Support role and contracting

[NewCUKMember]

An agency called me today to discuss a contract role. It is a developer role, but mainly involves problem analysis and bug fixing (L3 tech support kind). This is something not niche, and any perm employee should be able to handle this.
What is it like from IR35 perspective, to take up such a gig ?

[northernladuk]

You could argue a permie could do 99.999% of all contract roles...

[NewCUKMember]

You could argue a permie could do 99.999% of all contract roles...

So if I just ensure the terms in the contract are IR35 proof (as in not get caught by IR35) and being not controlled and directed by the client on day-to-day work is enough ?

[northernladuk]

Get the contract reviewed by QDOS and make them aware of the situation.

[SueEllen]

You need to talk to the client to find out exactly what the work involves.

Agencies often miss out important details e.g. you work with the business to decide what bugs are important and quick to fix.

[WordIsBond]

You need to talk to the client to find out exactly what the work involves.

Agencies often miss out important details e.g. you work with the business to decide what bugs are important and quick to fix.

This.

If they are going to just move you from bug to bug, as they see fit, you are under SDC. In that case, you need to really be nailed on with MOO or you need to have the right of substitution (and maybe use it).

If they say, "Here's the bugs we know about, would you look at which ones are most important and sort them," that's not SDC, or at least you've got a strong argument.

Generally, a job that is a single, defined task (however big) is safer than this kind of thing for IR35, but it all depends on how it is done.