Female contractors are waving goodbye to the gender pay gap

On April 4th, 2018, businesses with more than 250 employees were required to publish data on the gender pay gap between employees at their organisation. The results for the overall labour market were an unfortunate reminder that economic inequality is still prevalent in the UK. From over 10,000 businesses, 78% were revealed to pay their…

Contractor pay rates see sharp inflation

Across the UK, contractors and temporary staff are receiving notably higher pay rates. The REC disclosed that the steepest inflation in contractor pay rates recorded was in London. However, across the board, wages were continuing to rise, extending this trend to 62 months.   Contractor pay rates accelerating at an exceptional rate REC director of…

Spring Statement 2018: a summary for contractors

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond presented his Spring Statement to Parliament on Tuesday 13 March 2018. Unfortunately, the contractor sector must wait a while longer for news on any potential IR35 changes. There is a lot of frustration within the industry as many publications are being waited upon.   What are we still…

Income Tax Rates and Allowances 2018/19 and 2017/18

As a contractor, it's important to know the rates and thresholds when operating payroll or calculating expenses and benefits. We cover the changes in income tax rates and allowances in 2018/19. You can also scroll down a little further to see the rates, allowances and duties for tax year 2017/18. Please click the drop-down options below…

HMRC wins first IR35 case in seven years against former BBC presenter Christa Ackroyd

Former BBC presenter, Christa Ackroyd has lost her legal battle with HMRC and is now facing a fine of £419,151 in outstanding income tax and national insurance contributions covering tax years: 2006/07 to 2012/13. This ruling made by the first tier tribunal (FTT) was based on the judgement that despite Ackroyd working through a PSC…

What insurance do you need as a contractor?

As a contractor, insurance is important to protect yourself from any issues that may arise from your business activities. With the huge variation of packages available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what to get. The right coverage depends on each contractor and the type of business they have. We’ve rounded up a few suggestions…