What % of contractors have ever been investigated?

[shaeney]

Given that gordo and his minions only see numbers,not where it came from, what percent of us have ever been investigated?

This leads to, what are the chances of getting away with the dividends route, rather than PAYE?

[DS23]

depends on the interpretation of "investigated".... do you mean a letter asking for clarification or a personal visit avec rubber gloves?

[malvolio]

Given that gordo and his minions only see numbers,not where it came from, what percent of us have ever been investigated?

This leads to, what are the chances of getting away with the dividends route, rather than PAYE?

Roughly 250k freelances out there across all the various trades, roughly 1400 IR35-specific investigations, or about 200 a year. So it's pretty low odds assuming the targets are randomly chosen (and many seem to think that they aren't)

[shaeney]

I was thinking more of the accountant getting raided and asked to hand over all your books. or whatever gordos minions do when they want to give you the financial "glove" treatment.

I mean, the just see numbers, not the reason behind them, so what type of behaviour would make them interested in your company, to the point that theywant a closer look atyour books?

[shaeney]

Roughly 250k freelances out there across all the various trades, roughly 1400 IR35-specific investigations, or about 200 a year. So it's pretty low odds assuming the targets are randomly chosen (and many seem to think that they aren't)

so we are looking at "sod all percent" chance of getting investigated?

Make hay while the sun sines then.....

[Gonzo]

This leads to, what are the chances of getting away with the dividends route, rather than PAYE?

Taking dividends is perfectly legitimate and not "getting away" with anything.

[shaeney]

Taking dividends is perfectly legitimate and not "getting away" with anything.

Agreed, unless gordo says that your inside IR35 and owe him your house.

and he wants it by next week. and your car/bike/socks

[fzbucks]

Taking dividends is perfectly legitimate and not "getting away" with anything.

Also Agreed - if you are taking dividends and feel like you are somehow getting away with something then it's likely that you are doing something wrong.

[malvolio]

I was thinking more of the accountant getting raided and asked to hand over all your books. or whatever gordos minions do when they want to give you the financial "glove" treatment.

I mean, the just see numbers, not the reason behind them, so what type of behaviour would make them interested in your company, to the point that theywant a closer look atyour books?

We're not really sure, but for IR35 it seems not to be related to the low salary/high option thing as much as late or inaccurate returns and similar misdemeanours. Behave professionally at all times, do not make mistakes, do not raise queries and they might conclude you're running the business properly.

[xoggoth]

Apart from purely mail enquiries, I got visited twice, although they were related, the NI inspector tipped off the IR about supposedly invalid expense claims. Fortunately they made such a total hash of it I came out with a small refund.