The official "Autumn Statement 2015" AKA "End of Contracting" thread

[AtW]

Can we change the thread title now?

Yes. It's no longer official...

[Zero Liability]

So all that huff and puff and doom and gloom in the other thread was a complete waste of time and angst.



ha ha gotta see the funny side.

Kind of thought it would be once it was suggested the IR35 bits, if true, may refer to a Consultation doc.

Since the Chancellor has made so many 'savings' that he's now throwing away money left right and centre maybe that supposed £400m can be taken off the table.

Although I won't hold my breath.

[eek]

I was looking for community approval I honestly can't believe the sleepless nights as to what could change and all we get is that one clause? Not that I am complaining or anything, that is a hell of a lot less that I thought was coming our way. Right. Back to work. Maybe a swift gin and then back to work. Might get a decent nights kip tonight.

Devil is in the detail and we don't have the detail. Nothing has been published yet with regards to IR35 and its that Consultation document that we will need to read in detail...

[jamesbrown]

So all that huff and puff and doom and gloom in the other thread was a complete waste of time and angst.



ha ha gotta see the funny side.

Seems like much of it was

But, and I think it's quite a large but, none of the issues (from their perspective) have gone away. We'll have to wait and see how these are manifest w/r to IR35. On the face of it, they did listen to the T&S consultation, but this is now tied to IR35 and will change with any changes in IR35, which makes sense, mechanically.

[AtW]

So anyone that wants ER should close down before April 2016?

I think anybody who got lots of dosh in their company AND it can be closed down to claim ER should do it ASAP - this isn't financial advice though!

[Chuck]

...and all we get is that one clause?

I'd hang on a bit before celebrating. His budgets have a nasty habit of producing bad news many days after the initial announcement.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Received from our contact at HMRC:
"Travel and Subsistence

The Chancellor made the following announcement today:

3.20 Employment intermediaries and tax relief for travel and subsistence – As confirmed at Summer Budget 2015, the government will legislate to restrict tax relief for travel and subsistence expenses for workers engaged through an employment intermediary, such as an umbrella company or a personal service company. Following consultation, relief will be restricted for individuals working through personal service companies where the intermediaries legislation applies. This change will take effect from 6 April 2016.
April 2016.

The text is at chapter 3.20 in the Blue Book - follow the link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...Accessible.pdf

Draft legislation will be published on 9 December.

Intermediaries legislation - IR35

As you know the government announced at the Summer Budget that HMRC would engage with stakeholders over the summer about the best way to reform the intermediaries legislation (IR35). A discussion document was published on 17 July and HMRC received over 160 written responses in addition to 14 roundtables with stakeholders.

The government is considering responses to the discussion document. The government’s objective as set out in the discussion document is to find a solution that protects the Exchequer and improves fairness in the system without creating disproportionate burdens on business, or widening the scope of the rules."

[MrMarkyMark]

I think anybody who got lots of dosh in their company AND it can be closed down to claim ER should do it ASAP - this isn't financial advice though!

Yep, agreed.
He will still need the finance bill (2016) to change the various bits of legislation though.

[jamesbrown]

Nothing has been published yet with regards to IR35 and its that Consultation document that we will need to read in detail...

Indeed, this is a very important point, especially now that T&S and IR35 have been explicitly linked (no real surprises there, but it leaves the hook w/r to IR35 reform).

My guess is that we won't face the worst case scenario "leaked" to the Fail and Grauniad, but there will be some reform of IR35 forthcoming, and it could still revolve around SDC. They've left that hook, rather than address the SDC issue upfront through T&S.

[jamesbrown]

over 160 written responses

Yeah, right. Over. That's what's known as "strictly accurate"