https://uktech.org/author/the-editor/ News, analysis and reporting from the UKTECH desk: the contracting market, IR35 and the policy decisions behind them. en-gb Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 newsdesk@uktech.org (UKTECH newsdesk) newsdesk@uktech.org https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-service-levels-continue-to-undermine-charter-commitments.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-service-levels-continue-to-undermine-charter-commitments.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:24:00 +0000 The Editor Business Poor service levels continue to undermine HMRC's ability to deliver on their Charter standards, says the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). https://uktech.org/a/broadcaster-adrian-chiles-ir35-case-back-to-the-beginning.html https://uktech.org/a/broadcaster-adrian-chiles-ir35-case-back-to-the-beginning.html Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:43:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 The on-going case involving broadcaster, Adrian Chiles and a £1.7 million challenge to his IR35 status from HMRC, has been referred back to where it… https://uktech.org/a/contractors-urged-to-check-their-ir35-status.html https://uktech.org/a/contractors-urged-to-check-their-ir35-status.html Wed, 29 May 2024 11:49:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 Freelancers, contractors and consultants working via their own limited companies have been urged to take it upon themselves to check their IR35 status –… https://uktech.org/a/advantages-of-early-tax-filings.html https://uktech.org/a/advantages-of-early-tax-filings.html Wed, 08 May 2024 13:44:00 +0000 The Editor Business Almost 300,000 Self Assessment customers filed their tax return in the first week of the new tax year, almost 10 months ahead of the deadline, HM Revenue… https://uktech.org/a/umbrella-market-regulation-on-the-agenda.html https://uktech.org/a/umbrella-market-regulation-on-the-agenda.html Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:13:00 +0000 The Editor Business Following the recent Spring Budget, the Government announced it will provide updates on and publish the details of further tax measures during 'Tax… https://uktech.org/a/permanent-cuts-to-hmrc-helplines-are-misguided.html https://uktech.org/a/permanent-cuts-to-hmrc-helplines-are-misguided.html Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:27:00 +0000 The Editor Business HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has received strong criticism for its announcement of big, permanent cuts to its taxpayer telephone helplines. https://uktech.org/a/modest-welcome-to-budget-tax-cuts.html https://uktech.org/a/modest-welcome-to-budget-tax-cuts.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:52:00 +0000 The Editor Political News The recent Budget received a modest welcome from the small business sector but was more about missed opportunities than anything substantial. https://uktech.org/a/tuc-and-rec-call-for-rethink-on-ill-judged-strike-proposals.html https://uktech.org/a/tuc-and-rec-call-for-rethink-on-ill-judged-strike-proposals.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:37:00 +0000 The Editor Business Representatives of both the agency sector and the trade unions have urged the Government to abandon a rehashed plan to allow agency staff to replace… https://uktech.org/a/tax-allowance-use-it-or-lose-it.html https://uktech.org/a/tax-allowance-use-it-or-lose-it.html Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:47:00 +0000 The Editor Business Small businesses and other tax payers are being advised to use up available tax allowances before the new financial year in April or risk losing out. https://uktech.org/a/more-than-one-milion-over-50s-work-for-themselves.html https://uktech.org/a/more-than-one-milion-over-50s-work-for-themselves.html Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:07:00 +0000 The Editor Business Tens of thousands more over 50s are now running their own businesses despite an overall decline in self-employment since 2020, new analysis of workforce… https://uktech.org/a/nearly-45-000-tax-payers-set-up-payment-plan.html https://uktech.org/a/nearly-45-000-tax-payers-set-up-payment-plan.html Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:52:00 +0000 The Editor Business As the deadline to submit Self Assessment tax returns looms, nearly 44,800 people have sorted their tax bills totalling almost £148 million, by setting up… https://uktech.org/a/latest-media-personality-loses-ir35-case.html https://uktech.org/a/latest-media-personality-loses-ir35-case.html Thu, 04 Jan 2024 12:42:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 Footballer turned TV pundit, Phil Thompson, is the latest media personality to fall foul of HMRC's IR35 challenges. https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-limiting-telephone-support-in-the-run-up-to-self-assessment-deadline.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-limiting-telephone-support-in-the-run-up-to-self-assessment-deadline.html Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:57:00 +0000 The Editor Business Calls to the Self-Assessment helpline in the weeks leading up to the January 31, 2024 deadline will be assessed for complexity before taxpayers and agents… https://uktech.org/a/autumn-statement-the-news-for-contractors-brookson-legal.html https://uktech.org/a/autumn-statement-the-news-for-contractors-brookson-legal.html Mon, 27 Nov 2023 11:04:00 +0000 The Editor Political News The Government's stated intention is to focus on five areas: reducing debt; cutting tax and rewarding hard work; backing British business; building… https://uktech.org/a/proposed-tax-change-on-flu-jabs-welcomed.html https://uktech.org/a/proposed-tax-change-on-flu-jabs-welcomed.html Mon, 13 Nov 2023 12:07:00 +0000 The Editor Business Around 20 million Brits receive the jab each year, with many employers choosing to cover the cost for their employees. https://uktech.org/a/sad-passing-of-ir35-expert-kate-cottrell.html https://uktech.org/a/sad-passing-of-ir35-expert-kate-cottrell.html Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:45:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 We are so sorry to hear of the recent passing of IR35 expert Kate Cottrell of Bauer & Cottrell. https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-updates-its-status-cest-tool.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-updates-its-status-cest-tool.html Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:48:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 HMRC has given its much criticised online status assessment tool, CEST, an update with a low-key launch. https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-should-maintain-responsibility-for-tax-debt.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-should-maintain-responsibility-for-tax-debt.html Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:41:00 +0000 The Editor Business Recruitment body, the REC, is calling on the Government to stay focussed on regulating umbrellas and scrap, what it describes as 'their grossly unfair… https://uktech.org/a/simple-and-often-overlooked-business-expenses.html https://uktech.org/a/simple-and-often-overlooked-business-expenses.html Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:27:00 +0000 The Editor Business There are some surprising business expenses that sole traders and self-employed tradespeople may be forgetting about or are simply unaware of, according… https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-takes-more-than-three-years-to-deal-with-basic-enquiry.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-takes-more-than-three-years-to-deal-with-basic-enquiry.html Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:48:00 +0000 The Editor Business An accountant has labelled HMRC as 'dead in the water' - after receiving a response to an enquiry submitted in 2020 more than three years later. https://uktech.org/a/boost-in-self-employed-numbers-good-news-for-business.html https://uktech.org/a/boost-in-self-employed-numbers-good-news-for-business.html Tue, 15 Aug 2023 12:25:00 +0000 The Editor Business New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the self-employed population has undergone four consecutive quarters of growth. https://uktech.org/a/taxpayers-in-policy-pilots-must-not-be-disadvantaged.html https://uktech.org/a/taxpayers-in-policy-pilots-must-not-be-disadvantaged.html Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:51:00 +0000 The Editor Business Taxpayers who take part in small-scale pilots of new policies should not be disadvantaged compared to the general population, the Chartered Institute of… https://uktech.org/a/call-to-offset-taxes-paid-by-ir35-workers.html https://uktech.org/a/call-to-offset-taxes-paid-by-ir35-workers.html Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:26:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 Taxes paid by workers who were incorrectly categorised as outside the scope of the off-payroll working rules, IR35, should be offset against the tax due… https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-shows-poor-service-levels.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-shows-poor-service-levels.html Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:07:00 +0000 The Editor Business The HMRC Charter annual report shows that poor service levels are undermining HMRC's ability to deliver on their Charter standards, according to a… https://uktech.org/a/tax-campaigners-issue-stooge-director-warning.html https://uktech.org/a/tax-campaigners-issue-stooge-director-warning.html Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:11:00 +0000 The Editor Business A professional tax group is warning people on lower incomes of the potential risks when answering an advert to become a director of a company in exchange… https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-missing-opportunity-to-simplify-tax-services.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-missing-opportunity-to-simplify-tax-services.html Fri, 30 Jun 2023 14:12:00 +0000 The Editor Business In its latest consultation on creating a tax system fit for the 21st century, HMRC falls short on its remit to simplify the tax system, focusing instead… https://uktech.org/a/independent-report-is-further-evidence-hmrc-are-struggling.html https://uktech.org/a/independent-report-is-further-evidence-hmrc-are-struggling.html Fri, 23 Jun 2023 11:30:00 +0000 The Editor Business A new report by the body tasked with investigating complaints against HMRC is further evidence that the tax authority is ill-equipped to deal with the… https://uktech.org/a/helpline-closure-a-flashing-indicator-that-hmrc-can-t-cope-recently-published.html https://uktech.org/a/helpline-closure-a-flashing-indicator-that-hmrc-can-t-cope-recently-published.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:28:00 +0000 The Editor Business The temporary closure of the helpline for self-assessment taxpayers is 'another flashing indicator that HMRC can't cope with everything it is being tasked… https://uktech.org/a/report-finds-mtd-over-budget-and-with-unrealistic-time-scales.html https://uktech.org/a/report-finds-mtd-over-budget-and-with-unrealistic-time-scales.html Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000 The Editor Business A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has criticised HMRC's tax modernisation plans, Making Tax Digital (MTD), for being over budget and trying to… https://uktech.org/a/qdos-how-will-hmrc-manage-double-taxation-changes.html https://uktech.org/a/qdos-how-will-hmrc-manage-double-taxation-changes.html Wed, 31 May 2023 09:45:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 The question of 'double taxation' has recently engaged the contracting sector with hopes that the Government will act to remove the 'unfairness' of the… https://uktech.org/a/welcome-growth-in-self-employed.html https://uktech.org/a/welcome-growth-in-self-employed.html Tue, 23 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000 The Editor Business Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show more people are moving to self-employment as their preferred choice of work. https://uktech.org/a/renewed-fears-over-self-employed-pension-crisis.html https://uktech.org/a/renewed-fears-over-self-employed-pension-crisis.html Thu, 18 May 2023 11:56:00 +0000 The Editor Business New research suggesting that 45 per cent of freelancers are not saving into a pension has prompted renewed calls for political parties to tackle the issue… https://uktech.org/a/cautious-hiring-favours-contractors-and-temp-workers.html https://uktech.org/a/cautious-hiring-favours-contractors-and-temp-workers.html Thu, 11 May 2023 11:43:00 +0000 The Editor Business Ongoing uncertainty around the economic outlook and more cautious hiring policies resulted in an upward trend for employers to turn to the temporary… https://uktech.org/a/double-taxation-of-ir35-could-end-by-2024.html https://uktech.org/a/double-taxation-of-ir35-could-end-by-2024.html Fri, 05 May 2023 13:05:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 The Government has suggested that if it was to end the 'double-taxation' of IR35, the intention is that these measures would come into effect in April… https://uktech.org/a/tax-day-tackles-ir35-double-taxation-and-umbrellas.html https://uktech.org/a/tax-day-tackles-ir35-double-taxation-and-umbrellas.html Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:56:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 The Government announced a package of technical tax policy proposals on 27 April 2023 that is aimed at supporting its ambition to simplify and modernise… https://uktech.org/a/agency-group-calls-for-improvements-to-ir35-rules.html https://uktech.org/a/agency-group-calls-for-improvements-to-ir35-rules.html Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:58:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 With IR35 in the news again, agency representative group, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has reiterated its calls for changes… https://uktech.org/a/tv-presenter-eamonn-holmes-loses-ir35-battle-with-tax-man.html https://uktech.org/a/tv-presenter-eamonn-holmes-loses-ir35-battle-with-tax-man.html Wed, 05 Apr 2023 11:46:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 The host of 'This Morning', Eamonn Holmes faces a reported £250,000 tax bill after the Upper Tribunal ruled he was caught by IR35. https://uktech.org/a/gary-lineker-wins-5-million-ir35-fight-with-taxman.html https://uktech.org/a/gary-lineker-wins-5-million-ir35-fight-with-taxman.html Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:38:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 Former England international and Match of the Day presenter, Gary Lineker has won a multi-million pound claim from HMRC, after a tax tribunal ruled that… https://uktech.org/a/budget-4-reaction-from-freelancers-group.html https://uktech.org/a/budget-4-reaction-from-freelancers-group.html Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:10:00 +0000 The Editor Political News Representative group, IPSE has given its views on some of the measures in the Spring Budget which will affect freelancers and the self employed. https://uktech.org/a/budget-3-pension-changes-could-encourage-older-contractors-to-return.html https://uktech.org/a/budget-3-pension-changes-could-encourage-older-contractors-to-return.html Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:30:00 +0000 The Editor Political News Budget proposals to change pension allowances to encourage early retirees back into work could benefit older contractors thinking of returning to the… https://uktech.org/a/budget-2-back-to-work-misses-self-employed-target.html https://uktech.org/a/budget-2-back-to-work-misses-self-employed-target.html Thu, 16 Mar 2023 10:50:00 +0000 The Editor Political News Although the Budget promoted 'Back to Work' measures for many sections of the workforce, including the older 'returners' and young parents, the Government… https://uktech.org/a/budget-1-back-to-work-budget-at-a-glance.html https://uktech.org/a/budget-1-back-to-work-budget-at-a-glance.html Thu, 16 Mar 2023 10:32:00 +0000 The Editor Political News Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's first Budget was aimed at encouraging people to return to work. https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-updates-ir35-guidance-ahead-of-spring-budget.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-updates-ir35-guidance-ahead-of-spring-budget.html Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:50:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 HMRC has issued multiple updates to the off-payroll working guidance section (IR35) ahead of next week's Spring Budget. https://uktech.org/a/fears-that-calls-for-ir35-reform-fall-on-deaf-ears.html https://uktech.org/a/fears-that-calls-for-ir35-reform-fall-on-deaf-ears.html Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:53:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 With just two weeks to the Spring Budget, even the most optimistic IR35 reformers are finding it difficult to convince themselves there will be any… https://uktech.org/a/wake-up-call-as-self-employed-sector-shrinks.html https://uktech.org/a/wake-up-call-as-self-employed-sector-shrinks.html Wed, 22 Feb 2023 13:20:00 +0000 The Editor Business New research suggesting the self-employed sector's contribution to the UK economy fell by an estimated £25bn in 2022 is a 'wake up call' for government to… https://uktech.org/a/ir35-compliance-remains-a-significant-concern-for-agencies.html https://uktech.org/a/ir35-compliance-remains-a-significant-concern-for-agencies.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:39:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 New research has revealed that compliance when placing contractors and talent shortage were two of the greatest challenges faced by recruitment agencies… https://uktech.org/a/rugby-pundit-scores-ir35-victory-over-tax-man.html https://uktech.org/a/rugby-pundit-scores-ir35-victory-over-tax-man.html Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:25:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 HMRC has failed to score in its attempt to claim a £700,000 tax bill from Sky Sports pundit, Stuart Barnes, in an IR35 dispute. https://uktech.org/a/freelancer-confidence-in-their-future-nose-dives.html https://uktech.org/a/freelancer-confidence-in-their-future-nose-dives.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 12:36:00 +0000 The Editor Business Freelancer confidence in their own businesses has fallen to its lowest levels since the height of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions in Q3 2020. https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-commissions-research-into-ir35-rules.html https://uktech.org/a/hmrc-commissions-research-into-ir35-rules.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:39:00 +0000 The Editor IR35 HM Revenue and Customs has commissioned research to explore the short-term impacts of the controversial 2021 off-payroll working rules reform in the… https://uktech.org/a/backlog-of-tax-tribunal-cases-as-hmrc-pursue-umbrella-companies-for-vat.html https://uktech.org/a/backlog-of-tax-tribunal-cases-as-hmrc-pursue-umbrella-companies-for-vat.html Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:14:00 +0000 The Editor Business The number of tax tribunal cases waiting to be heard has increased more than sevenfold compared to the same quarter last year, from 1,200 at the end of…