https://forums.contractoruk.com/ en Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:49:54 GMT vBulletin 60 images/misc/rss.png https://forums.contractoruk.com/ https://forums.contractoruk.com/umbrella-companies/151455-any-umbrella-companies-that-offer-decent-private-medical-cover.html Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:34:38 GMT
Was wondering, are there any umrella companies that allow you to join their private health insurance scheme? Joining the employer's scheme is usally far cheaper than getting it done on an individual/family basis.

Any umbrella companies offer such a scheme?]]> Umbrella Companies ContractorBanking https://forums.contractoruk.com/umbrella-companies/151455-any-umbrella-companies-that-offer-decent-private-medical-cover.html https://forums.contractoruk.com/umbrella-companies/151453-paystream-s-hidden-less-employer-pension-saving-fee-is-costing-me-£5-588-a-year.html Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:02:51 GMT If you use PayStream for salary sacrifice into a private SIPP, check your payroll breakdown immediately for a deduction labeled "Less Employer Pension Saving".
PayStream has quietly implemented a policy where they retain a portion of the Employer National Insurance (NI) savings generated by your pension sacrifice. On my rate, this stealth change is costing me £127 a week—which adds up to a massive £5,588 a year out of my pocket!
This is charged on top of their standard weekly margin and their explicit £8.40 SIPP fee. It was never transparently communicated to me, and the wording completely obscures what is actually happening. Contractors need to know about this. I am moving immediately to an umbrella company that passes 100% of the NI savings back to the contractor.]]> Umbrella Companies spar https://forums.contractoruk.com/umbrella-companies/151453-paystream-s-hidden-less-employer-pension-saving-fee-is-costing-me-£5-588-a-year.html https://forums.contractoruk.com/accounting-legal/151443-after-what-6-7-years-landed-a-outside-ir35-gig-need-accountant.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:31:15 GMT Accounting / Legal trsisko https://forums.contractoruk.com/accounting-legal/151443-after-what-6-7-years-landed-a-outside-ir35-gig-need-accountant.html https://forums.contractoruk.com/accounting-legal/151440-automating-receipts-into-freeagent-built-a-tool-looking-for-feedback.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:41:43 GMT
So I automated it, and turned it into a small service called Receipt Relay (https://receiptrelay.co.uk). You forward receipts to your own Receipt Relay address (or let an email rule do it) and they're filed in FreeAgent properly:

• bank transaction, bill or out-of-pocket expense, whichever fits
• VAT sorted, including reverse charge on US/EU software
• foreign currency handled
• receipt attached

Nothing to log into day to day.

It's free until 30 November, then £6 a month. Full disclosure: I built it, and it's not affiliated with FreeAgent. I'd welcome honest views from other FreeAgent users: is it useful, and what would stop you using it?]]> Accounting / Legal johngillett https://forums.contractoruk.com/accounting-legal/151440-automating-receipts-into-freeagent-built-a-tool-looking-for-feedback.html https://forums.contractoruk.com/ir35-reform/151421-shadow-chancellor-delivers-speech-on-uk-economy-….html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:26:27 GMT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIh3e8g4lJ8 Shadow chancellor delivers speech on UK economy … He comes across as a good speaker. Small business and self-employed is the focus of the speech. “IR35, a regime which crushed the dreams of so many self-employed people” he said, going on to... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIh3e8g4lJ8

Shadow chancellor delivers speech on UK economy …

He comes across as a good speaker. Small business and self-employed is the focus of the speech.

“IR35, a regime which crushed the dreams of so many self-employed people” he said, going on to comment that “I know that many felt let down by IR35 and our party’s role in it”.

Apparently Tories will replace IR35. It’s an interesting notion, but that ship sailed some time ago. They had ample opportunity to sort this out and failed to do so; rather they made it worse. Where's the evidence that the market would recover?

‘let down’ is something of an understatement. I think that many of us who simply gave up in the face more ‘compliance’ and fewer roles won’t be forgiving.

He did say also that they’ll deal with MTD; good, it’s ridiculous compelling people to buy software to interact with government.
]]> IR35 Reform Protagoras https://forums.contractoruk.com/ir35-reform/151421-shadow-chancellor-delivers-speech-on-uk-economy-….html