Many people who either are looking to start their own business, or are a contractor or freelancer looking for a payroll solution, hear that limited companies are a tax-efficient way to operate in the UK. But with all the confusing jargon surrounding it, what is a limited company really and how can operating one benefit you?
There has been a lot of talk about the changes to off-payroll legislation in the public sector that went live on 6 April 2017. Contractors and their recruitment agencies have been heavily impacted by the changes and this article will summarise the best payroll options available to contractors working in the public sector.
With changes to off-payroll legislation (IR35) that have come into place in the public sector, and soon the private sector, demand for umbrella companies has drastically increased. Umbrella company payroll is an alternative payroll option to agency PAYE, and is a popular choice for contractors who can no longer work through a PSC (Personal Service Company).
The UK tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April the following year, which means the new tax year of 2017/18 is starting soon on Thursday 6th April. As a contractor and businessperson, there are things you can do to prepare for the new tax year and set yourself up for success.
It appears that Chancellor Philip Hammond has set his sights on the self-employed as he aims to extinguish “tax-motivated incorporation”, announced in Budget 2017 today, 8th March.
The clauses for Finance Bill 2017, published Monday 20th March, details the new rules for how the intermediaries legislation (IR35) will be determined for public sector contractors and freelancers working through a personal service company (PSC). The new rules come into effect on 6th April 2017 and affect payments made on or after that date.
Working through an umbrella company is the easiest way to operate as a contractor and once you have signed up, you will have a minimal amount of ongoing administration. However, do you know how an umbrella company actually works? Read our article to find out more about the processes involved when you sign up with an umbrella company.
The Spring Budget was announced last Wednesday, 8th March. It sparked plenty of backlash around measures to increase tax revenue from the self-employed, particularly the Chancellor’s plan to increase to Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which has now been cancelled.
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has published its study findings on how much freelancers contribute to the economy. The study revealed that freelancers in the UK contributed £119 billion to the economy in 2016.
Flexible working is certainly one of the most popular reasons people decide to take up contracting on a full-time basis. However, do contractors really take advantage of the opportunities available to them? If you’re a contractor, you owe it to yourself to get away for a long weekend and have some fun!
