Tax Protection Insurance: qDOS or PCG?

[PM_contract]

My main objective is to have an insurance to cover the costs of somebody professionally handling HMRC enquires on my behalf.

I’ve had the qDosFreelancer Tax Protection for two years and never had to use it. Now my policy is for renewal but I can’t decide between staying with qDos or going for PCG either standard or PCG Plus membership.

The standard one has got the Tax Investigations/Professional Expenses Insurance (including IR35).

The PCG plus has got the Tax insurance protection (All the cover you need in the event of a tax investigation (inc. IR35, VAT, Aspect, P11D, Business Record checks) plus additional cover for Jury service* & agency failure*).

The costs are £117 for qDOS, £120 for PCG and £220 for PCG Plus.

What do people choose and why? All views are greatly appreciated.

[Sockpuppet]

The PCG isn't just insurance though as you get more with the membership.

[PM_contract]

The PCG isn't just insurance though as you get more with the membership.

Yes, I am aware of this. I am not sure if I will use any other benefits of PCG memebership though. This exercise is purely to cover my company and myself for any HMRC queries.

[SueEllen]

Yes, I am aware of this. I am not sure if I will use any other benefits of PCG memebership though. This exercise is purely to cover my company and myself for any HMRC queries.

The PCG has a legal helpline thrown in with the money.

If you personally don't know any lawyers who can help you then this is actually useful when you need to understand contract clauses or how a new act applies to you. While your contract may pass an IR35 review some of the clauses may be a bit obtuse.

People don't realise how having legal helplines and other legal help thrown in with insurance is actually useful until they need to get randomly get legal advice then find it costs a lot and is difficult to get free.

[psychocandy]

My accountant has offered me a similar insurance direct with him. i.e. pays any additional cost for investigations etc.

If I instead decided to go with PCG for this, how would this work? In the event of an investigation who would help me out? My accountant (claiming extra costs as a sort of insuranc claim) or theirs?

[SueEllen]

My accountant has offered me a similar insurance direct with him. i.e. pays any additional cost for investigations etc.

If I instead decided to go with PCG for this, how would this work? In the event of an investigation who would help me out? My accountant (claiming extra costs as a sort of insuranc claim) or theirs?

The PCG has a website - Home | PCG and if the information on the website doesn't help then phone them.

[Lumiere]

The PCG has a legal helpline thrown in with the money.

QDOS includes that too and even more (free contract reviews, clients tracking )


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I am not sure how would that work though if you change the insurer and the Revenue makes an inquiry about something that happened e.g. 1 year ago