Should I Quit?

[northernladuk]

Don't want to pour cold water on the, generally, good advice that gets handed out round here, but can any of the people who regularly say things like this about 'putting you inside Ir35' ever actually been through an IR35 investigation ?

How many people have had thier house burn down or car torched? Not many but we all pay insurance against it.

Whether people have been through IR35 investigations or not it is still wise to keep your nose clean for the time that you MIGHT. Ignoring this advice for the most will be fine, for that one unfortunate guy it will be a life altering problem if they take their eye off the ball.

I bet not many people have had a tax investigation either, does that mean we ignore all advise about that?

[TestMangler]

How many people have had thier house burn down or car torched? Not many but we all pay insurance against it.

Whether people have been through IR35 investigations or not it is still wise to keep your nose clean for the time that you MIGHT. Ignoring this advice for the most will be fine, for that one unfortunate guy it will be a life altering problem if they take their eye off the ball.

I bet not many people have had a tax investigation either, does that mean we ignore all advise about that?

All true. However, if you have been through one, you'll know how it works and will know if carrying the bosses laptop, drinking out of the permmie fountains and tulipting in the permmie bogs is relevant or not.

Just saying likes. Who's opinion would you prefer to hear ? Someone who's been there and done it or someone who's guessing ?

[northernladuk]

All true. However, if you have been through one, you'll know how it works and will know if carrying the bosses laptop, drinking out of the permmie fountains and tulipting in the permmie bogs is relevant or not.

Just saying likes. Who's opinion would you prefer to hear ? Someone who's been there and done it or someone who's guessing ?

Ah got you. Yes, I see what you mean and it is an interesting question about the granularity of this. The individual carrying laptop is a miniscule problem but the whole picture of client direction is more important.

Interstingly enough I did an IR35 assesment on another contractor site and it asked me if I used the clients subsidised canteen so obviously a very convoluted issue.

[psychocandy]

Cant believe he gets you to carry his laptop !!!!

Or tell you how long you can be in the bog for !!!! (I'd be screwed then - he's prob think I was dead).

[JamJarST]

Cant believe he gets you to carry his laptop !!!!

Or tell you how long you can be in the bog for !!!! (I'd be screwed then - he's prob think I was dead).

If he did it to me I would quite loudly and publicly say I was having a tommy tank to reduce my stress levels

[TestMangler]

Ah got you. Yes, I see what you mean and it is an interesting question about the granularity of this. The individual carrying laptop is a miniscule problem but the whole picture of client direction is more important.

Interstingly enough I did an IR35 assesment on another contractor site and it asked me if I used the clients subsidised canteen so obviously a very convoluted issue.

When I went through one a few years ago, HMRC did NOT ask questions about stuff like that.

They sent a list of questions to my client co (but nothing to do with the usual expected canteen and car park questions) who replied to every question with 'refer to contract' and then covered the whole thing with a letter stating that they did not, nor ever did have a contract in place of any kind between them and Mr T Mangler.

What I'm getting at is that people who spout advice about 'don't carry anything for your line manager, you'll get caught with IR35' are basically talking out of their arses, so take their advice with a pinch of salt.

Having said that, if someone asked me to carry their laptop, I may do it out of common courtesy, if they were, for example, carrying my coffee and bacon roll and had to open a door for me

More than likely, i'd tell them to take a flying ****, which is IR35 neutral.

[contractoralan]

How long is this contract for ? How far are you into the contract ? How long is your notice period?

If you have 4 weeks notice period and have only 6 weeks left in the contract, does it make sense to give notice?

Given the nature of the person you describe, he is going to cause trouble with timesheets etc if you plan to quit mid-contract. Why not take some time off instead ?

[northernladuk]

What I'm getting at is that people who spout advice about 'don't carry anything for your line manager, you'll get caught with IR35' are basically talking out of their arses, so take their advice with a pinch of salt.

I would agree. It could be argued that he wouldn't expect a permie to carry it or on the flip side it is client control but on the whole it is such a minor point it just isn't worth considering.

[TestMangler]

I would agree. It could be argued that he wouldn't expect a permie to carry it or on the flip side it is client control but on the whole it is such a minor point it just isn't worth considering.

Correct, that's just not how HMRC questioning tactics work. The questions they sent to my client co were all the usual tulipe like how do contractors arrange holidays ? How does a contractor contact you in the event of illness ? If you have a team building day, do you pay contractors to attend ?

Nothing about carrying the bosses laptop or printing stuff at his request or watching gladiator movies in the dark. Usually more high level and generic than that.

[nomadd]

Hi,

I am an IT contractor (Banking) with about 3 yrs of contracting experience. I have just started a new contract at a reputed bank and have found myself in tulip.

If you stay, you're an idiot.

FWIW: I've been contracting 23 years and have only come across this at 4 sites. Each time, I've ripped into the guy within the first few days. Only once has that resulted in us "parting ways" early. On the other 3 occasions, Mr DickHead has taken his attitude elsewhere, to some complete muppet (usually a permie) who'll put up with that kind of bullying. Still, that's me, not you. Your call.