Best Umbrella Company to use?

[Ardesco]

I've heard that before. I've checked with the IR and they are fine with it and that's all that matters.

Are you saying that new members can't give an opinion? So am I supposed to post unhelpful bullsht for the first 1000 posts? I gave my honest opinion on all the umbrella's I've used which I'm sure the majority people will find helpful. Take it or leave it.

I've actually been a member here for over 18 months, just haven't used it since. Today is the first time.

I heard that there were a lot of idiots on this forum but it seems have gotten worse since I last used it.

I'm very pleased with 83% take home pay conidering everything is taken care of for me and I don't have any accounts to worry about each month.

If you are genuine, my apologies. However you must admit that it does look rather suspect when a member with an extremely low post count starts hyping up one of the umbrellas that seems to be on most peoples "don't touch with a tulipty stick" list.

[MaineMan]

Giant Group (PowerHouse)

Hi folks,

Soz for my lack of posts...I mainly read...however this thread has encouraged me to get more involved (in general)...not a bad thing!

I've been with Giant Group for a couple of years and cannot fault them.
I find my CSM very good, they always explain new IR rules and most importantly they pay me very very quickly!!!

The post above regarding receipts is BS.

Giant modified their website a few months back in accordance with new IR rules regarding mileage allowance / receipts.
They make it very clear what does & what does not require recepits...stick to the rules and all should be ok.

Various agents have suggested Parasol to me...I might try them sometime in the future...for now I'm staying put.

[Ardesco]

The post above regarding receipts is BS.

Giant modified their website a few months back in accordance with new IR rules regarding mileage allowance / receipts.
They make it very clear what does & what does not require recepits...stick to the rules and all should be ok.

Really, strange that every chartered accountant will disagree with you.

Give me a link to the part of thier website where it says the following:

"You can claim £x.xx per day in expenses, and you will not have to produce receipts to prove that these expenses are valid if you are investigated by IR because of our dispensation"

I bet you can't....

I also like the way you have given yourself a way to back down by saying all SHOULD be OK. Just because you are getting away with claiming what you like without receipts at the moment does not mean it won't ever come back to bite you in the future. Go and talk to an independant chartered accountant and see what they say.

[Mordac]

I've been with Giant Group for a couple of years and cannot fault them.
I find my CSM very good, they always explain new IR rules and most importantly they pay me very very quickly!!!

The post above regarding receipts is BS.

Giant modified their website a few months back in accordance with new IR rules regarding mileage allowance / receipts.
They make it very clear what does & what does not require recepits...stick to the rules and all should be ok.

Various agents have suggested Parasol to me...I might try them sometime in the future...for now I'm staying put.

Oh no, not more

[MaineMan]

Just because you are getting away with claiming what you like without receipts at the moment :

Dohhhh..please READ before responding!!!

You CANNOT claim 'what you like' without receipts...only what the dispensation with the IR states...they make it all very clear.

[Ardesco]

Dohhhh..please READ before responding!!!

You CANNOT claim 'what you like' without receipts...only what the dispensation with the IR states...they make it all very clear.

NO YOU CAN'T

Claiming the maximum dispensation every day IS claiming what you like AND you still need to provide recipts when challenged. is it stupid day today?? To copy what I said the other thread:

Most umbrella companies will mention a ‘dispensation’ and the term is sometimes used in advertising. A dispensation will not tell you which expenses can be claimed it is merely an accounting tool for your umbrella company. Under normal accounting practise all expenses that a company processes have to be recorded on a P11D form which is sent to the Inland Revenue; an umbrella company’s dispensation means that this form will not be required for those expenses that they have listed. The dispensation does not relieve the contractor of any responsibility at all regarding the provision of receipts – they will be required if you are the subject of an Inland Revenue investigation. Nor does it mean that you can legitimately claim more expenses through one umbrella company than another, they have to be Inland Revenue approved and must be supported by receipts. To quote the Inland Revenue:
"I can confirm that contractors cannot automatically claim £21 per day (or any other amount) for each day they are at work. It is also worth saying the Inland Revenue would not give general approval of a company's expenses policy. A dispensation would never cover large amounts of unsupported expenditure"

http://forums.contractoruk.com/thread11349.html

Now with a bit of luck we will have less of the "You can claim what you want" mob around here. Not only are you being stupid but you are also potentially misleading a lot of people who could get into quite a bit of trouble by following bad advice!!!

Oh and i'm still waiting for you to give me that link......

[decode]

DO NOT USE GIANT!! Ripped me off for nearly £2000, refused to answer calls, hung up on me when they couldn't answer my questions, took over two months to send my P45. Bunch of cock jugglers. Avoid like the plague.

[Jumile]

...Bunch of cock jugglers...

Funniest, most sensible sentence in this thread.

[To BI or not to BI?]

Now I am getting worried

I have been reading lots about Giant being best avoided, but my experience (so far) has been positive. Easy to use portal, timely payments and good service in general. Plus they include IR35 insurance (which is what convinced me to use them in the first place). On average, I take home 80% and never had any problems.

Now, don't think I am spamming: being a new contractor and not knowing whether contracting would work for me I thought it best to use Giant rather than having to set up my own company, find an accountant, worry about accounting books etc. If I manage to stick with contracting I'll definitely go Ltd, though.

Now, the thing that worries me is the subsistence. As I work away from home I claim £15 per day, on which I get tax rebate, but I do not have receipts. Am I going to be in trouble for this? If so, can I use Giant's IR35 insurance to cover my backside?


I guess I'll have to start investigating the matter, but I would be glad if somebody would give me more info about this

Ta

[Nixon Williams]

Now, the thing that worries me is the subsistence. As I work away from home I claim £15 per day, on which I get tax rebate, but I do not have receipts. Am I going to be in trouble for this? If so, can I use Giant's IR35 insurance to cover my backside?


I guess I'll have to start investigating the matter, but I would be glad if somebody would give me more info about this

Ta

Not knowing what insurance you have it is hard to say, but if your insurance is for IR35 this has nothing to do with you claiming £15/day. It appears that this is a common problem/issue with people using umbrellas, they think they can claim upto the value the umbrella has a dispensation for. Wrong, you should only be claiming for items that you actually spent and have receipts for.

Alan