How to handle a 250 mile round trip to work fortnightly on an Inside IR35 contract?

[fatJock]

Seems like I'm one of the few not bothered about the commute. I have similar on the odd day I go to the office [which was more frequent at the start] on my inside IR35 role.

Leave at six to get there for 9, work as much as being in an office full of people allows, shorter lunch, finish at 4 and drive home. 2hrs+ each way.

Sure, its a longer day but fire a few podcasts on and before you know it the driving is done. Personally I couldn't be bothered with the faff of a hotel all the time for a night.

[ladymuck]

I'm not a morning person but have done my share of getting up at 0530 (my hatred of Vanessa Phelps' Radio 2 show made sure I got out of bed) to get an early train or start a drive.

I'm less inclined to do it now as I've become very lazy - I barely get my arse into an office that's a half hour drive away - but if I had to, I would be making the effort one way or another.

[sadkingbilly]

I don't commute/travel/visit.
sod it. did enough back in the day, all over the feckin planet*.
remote only now.


*and Swindon.

[BlueSharp]

I'm doing a 200-mile round trip (100 mile 2-2.5 hours each way) once a fortnight. It's very doable; I typically arrive on site around 10 am to avoid the last 5 miles of rush hour traffic and stay late to avoid the evening rush hour traffic. I have plenty of coffee, advanced cruise control in the car, and I make sure to stretch my legs at lunch time.

When I had to be on site 5 days a week with a similar commute (pre-COVID), I would stay away on Tuesday and Thursday night, so I would only have to do the big round trip on a single day once a week on a Monday.

[Tractor Trace]

So did you send them your photo after all?
Depending on where you live and where the client is, a 125 mile one way trip could take between 2 and 5 hours, but you’ve not given us the length of time for the journey, just a mileage.
If driving is not an option, and you don’t want to stay overnight, could you get a train?

It takes just under 3 hours drive. Train is impractical as it's 3 changes and a bus ride

[Ketto]

What’s your day rate if you don’t mind me asking? If you’re on £200 a day i’d say drive, if it’s £700 i’d say hotel it.

[WTFH]

It takes just under 3 hours drive. Train is impractical as it's 3 changes and a bus ride

Get up at 5:45, leave at 6am. It's only once a fortnight.
Depending on traffic, leave client as soon as you've finished, or when traffic has died down, it will take a couple of hours, you'll be home by 20:30.

If you can't manage that, then go up the night before, in which case I would push for Monday in the office (then you can travel on the Sunday afternoon/evening at whatever time suits you).
Then once you've done it a couple of times, you professionally discuss with them the possibility of doing it once a month for 2 consecutive days, or maybe doing the one day trip but less frequently.

[quackhandle]

In cases like this I've always felt (if you are willing to drive) that the type of car can help. Done 3 hours in a mini cooper s and it felt like I was still driving for hours afterwards!

Get yourself a big comfy motorway cruiser and I've turned up at client site quite refreshed even after hours on the motorway/stuck in traffic.

qh

[Funhouse]

What is the matter with contractors post Covid?

Pre-2020 I (like many) left at 5am or earlier on a Monday morning, 4 nights away in a hotel then back at base Friday evening or if you were lucky a days WFH on the Friday. Now in 2026 we have a 4 page thread about 1 measly trip once a fortnight!? You are still getting paid a good wack, suck it up and get a Premier Inn/Travelodge/Air BnB, commute it or find another contract.

[rocktronAMP]

What is the matter with contractors post Covid?

Pre-2020 I (like many) left at 5am or earlier on a Monday morning, 4 nights away in a hotel then back at base Friday evening or if you were lucky a days WFH on the Friday. Now in 2026 we have a 4 page thread about 1 measly trip once a fortnight!? You are still getting paid a good wack, suck it up and get a Premier Inn/Travelodge/Air BnB, commute it or find another contract.

The issue I think here is running Outside IR35 versus Inside IR35. With Outside IR35 you can claim the travel and Living and Work Away From Home as business expenses. Post Covid many contractors are working Inside IR35 like this one https://www.ioassociates.co.uk/jobs/...eveloper-2735/ SC Clear Java Developer. The Rate is great for London, but you'd think twice if you live up north and have to commute. Although, I used to know a civil servant who did 40% office time in the London and Sunderland offices. They did 2 weeks down in either city, the other 3 weeks remote WFH. This delivery manager could claim all legitimate expenses since they worked for whatever department and is reasonably senior enough.

Hey! But I agree with you. If you are in bad debt, relationship crisis and struggling to pay off mortgage, in other words badly need the money, then suck it up, because you are desperate. Get the £££££ over 0.00 income!