Client asking to Sign a Service Description?

[coolguycp1]

My company has been providing engineering services to a Client for 2 years now through a recruitment agency. The contract for providing services exist between my company and the recruitment agency.

The client had provided a Service description at the start of the contract which I had not signed. The same has been recently amended by the Client and the Client wants me to sign the revised Service description. The service description lists the key activities of the services to be provided and also has a counter-signature box for the Client as well.

I am unable to decide whether I should sign this service description. Can experts on this forum please advise as to any potential issues, specially keeping the IR35 in mind?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Without more information it's difficult to respond - if the agreement gives an outline of the project requirements it's one thing - if it details your responsibilities then it could lean towards control and therefore could become an IR35 issue

[coolguycp1]

Without going into specific details, I can say that the service description covers two areas:-

1. List of tasks/activities required to be carried out.
2. Accountability list (for eg. Ensuring the tasks are completed as per the deadlines, procedures are maintained etc.)

The service description does not mention any permissions/approvals required when carrying out the above tasks, however, it does say at the start that the role reports to the Client representative. Also, the end of the sheet has a signature box for both me and the Client representative, which makes me nervous to sign.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Again, without specific information it's difficult to be 100% but it does as sound as though there will be a level of control by the client but whether you sign this is or not is not really the issue - it will be your working practices that are under consideration in an IR35 review not what's been put down on paper.