“Starting Out Contracting” – downloadable guide for new Contractors
There's nothing we like more than seeing more people start contracting, and to that end we've produced a downloadable guide.
BCC calls on Government to cut red tape for small businesses
The British Chambers of Commerce has added their voice to the growing concerns over red tape for contractors, freelancers and small businesses. The BCC has called for increased deregulation to allow small firms to acquire the skills they need through extra employees.
What we learned about IR35 in 2011
IR35, as with all legislation, is a constantly evolving beast. With every new case comes new case law that contractors, freelancers, and employment experts can use to try to stay one step ahead of HMRC's hamfisted enforcement of the much-maligned anti-avoidance rules.
General Anti-Avoidance Rule touted by Prime Minister
There was hope for contractors affected by IR35 last week as both Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg publicly stated the Government was looking at introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Rule to tackle tax dodgers, which could render IR35 redundant.
IT contractor involved in first ever IR35 split decision
A contractor has been given an extraordinary verdict of being both outside and inside IR35 at one single workplace. John Spencer had been working through his limited company JLJ, supplying services to a firm called Allianz for seven years when he came under fire from HMRC, despite a 17 year history trading as a freelance...
National Insurance Holidays scheme attracts ministerial ire
As part of their ongoing attempts to coax the UK's wavering economy back to life, in 2010 the Government introduced a scheme called National Insurance Holidays. This tax relief system allows first-time employers to forego employer National Insurance Contributions for their first ten employees up to a maximum value of £5,000 per employee.
Project Merlin banks claim to be on target for lending figures
British banks have announced that they are on target to meet lending figures that were set out by the government in Project Merlin. However, small business leaders have disputed the announcement claiming that loans are becoming harder to find and much more expensive.
Contractors and SMEs welcome EU-wide sales law
Contractors and small business have welcomed the news that the EU is proposing an optional EU-wide sales law after results from a survey carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has shown that 43% of small firms use the internet to trade across the border but that legal obligations and sales disputes are...
Government to contribute £95m to small businesses via banks
David Cameron has set out plans to contribute an extra £95m to help contractors and SMEs. The money will come from the Regional Growth Fund and will be filtered out through RBS NatWest and HSBC, leading to the potential unlocking of £500m.
Health and safety laws to be overhauled
As the government plans to cut health and safety laws, business groups anticipate that small businesses will benefit from significant savings as a result.
Late payments to small businesses worse than ever
According to research carried out by payment body Bacs, UK small businesses are owed £33.6 billion in overdue payments, a 10% increase on this time last year and an overall record. The survey, which was carried out on 450 businesses, found that the average amount owed is approximately £39,000 and that firms were being forced...
Osborne announces credit-easing programme for small businesses
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, last week announced a credit-easing programme for small businesses and ruled out much sought-after tax cuts during his speech to the Conservative Party Conference.
Four times increase in rejected SME loans since 2007
New figures released by Eurostat last week have painted a bleak picture of the state of small business financing in the UK. The figures (PDF link) show that between 2007 and 2010 as the recession began to bite, the number of failed SME loan applications quadrupled from 5.6% of all applications to 20.8%.
