Contractors must make sure their tax affairs are in order
HMRC is likely to become more vigilant when it comes to scrutinising the tax affairs of umbrella company contractors, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
umbrella company
Umbrella companies and the agency workers directive
The controversy regarding the Agency Workers Directive continues, as in fact it is likely to so do for some time to come. Although the AWD does not come into force until next October, the recruitment industry is already starting to prepare for implementation.
Interim managers may be being too pessimistic
Contractors working in the retail sector have seen their rates slashed since the recession began, according to Interim Partners’ director of retail and consumer.
Are you a freelance mastermind?
The PCG is holding Mastermind sessions throughout the UK in the run up to National Freelancers Day (November 23rd).
Recruitment optimism for umbrella company contractors
The services sector showed modest growth last month, according to the most recent Markit/CIPS Business Activity Index.
Should umbrella company contractors be saving or spending?
Last week, the Bank of England controversially hinted that we should be spending rather than saving.
Mixed predictions on the future of the economy
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research think tank predicts that the UK’s economy will increase by 1.3% this year. In 2011, GDP will grow by 1.7% followed by an increase of 2.2% in 2012.
More people are now benefiting from flexible working
Umbrella company contractors will no doubt be interested to learn that more people in the UK are now working flexibly.
Young umbrella company contractors need to consider pensions
Young umbrella company contractors need to be encouraged to save for their retirement, but in order to make the prospect appealing, the UK pensions industry need to undergo radical reform, according to George Ladds from the Fair Investment Company.
Interim managers key to business critical change management
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.
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.
Unemployment rate sends mixed signals, expert says
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.
New report on entrepreneurs released
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.
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.
Contractors contacted by HMRC told not to bury their heads in the sand
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.
Good news for UK contractors
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.