The growing demand for flexible workforce skills is leading to a digital revolution in the freelance and contractor economy. While sites like PeoplePerHour have catered for the freelance piecework niche, a raft of platforms are taking on the task of joining up supply and demand for independent workers on a whole new scale.…
READ MOREWhen it comes to contractor concerns, a recent industry poll showed that 62% view IR35 reform as a greater threat than Covid-19 and Brexit combined. This could explain the slow uptake with self-employment, despite the spate of recent redundancies. In times of economic crisis, entrepreneurship and microbusinesses have traditionally played a critical part in economic recovery, helping to establish new markets and increasing flexible access to skills.…
READ MOREWith Covid-19 measures altering the way many people work, there could be a need to review contracts and working practices in relation to the key status tests. Here we take a closer look at how Covid-19 measures could impact IR35 status tests and the likely extent of their influence.…
READ MORE‘Mutuality of Obligation’ (MOO) is one of the three key tests used to determine IR35 status. Along with ‘Right of Substitution’ and ‘Supervision, Direction and Control,’ MOO is the most frequently referenced status tests in tribunal cases. This means that contractors should have a basic understanding of the test in order to ensure that it is properly worded in their contract, and observed in their daily working practice.…
READ MOREWith Covid-19 the dominant issue for the past several months, Brexit temporarily receded into the background. However, in the meanwhile, the 11 month transition period has been passing by. Less than six months before the status deadline, both sides have expressed concern about the lack of progress with negotiations.…
READ MOREIR35 reform is set to be extended to the private sector in 2021 after a tabled amendment to the 2019-21 Finance Bill failed to gain the support of the Labour Party. The amendment, tabled by conservative MP David Davis, proposed that the private sector rollout be postponed until the tax year 2023-24.…
READ MORETomorrow, MPs will vote on a proposed amendment to the 2019-21 Finance Bill that would delay the implementation of the off-payroll legislation in the private sector until 2023/24.
The amendment was tabled by Conservative MP David Davis, and included within the House of Commons order paper for Tuesday 19 May.…
READ MOREThe government has responded to the findings of the Lords Off-payroll inquiry, which found the IR35 reforms to be flawed, unfair and in need of a complete overhaul. The report detailed more than 29 issues with the off-payroll legislation, urging the government to consider the great burden is placed on businesses and the inherent unfairness in classifying contractors as ‘employed for tax purposes’ with zero employment rights.…
READ MOREThe House of Lords Finance Bill Sub-Committee’s report on Off-payroll working was published on Monday 27th April. Launched at the beginning of February, the Lords investigation took a wider line of inquiry than the Treasury’s official IR35 review. During many hearings, the committee heard damning evidence of the widespread damage that the reforms have caused, with committee members often expressing disbelief at the legislation’s inherent flaws and unfairness.…
READ MOREMany companies are in the midst of a hiring freeze due to the impact of Covid-19. While this will affect demand for both permeant and temporary candidates, contractors may find themselves vulnerable to first-stage hiring cuts as projects are cancelled or indefinitely suspended in many sectors.…
READ MORE