IR35 Friendly Contracts - Are they really...!

Chris Curry writes "I have just visited the on-line jobs web site 'JobServe.com'.

When I selected the type of work as contract, and entered - for fun - IR35, I received 18 hits, with various IR35 'want to hears' thrown in, i.e.:

1. IR35 Friendly Contract.

2. IR35 Contracts! - (what does that mean?)

3. Agent has IR35 friendly approach.

4. Great Opportunity to get away from IR35.

5. This job is Hush, Hush........(IR35 Friendly)

6. Scotland's most comprehensive IR35 friendly contracts to help beat the taxman!

7. Good IR35 Contract - (eh!)

8. IR35 Contract Available - (what!)

9. Good environment to work with an IR35 friendly contract.

10. Call to discuss IR35 approach.

11. Excellent opportunity, may help to avoid IR35.

12. ...preferably with their own laptop (also good for IR35!!)

13. A short-term IR35 beneficial contract. - (maybe ok)

14. IR35 compliant, well known investment bank in the City.....

Now call me stupid but... What does all of this mean? Some of the comments are confusing, others offer a promised land.

Are we all worrying for nothing? Isn't the contract between you and the agent - from the IR's perspective - not worth the paper it's written on (go on, argue about that one again, at the end Hector will still define the rules).

Shouldn't the job ads above, read something like:

IR35 Friendly contract, from us - your friends - the agents. We will ensure that everything you want to hear about IR35 is our contract with you, anything you don't - isn't. However, should the IR read our greedy contract between ourselves and the client, and deem you within IR35, then YOU will have to pay up, YOU will be responsible, and no, "But I thought you said..." is not a valid start to a conversation with us.

Do agents really have all the facts, and they are simply not sharing, OR, is this - at best - well intended speculation?

Does anyone out there know the answer, please?