First batch of HMRC IR35 compliance letters out

[gingerjedi]

Looking at the attitude of some people coming in to contracting now you can hardly blame them. Where contracting was a term for a specialist working in quite a unique way to the rest of the workforce, independent, specialist, willing to travel and so on, I am sure they were happy with the situation.

Now every numpty and his dog is piling in we see more posts now from people that want to go umbrella because they can't be bothered with the hassle. That alone would tell me (if I were HMRC) things have changed in contracting and it needs re-looking at.

I'm independent and willing to travel, why should a 'specialist' get a tax break? The current situation where 'every numpty and his dog is piling in' comes down to the market not wanting to employ people yet HMRC wants to tax them as employees.

How is this different from the market not wanting to employ a specialist?

[northernladuk]

I'm independent and willing to travel, why should a 'specialist' get a tax break? The current situation where 'every numpty and his dog is piling in' comes down to the market not wanting to employ people yet HMRC wants to tax them as employees.

How is this different from the market not wanting to employ a specialist?

But it appears to me that it is that market change that has caused HMRC to sit up and take notice. Contractors supplied a valuable service in days gone by but now it is becoming the norm to take on temp staff in this method. MOO and Sub might have been a viable concept in the past but as this market grows they become less and less viable and we slip closer and closer to inside IR35 as standard. That coupled with HMRC see their income slipping due to more people working as this flexible workforce I just think it is hardly surprising they are more eager than ever to clamp down.

That willingness travel and work independently is what makes you a specialist contractor in my example. Now it is just full of people that are not wanting to travel, have no idea about the difference between contractor and perm and don't understand the way they work. That is why I am not surprised HMRC are not pleased with 'contractors'. Does that make more sense?

Am not saying what is happening is right or wrong, just saying it isn't surprising big changes are afoot.

[psychocandy]

IMHO this is not about winning in court but about scaring people into playing it safe. That makes them a great deal.

Exactly. A bit like dodgy private parking tickets....

They can scare enough people into paying up with no arguments. Those who kick up a fuss (ignore in the case of parking tickets) they wont bother with.

[meanttobeworking]

So did anybody get one of these?