Originally posted by AtW
View Post
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
The official Budget 2017 DOOM thread
Collapse
X
Collapse
-
-
Originally posted by davethehedgehog View PostYet another budget aimed at us "tax dodging contractors".Comment
-
Originally posted by TheCyclingProgrammer View PostMore than that IMO. An attack on the self employed workforce in general. Lets not forget that the self-employed facing today's NI increase aren't all £500/day IT contractors...its your window cleaner, your hair dresser, your boiler man etc....Comment
-
Originally posted by PurpleGorilla View PostHow much cash in hand gets tax paid on it.
Remember HMRC randomly targets particular groups."You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JRComment
-
Originally posted by TheCyclingProgrammer View PostMore than that IMO. An attack on the self employed workforce in general. Lets not forget that the self-employed facing today's NI increase aren't all £500/day IT contractors...its your window cleaner, your hair dresser, your boiler man etc....Comment
-
Originally posted by SueEllen View PostYeah they are all tax avoiding scum.
Remember HMRC randomly targets particular groups.Comment
-
Originally posted by TheCyclingProgrammer View PostI have no experience in that sector however I think you're probably right - branch out into different sectors.
Its possible to earn a very decent day rate without working for banks and other mega corporations - maybe not 4 figure day rates (though I know of some people who do what I do that charge that much) - but how many contractors actually earn that much anyway?
Having a steady supply of work over the last 8 years is something I put down almost entirely to making myself known amongst my peers, making a name for myself through contributions to open source projects, blogging, attending events, even speaking at a couple.
I'm no Twitter celebrity but I have nearly 2000 followers - many of whom are peers and I've found a lot of work that way. I get a lot of work through my website because due to my well linked blog (not so much in recent years, I haven't had the time to blog for about 3 years) I get good results on Google. If I'm struggling to find anything I can tweet that I'm looking for work and I'll often get numerous retweets and enquiries as a result.
I go through patches of not getting work still and in recent years I've had a tendency to take on longer projects for the additional security. A long project for me is anything more than 3 months. Almost everything I do tends to revolve around a specific project (which is especially helpful when it comes to IR35) with a key deliverable.
I do occasionally have gigs where I'm brought in to help out an existing development team with the development of an existing product (but I still try and keep the scope as tight as possible). These tend to be longer projects and I will take them on from time to time for the relatively income security - extra diligence is required when it comes to things like D&C and staying on the right side of IR35 though I tend to mitigate this up front by being quite clear about how and where I work (I've had clients want me to be on-site more before and I've said no).
You still need a good warchest - I'm not comfortable with anything less than 12-18 months in my company reserves.
I really ought to find more time to contribute to open source projects again (I was quite prolific many years ago) and blogging but since children came long (I have two now) I rarely have the time. Its important though because my reputation can only last so long without keeping my profile up.
I tend to have two main lines of work - iOS development and backend web development. This can obviously be an advantage as I have two skills to sell but it can also mean more work is involved in keeping abreast in changes. I spent a couple of years doing mostly iOS work and found I'd really fallen behind in keeping up with the changes to the web framework I normally use. Every year there's a new version of the iOS SDK to review and learn.
I've done two gigs through an agency in my 8 years as a freelancer - one was forced on me (big name client, contacted me but needed to go through agency on their preferred supplier list) and the other was a small project for PartyGaming many years ago (probably the dullest project I've ever done).
Sorry if that was all a bit rambling but hopefully useful.
"Banks are no place for coders" - eFinancialCareersComment
-
The official budget thread getting more posts than all other budget related threads - as it should!
Do not accept any substitutions to the official threads!Comment
-
Originally posted by PurpleGorilla View PostHow much cash in hand gets tax paid on it.Comment
-
Originally posted by BolshieBastard View PostYou said something about grammar?
So, are you making a statement or don't you know how many IB roles you've 'had that way'?
I'd have thought someone who trumpets being a '2 contractor household again' repeatedly on an internet forum would have a grasp of such things. Clearly not in your case.The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't existComment
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Comment