Client Christmas Party

[Cowboy Bob]

How the hell would going make you a IR35 bunny.

It's an employee benefit. You know, the way that as a Ltd owner you can pay your staff £150 tax free in Xmas entertainment? Well that's what your client is doing with their employees. So no, it won't wash that you're a "supplier".

[Ardesco]

I have seen agents at staff christmas parties, suppliers, contractors and anybody involved in the project no matter who they work for.

It all depends how it is done I suppose. Is it a christmas party for everybody in the company, or a christmas party for everybody on the project?

You know, the way that as a Ltd owner you can pay your staff £150 tax free in Xmas entertainment?

Don't forget that they can also invite a freind who becomes elligible for £150 as well even though that freind is in no way connected to the company. You could in effect say that one of the management/permies invited you along as a guest which is perfectly legit and will have no effect on your IR35 standing.

[Viktor]

I was invited to the company party, which will take place on a rented ship on Thames to discuss future business projects in the next year...

[BoredBloke]

I'm not invited here as I am a contractor - suits me fine.

[thunderlizard]

The suppliers get invited because they've paid for the party in the first place. So do like the big boys do. Pop over to whichever whiskery PA is organising the do, and mention that in return for a successful year's business you'd like to donate a case of finest Lambrini (screw top) to their Christmas celebration. Word will get around, you'll get a complimentary invitation, and you can spend the rest of the night beating off members of the secretarial pool with a stick.

[VectraMan]

I went to one last year. I lost an afternoon's income and paid for a tux and a hotel room, so it's the most expensive free party I've ever been to.

I also got very drunk, somebody got a picture of me lying on the bonnet of a car, and I had to crawl up the stairs of the hotel on my hands and knees at 8pm just as loads of other people were going out for the evening. Not good.

If you're IR35 paranoid I would offer to pay. But then companies entertain representatives of other companies, not just clients, so it seems completely reasonable that would include contractors whose services they rely on. It ties in with what I was just saying on the other thread. Fear of IR35 means we all start acting less like a business.

[barely_pointless]

Just remember not to show your piercings unsolicited like some chic did last thursday

few years ago it was de-regeur to get pissed on a "harbour cruise"* , grope some sheilas and moon the passing japanese tourist boats from the stern............ either that or fall in and spark a rescue operation.

ah those were the days..............

*sydney booze cruises

[Mordac]

Just remember not to show your piercings unsolicited like some chic did last thursday

few years ago it was de-regeur to get pissed on a "harbour cruise"* , grope some sheilas and moon the passing japanese tourist boats from the stern............ either that or fall in and spark a rescue operation.

ah those were the days..............

*sydney booze cruises

Ahh, Australian cultural evenings. Don't you miss them?

[DodgyAgent]

Or insist that you pay your share and get receipts.

.

A contractor dipping in to his own pocket !!!

[DeadKenny]

Main reason I'm going contracting is to get away from stupid office events like this!

If I was invited I'd probably just give an excuse why I couldn't go (my company is having a conference in a ski resort for example ).