as a result, there are some super offers out there! Keep reading and we’ll …
How to properly shop around for an umbrella company deal » Read the full story
If you are new to contracting, have never used an umbrella company before, or are a director of a limited company, the workings of umbrella payroll may seem confusing. Working through an umbrella company is by far the easiest way to operate as a contractor. Unlike working through a limited …
Off-payroll in the public sector came into effect a few years ago now, and the impact on the temporary workforce has been massive. Hats off to all the public sector organisations that took the legislation seriously and had reliable and efficient IR35 assessment protocols in place. Unfortunately, loads of companies …
Hopefully a fair world awaits contractors after April 2021 » Read the full story
