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Open ended contract (no fixed duration)

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    #11
    Found a good article:
    IR35:Substitution, control and mutuality of obligation :: Contractor UK

    The above basically argues that if you can prove at least one of Substitution, Control or MoO then you are safe.

    So being without a fixed duration doesn't seem to come into it. At least not to the same extent. Yes, it could create a case
    for "part & parcel"... but does that trump any of the above? Substitution? Control? MoO? I'm assuming it doesn't.

    Anyway, my plan is to query the open duration. If the reasons sound reasonable and considered I'll probably go for it. Otherwise will ask for 12 months and then seek to renew. I think the 24 month rule is only applicable for expenses btw.

    Comment


      #12
      Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
      I think you've got MoO wrong as well in that example but an open ended gig messes with MoO, it's got to be D&C and confuses contract for and contract of service up let alone problems with part and parcel that can occur. It 'could' be managed with some very tight paperwork and working practices it the very fact they want it open ended would indicate they don't want to bother.

      We don't have enough detail but start with 'Open ended contract is a slam dunk inside IR35' and work upwards.

      Good point about the 24 month rule though.
      This isn't necessarily an "open ended gig", though - it's a contract to provide professional services for the duration of the project. At the end of the project, the contract will end.

      Is there mutuality of obligation to provide work beyond the end of the contract? Arguably not. Is there an obligation to move onto different projects during the duration of the project? Possibly, possibly not - nobody here knows what else is in the contract and what the reality of the working practices may be.

      Is there a genuine right of substitution? Again, possibly. If there is, then that's one of the three pillars of employment destroyed - and you only need to prove one if you are investigated for IR35. Would the contractual obligation be genuine? Again, nobody here knows what the client would or would not do in that situation.

      So we come to the last point - is there supervision, direction and control? The contract (from what has been shared here) is clear that the contractor will set their own time and self direction. If that's genuine, then I'm struggling to see how you could argue that just because the contract is for the duration of the project and will then end makes is a slam dunk inside IR35 situation.

      If the contract is for the project duration, then is that any different from an IR35 perspective than having 4 six month contracts that are the same and then either terminating at the end or being kept around doing nothing until the end of the contract? I'd suggest not.
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        #13
        Absolutely and now the OP has furnished us with more information it certainly looks a lot better although I'd still be a little wary about working practices trumping his contract. Obviously the OP should be having a full contract and WP review and making sure he's up to speed with IR35 to avoid part and parcel issues.

        My (albeit limited) experience of rolling and open ended contracts is they need to treated with a greater degree of diligence but if the case is as he described in his later post then it's not quite as bad as I assumed.
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          #14
          Originally posted by balowen View Post
          Has anyone ever been offered an open ended contract?
          i.e. no specified duration, it just continues until terminated (4 weeks notice either side). The project has potential to last 18-24 months.

          Pros:
          1. potential to last a long time
          2. no need for renewals
          3. some mortgage lenders may see it positively as an ongoing contract / more certainty?

          Cons:
          1. IR35 risk? (not sure)
          2. no renewals means no natural prompt to renegotiate rates
          3. other mortgage lenders may think it's risky? (although fixed term contracts usually have the same 4 weeks notice anyway)

          Thoughts welcome, I haven't come across this
          before!
          Not really relevant but I thought I'd share. This is not a UK-based story so IR35 not relevant.

          My current contract should have said:duration 12 months or at completion of the project whichever is the sooner. Instead it said: duration 12 months or at completion of the project whichever is the later. Neither client (intermediary) nor I spotted this, and when I applied for mortgage it swung it for me. Convinced them that there was >5 years work.

          Comment


            #15
            Open ended contract (no fixed duration)

            Originally posted by SteelyDan View Post
            Lance, can you stop posting on serious questions please, because you're an idiot. Thanks.
            Well that was helpful of you. From Berkshire?

            As it happens neither of my points were wrong, but one provoked a discussion from other (useful) posters.
            Last edited by Lance; 31 August 2017, 16:59.
            See You Next Tuesday

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