The Correspondent

PCG Founder

Dispatches from the founding of the Professional Contractors Group and the freelance lobby's campaign against IR35.

108 ARTICLES
2000–2003
8 DESKS

BEATS · PCG · IR35 CAMPAIGN · AGENCY REGULATION

2003

9 JUN 2003Freelancers find their own voiceThere is one person I want to represent my views to politicians and that's me.BULLETIN
28 MAY 2003Freelancer Consultation: Week two: OpportunitiesThe All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group - APPSBG - is now at week two of a three week online consultation process on freelancing.POLITICS
6 MAY 2003All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group. Freelancer briefingThe opportunities and threats facing freelancers received a political airing at a seminar organised by UKTECH, the UK's largest freelancer network…POLITICS
1 MAY 2003Empowering Information Technology to work for SMEsThis is a copy of the speech I gave at the National SME conference held on 28th April in the Grand Committee room, House of Commons.POLITICS
1 MAY 2003A letter that Dawn might consider writing....soonI noticed Geoff Jones from Arctic Systems posting to UKTECH today.IR35
29 APR 2003Reply from Dawn PrimaroloUKTECH has received a copy of the response to Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Financial Secretary; from Dawn Primarolo MP, Paymaster General; concerning…IR35
25 APR 2003Update on Section 660 from Peter Vaines; Tax expertExtract from Haarmann Hemmelrath UK TAX BULLETIN.IR35
25 APR 2003Details of possible approach to Section 660Extract from Haarmann Hemmelrath UK TAX BULLETIN.IR35
11 APR 2003Prisk asks Primarolo to explain the Revenue's new Section 660 approachThe Shadow Financial Secretary questions why a wife's dividend income is being treated as her husband's, citing a 42,000 pound demand stretching back…IR35
9 APR 2003Budget 2003 (5): IR35 for NanniesIR35 was extended to cover domestic workers from today where they provide their services through a limited Company.POLITICS
27 MAR 2003Small business political group examines insuranceThe All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) held a packed public meeting at the House of Commons on Tuesday, March 25, 2003, to gather…POLITICS
26 MAR 2003Section 660: Briefing Document and updateFollowing this article I have been discussing the situation with several key players and UKTECH's tax expert, Kevin Miller, has produced a briefing…IR35
25 MAR 2003Overseas Companies get round the removal of Skill Shortage listI noticed an article which reported on how an optical components company, Bookham Technologies is set to save £500,000 on "insourcing" IT helpdesk…VIEWPOINT
24 MAR 2003Revenue 'FUD' tactics on family businessThe Inland Revenue is launching pre-emptive strikes on small, family businesses using an existing weapon in a way that was never intended.IR35
4 MAR 2003Copy of seminar paper: What future for freelancing in the UKCopy of seminar paper to be presented at the House of Commons on March 4th 2003 at 1000 Hrs Following this draft consultation paper and the comments…CONFERENCE PAPERS
16 JAN 2003Help ensure IR35 Mk2 does not happen.The modern economy is all about "dis-intermediarisation".BULLETIN

2002

10 DEC 2002What's in a name: Freelancing or Contracting?The term ‘Contractor’ owes its origins to the early 1980s when the then Government prevented agents engaging with sole traders.VIEWPOINT
27 NOV 2002PBR: Gordon kills EBT schemesFollowing on from the UKTECH stories relating to Dignatio/CFP, the saga of EBT schemes took another twist in the Pre Budget Report when the…BUSINESS
13 NOV 2002Composite Companies: Should you use them?In light of the recent problems with Contranet and CFP/Dignatio I have republished an article written by Lawyer Simon Hewes, published on the…BUSINESS
8 SEP 2002A tale of two campaigns: IR35 Vs FTVThree years ago, I was about to launch a "dot.com" play when my Accountant sent me the IR35 press release.CONFERENCE PAPERS
8 SEP 2002Moving onOver the last few months I have been reviewing where I want to be going with regard to my time with PCG.BUSINESS

2001

5 NOV 2001Respect, trust and value for moneySeveral recent events in the contracting community have thrown these three key values into sharp relief and are proof positive, if any was required…VIEWPOINT
12 APR 2001Online: What’s new for Tax and Accountancy ProfessionalsPaper given at IT in Tax Conference London 20th November 2000.CONFERENCE PAPERS
18 MAR 2001Agencies turn on REC and ATSCo as Lawspeed offers to lobby the DTIAgencies at a Lawspeed seminar said REC and ATSCo had not represented them on the draft agency regulations, and are being offered representation to…AGENCIES
9 MAR 2001Joe Consultant answers Computing's anonymous Joe ContractorAfter an unnamed contractor defended IR35 in Computing, UKTECH publishes an equally anonymous consultant's account of how the legislation suits the…VIEWPOINT
4 MAR 2001Regulation doubts push Andy White's board to invest in the USAAndy White says stakeholder pensions, agency regulations and IR35 took up a third of a board agenda, prompting his company to question a UK expansion…IR35
24 FEB 2001Confusion and Chaos reignsFollowing on from the Computer People story about using IR35 to persuade clients to break direct contracts, UKTECH received an email from ASP…VIEWPOINT
15 FEB 2001PCG welcomes Conservative's commitment to repeal IR35The Professional Contractors Group welcomed the Conservative Party's commitment to repeal the stealth tax IR35.IR35
4 FEB 2001Agency regulationsFirst pass at an analysis of the final draft of the Agency regulations.AGENCIES
1 FEB 2001Managing the risks associated with "Direct" contracting staffFollowing on from the story on Agency FUD, UKTECH has received a copy of a presentation sent into a client by Computer People (CP).AGENCIES
28 JAN 2001Agent FUD part IIWith regards to this issue I note the reaction to Agents.AGENCIES
27 JAN 2001Agent FUDFor many clients the prime reason they use an Agency is they believe that it will protect them from the risk of the contractor claiming employment…AGENCIES

2000

23 DEC 2000Leaving the UK. A case historyFollowing UKTECH stories that reported on Patricia Hewitt and Jack Straw refuting that people were leaving the UK because of IR35, UKTECH has…IR35
12 DEC 2000ATSCojobs pad out their siteUKTECH received an email which would indicate the number of jobs stated by atscojobs.com could be overstated.AGENCIES
12 DEC 2000Revenue will ask agencies to supply contractors detailsIn a story in July UKTECH described a news report which stated that the Revenue were to write to over 3000 agencies requesting details of payments…AGENCIES
5 DEC 2000silicon.com wins interim injunction against Jobserve over job ad threatssilicon.com, publisher of ATSCOjobs.com, obtained an interim injunction in the Royal Courts of Justice restraining Jobserve from threatening to ban…AGENCIES
5 DEC 2000ATSCo/Silicon win an injunction against JobserveJobserve have confirmed that Silicon have obtained a temporary injunction forcing them to take adverts from ATSCO members In an email to UKTECH…AGENCIES
5 DEC 2000Tony distances himself from debateThe No ten forums are closing.POLITICS
3 DEC 2000ATSCo threatens Jobserve with an injunctionFollowing on from the UKTECH exclusive that ATSCo was about to launch a jobs board in competition with Jobserve, we have learnt that Robbie Cowling…AGENCIES
27 NOV 2000Beware: GM employeesThere has been some concern in recent months and years about the unknown damage that can result from tampering with the natural order.VIEWPOINT
30 OCT 2000Agents are "Cannibals" says ATSCoConcerned that the industry has relied on cannibalism to fill its staffing gaps , Agency rep body ATSCo has reached agreement with members that they…AGENCIES
11 OCT 2000The Times commentary on the JRMany UKTECH readers have been sending emails into the Times to help support their "scrap red tape" campaign.IR35
6 OCT 2000Which red tape would you cut?The Times has launched a campaign to cut red tape.BULLETIN
3 OCT 2000Living with IR 35The ICAEW gave a lecture last night entitled "Living with IR 35".IR35
1 OCT 2000Drive petrol tankers and help build an enterprise economyWhilst acres of newsprint were devoted to the Fuel protest, it was the fact that the Tanker drivers were self-employed that caught my eye.VIEWPOINT
5 SEP 2000E-envoy resigns and leaves the UK.The e-envoy has resigned.POLITICS
11 AUG 2000Revenue confirms years ahead without case lawIn a letter to a contractor the Inland Revenue has confirmed that no case law exists in relation to IR35 and that it needs to be established.IR35
28 JUL 2000Where your tax will goFollowing on from our story about the Prime Minister's personal web site No 10 web site, more news.POLITICS
14 JUL 2000No 10 Web site; IR 35 in the Top TenAnnouncing the Government's report on their own performance Tony Blair talked of the need for Education, Education and Education.IR35
14 JUL 2000IR 35 website linksWhen I got my copy of IR 35 - Sent via email; headlined The end of Contracting in the UK - on 12th March 1999, I went onto the Internet to find out…IR35
25 JUN 2000They think it is all over it is notA front page article in the Sunday Times reveals that "Blair tycoon paid just £5000 in tax".POLITICS
16 JUN 2000Licence your CV to the agency, says Carter Ruck lawyer on copyrightFollowing UKTECH's story on 20,000 CVs for sale, Carter Ruck lawyer Sarah Coe explains that your CV is your own copyright work and raises the…ASK THE EXPERTS
15 JUN 2000IR35 Friendly Contracts - Are they really...!Chris Curry writes "I have just visited the on-line jobs web site 'JobServe.com'.IR35
7 JUN 2000Unfair, Anti-competitive or Xenophobic?The question of Fast Track Visas is generating a lot of heat, but very little light.IR35
6 JUN 2000Food for thoughtWooks, a contributor to UKTECH has made some excellent comments especially to the "Questions for Gordon" article.VIEWPOINT
4 JUN 2000Questions for Gordon BrownAs reported in the UKTECH newsletter, we will be submitting a range of readers' questions to Chancellor Gordon Brown.IR35
4 JUN 2000Germany 'encourages' whilst the UK 'exploits'The story run by UKTECH over two months ago that Germany is planning to recruit IT specialists from overseas has now been confirmed and it is…POLITICS
3 JUN 2000Keep your eye on the ball.It has been said that a lie will be around the world before the truth has got its boots on.VIEWPOINT
1 JUN 20005% expense allowance or 150%??Contractors who, under IR 35, are trying to run their businesses with a 5% expense allowance will be interested in the latest news concerning the…POLITICS
1 JUN 2000Safe in New Labours hands.....!Martin Spicer writes "The "loonies" are definitely running the asylum.VIEWPOINT
31 MAY 2000Why agencies insist on control clauses that can pull contractors into IR35Barrister John Antell explains how agencies' back-to-back contracts and liability-limiting control clauses can leave contractors caught by IR35 even…ASK THE EXPERTS
25 MAY 2000Client/Agency contract. Is it important?UKTECH has received a report from an agent who is losing contractors to other agents working on the same client's site.IR35
23 MAY 2000FAST TRACK RATE CUTS ARE COMINGFollowing on from an article describing how big business were involved in advising the Government on the urgent need for Fast Track Visas, an article…POLITICS
22 MAY 2000Jobserve tops Sunday Times Profit Track leagueThe internet job site used by most IT contractors, topped a league drawn from over 1 million private companies, based on the criteria of Profit…AGENCIES
17 MAY 2000e-Commerce in the UK, RIP?Simon Burns looks at Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill presently going through Parliament.POLITICS
16 MAY 2000Accountants slam the Government over IR 35The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) have slammed the Government over IR35, in a hard hitting report just issued.IR35
14 MAY 2000Portillo and Hague attack IR35 and red tape as anti-enterpriseThe Shadow Chancellor warned in the Daily Telegraph that IR35 is driving IT specialists abroad, while the Conservative leader accused Labour of…POLITICS
10 MAY 2000Where your extra tax will goContractors who are looking at massive tax increases will be dismayed at a recent report on the inability of Government to manage this Revenue.POLITICS
5 MAY 2000Tell Tony why you gave him a bloody noseThe House of Commons debated IR 35 on Wednesday 3rd May.IR35
3 MAY 2000More news on Fast Track Visa schemeThe Prime Minister's office yesterday issued a press notice entitled: Work permit reforms slash waiting times This provides more information on the…POLITICS
28 APR 2000EntrepreneursE.Laird writes "Over the past three years I have operated up to three contracts concurrently, on and off.IR35
18 APR 2000Tax man suffers as firms take out inquiry insuranceA report in today's Guardian suggests that the Treasury could lose up to £220m in revenue, despite Gordon Brown and others getting tough on 'tax…IR35
17 APR 2000Would you swap your 5% for an MP's expenses?Apparently some MPs are allegedly using public money to line their own pockets.POLITICS
17 APR 2000Contractors unsure of latest Revenue 'advice'Following the release of the latest Inland Revenue FAQs regarding IR35, independent contractors are no further forward in understanding their status…IR35
16 APR 2000Freelance Informer publishes IR35 GuideFreelance Informer, the favourite read of many independent contractors, has published a 42-page IR35 guide as a supplement to the 14 April edition.IR35
1 APR 2000Ford get stuffedFord have just lost a court case involving Transtec the collapsed company founded by Dawn Primarolo's predecessor at the Revenue; Geoffrey Robinson.BUSINESS
31 MAR 2000Viewpoint | Contract negotiationsIn a previous life I was responsible for selling products and services totalling over £100 million into countries as diverse as Japan, Malaysia…VIEWPOINT
31 MAR 2000Granada TVA contractor (not me) wrote in asking that Contractors email Granada TV requesting that the Dimbleby show invite Dawn P to explain the reasons behind…IR35
30 MAR 2000Revenue's IR35 enquiry mailbox bounces messages for three daysReader Steve Varley reports that mail to the Revenue's IR35 enquiry address has bounced for three days with an Exchange error saying he has no create…IR35
28 MAR 2000PCG drafts model oil and gas contract to put Aberdeen work outside IR35A PCG working party headed by local representative Colin Mitchell has drafted a Model Form contract for the Oil and Gas industry, intended to create…IR35
28 MAR 2000Postal votes for leaversRob Longhurst writes "Don't forget, before you leave these shores for sunnier climes, to register for a postal vote!IR35
28 MAR 2000Online agentPicked this up from the uk.consultants newsgroup, posted on Sunday 26th March.AGENCIES
26 MAR 2000Viewpoint | Contracts – Reality or Fiction?As the founding Chairman of the Professional Contractors Group, I will immediately declare an interest in the organisation - but perhaps that also…VIEWPOINT
23 MAR 2000Agents 'dismayed' at DTI proposals for Agency regulationsChristine Little, responsible for lobbying the Government on behalf of the Agents' representative body, REC, said: 'We are more than disappointed.AGENCIES
22 MAR 2000Budget: Rules to be relaxed to attract overseas IT skillsFrom the FT budget report.IR35
22 MAR 2000Close your companiesChris Mowatt writes "Now that IR35 is a reality, other contractors might be interested in adopting my strategy for dealing with it.IR35
21 MAR 2000Speculate to Accumulate.Sarah Wilson writes So, we're coming to the end of the present tax year, and you've got all this spare cash sloshing around in your limited company.BUSINESS
20 MAR 2000EXCLUSIVE | Fax your MP, for free, NOWSTAND.org, an on-line group, campaigning for 'safe e-commerce legislation' , has launched a parliamentary web to fax gateway.POLITICS
19 MAR 2000VIEWPOINT | Avoid, Evade or CheatApart from the fact they are all five letter words - what do 'avoid', 'evade' and 'cheat' have in common?VIEWPOINT
19 MAR 2000Contractors 'cheat' honest tax-payers - PrimaroloPaymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, justified IR35 in the House of Commons recently by claiming that contractors were 'cheating honest tax payers'.IR35
19 MAR 2000A year ago todayIt was exactly a year ago today that I emailed the main Agency representative body (FRES now REC) informing them of IR 35 and asking them to make…IR35
19 MAR 2000What to do before April 5thMany of you will have been speaking with Agents and Clients trying to understand which side of the line you will fall after April 5th.IR35
19 MAR 2000UKTECH | IR35 Misinformation from Agents.Ian Durrant writes Recently I have been coming across much misinformation with regards to the IR35 tax changes.AGENCIES
18 MAR 2000The dam starts to breakAs predicted in the article 'Benefiting from the changes caused by IR35', clients are beginning to see the commercial advantages in adapting to IR35.IR35
16 MAR 2000Revenue guidelines say agency contracts over a month are caught by IR35The Inland Revenue published its IR35 guidance in February 2000, giving its opinion that standard agency contracts of over one month would be…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 12 November 1999 | Draft guidelinesInland Revenue releases draft guidelines.IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 8 November 1999 | Back to the House of LordsTechnically, the Lords had another opportunity to remove IR35 from the legislation after the Commons had reintroduced it, but in keeping with…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 3 November 1999 | Contractor Wednesday and the reappearance of IRPCG organised a 'green card lobby' at the House of Parliament, where more than 700 members turned up to meet their own constituency MPs.IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 13 October 1999 | House of Lords rebelBy now, it was not only the contractors who were feeling ignored by the Revenue and Ministers.IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 23 September 1999 | Inland Revenue revised proposalsThe Revenue publishes its 'revised proposals' Interested parties did not have to wait long after the Revenue's meeting to discover what Ministers had…IR35
16 MAR 2000Peers unite against IR35 clauses as McIntosh promises summer consultationLibDem, Conservative and Cross Bench peers united against the IR35 clauses at the Bill's Committee Stage, but Lord McIntosh promised consultation and…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 28 June 1999 | Joint submission to the Inland RevenueJoint submission to the Inland Revenue from: Federation of Small Businesses, Professional Contractors Group, Independent Computer Contractors, and…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 4 May 1999 | PCG formedMindful that other organisations claiming to represent contractors had their own agendas, contractors, mainly from IT and engineering formed the…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 22 April 1999 | Draft proposals publishedContractors' worst fears had been realised as the Government proposed that anyone operating under the 'direction, supervision and control' of a…IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 17 March 1999 | Financial advice; re IR 35Initial analysis of Financial aspects of IR35 on the provision of personal services.IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 30 March 1999 | Hammer to crack a NutIR35; countering tax avoidance or helping big business?IR35
16 MAR 2000IR35 History | 9 March 1999 | Countering avoidance in the provision of PersonalInland Revenue announces Government's intention to target a particular type of 'tax avoidance', the so-called Monday-to-Friday scenario.IR35
15 MAR 2000Issue 19; 20 September 1999Inland Revenue | PCG - The Future | Prime Minister | Prof.IR35