Do you want to work smarter instead of just working harder? This week our blog highlights the top five apps that can reduce the number of devices you need to carry around, while keeping your personal life and work life separate.
Working as a contractor is a great way to broaden your skills and experience in addition to having more control and flexibility in your career. While the process of finding new contracts can be tedious, it does not need to be stressful.
Contractors often find that one of the benefits of contracting is working from a home office. However, this convenience means that you will inevitably eat into your own electricity and heating that you would otherwise not use when working in a professional workplace. Furthermore, you may need to purchase specialist equipment that would otherwise be provided by an employer. This leads most working contractors to ask, what expenses can I claim if I work from home?
The new tax year is only one day away, marking the arrival of several changes to tax legislation that will have an impact on contractors. George Osborne announced the changes during the Summer Budget 2015 and Autumn Statement 2015 in a move to tackle alleged tax avoidance in the contractor industry.
One of the biggest factors contributing to stress levels is a lack of sleep. With all the modern-day distractions of phones, tablets, TV, Netflix, and the need to respond immediately to e-mails coming in from work at all hours, it is easy to see how falling asleep might be difficult for contractors.
Question: “I have just finished studying for master’s degree and have now started contracting to maximise my pay, but I am not sure how I go about paying off my student loan as a contractor. Can you advise as I would like to set up a limited company but don’t know how this would affect my take home pay?”
Going digital could now happen a lot sooner than anticipated. In a bid to modernise the current Personal Tax Return system, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have announced that the progression to move this process entirely online will be introduced by April 2016. Millions of taxpayers will have the option to open their own digital tax account and complete their Personal Tax Return online. The transition to digital processes often faces issues and errors so what can you expect from the digital Tax Return and what challenges could you face by taking your tax return online?
In his eighth Budget, George Osborne has set out measures to improve the health of the UK economy. The 2016/17 Budget aims to balance the country’s finances as well as reduce national debt and the budget deficit.
Social media has become a fantastic tool for businesses and individuals to promote their business or brand. It can also be a great tool with which to conduct research and gather information, especially for your recruiters and potential clients looking for new opportunities with contractors.
Being a contractor has the added benefit of not being restricted to traditional office hours, so this March, use flexible working hours and locations to your advantage and enjoy some of these top sports from around the world.
