New HMRC campaign targeting clients is revealed

[BlasterBates]

Perhaps they're searching for big companies that employ armies of contractors then they send in the Inspector and get 200 contractors in one scoop.

[northernladuk]

The PCG isn't a charity, so HMRC can't get their membership list.

Hence the comment in brackets...

(I know I know, just talking hypothetically)

[TheFaQQer]

I wonder why it is so hard for HMRC to get it right? If they nailed it it would be like taking candy from a baby.

How about getting QDOS and B&C to give up their failed contract review list. Compare this list with the PCG membership (I know I know, just talking hypothetically) and write to those that don't have membership. Catch a ton of people with their pants down. Sorted.

How about looking somewhere like CUK to find where people say "avoid ABC Agency, they won't give you an IR35-friendly contract" and then ask them for all their contractors that accepted their standard contract?

If HMRC are asking all small businesses to get their supplier details, shouldn't we all be expecting a letter asking for the details of all our suppliers as well?

[northernladuk]

How about looking somewhere like CUK to find where people say "avoid ABC Agency, they won't give you an IR35-friendly contract" and then ask them for all their contractors that accepted their standard contract?

Am right up for that. Or any posts asking 'Can I give my wife shares so I can avoid tax'

[Craig at Nixon Williams]

How about looking somewhere like CUK to find where people say "avoid ABC Agency, they won't give you an IR35-friendly contract" and then ask them for all their contractors that accepted their standard contract?

If HMRC are asking all small businesses to get their supplier details, shouldn't we all be expecting a letter asking for the details of all our suppliers as well?

I would have thought that the supplier to the end client would be the agency...

[tractor]

I would have thought that the supplier to the end client would be the agency...

Except for those that have a direct relationship

[TheFaQQer]

I would have thought that the supplier to the end client would be the agency...

Maybe it's a ploy from larger agencies - avoid the small ones and going direct, and we won't have to tell HMRC your details...

[Craig at Nixon Williams]

The point is that if HMRC are writing out to large companies that they suspect use a lot of contractors, the chances are that the company will use an agency to source their contractors. In that scenario the agency is the supplier and if there are a good few contractors then the fees paid will exceed the upper limit and nothing will need to be disclosed.

Of course, if you use a smaller agency or go direct then the above won’t apply…further supporting PCGs point about penalising smaller businesses.

[MyUserName]

Hang on - if they write to a client and ask how their contractors are paid then they will reply that the pay X a day/hour to agency X.

If they write to agency X and ask how the contractors are paid then they will say we pay them Y per day/hour.

How does this give any information about IR35 liabilities or have I missed the point?

[NickNick]

Hang on - if they write to a client and ask how their contractors are paid then they will reply that the pay X a day/hour to agency X.

If they write to agency X and ask how the contractors are paid then they will say we pay them Y per day/hour.

How does this give any information about IR35 liabilities or have I missed the point?

My guess, and this is just a guess, is that they would be looking to replace IR35 with something else and this is part of a preliminary data gathering excercise to work out the size of the target.