As a contractor, how do you answer this criticism?

[ladymuck]

In plenty of forums, Facebook, social media etc, I always see the following phrase and I wondered what everyone else thought about it and how you answered it.

"People who avoid paying fair amounts of tax by creating a company, employing themselves on minimum wage and paying themselves a large dividend lose their right to an opinion on what happens to the NHS, as they aren't fairly contributing towards it. Even if what they do is legal, morally it's completely wrong."

By the way, I'm a contractor and sick of being attacked and would like to know what to say back

This argument also ignores the CT the company pays. Whilst VAT is a pass through cost, it would be good to know if more VAT is raised via the LtdCo model vs us all being employees.

[scooterscot]

Explain that when you take ill, a time away for a holiday or otherwise, you'll not get paid like a full timer.

Explain if the option existed to work directly with the NHS as a freelancer/contractor you'd jump at it, but the agent does not allow that.

[Jog On]

In plenty of forums, Facebook, social media etc, I always see the following phrase and I wondered what everyone else thought about it and how you answered it.

"People who avoid paying fair amounts of tax by creating a company, employing themselves on minimum wage and paying themselves a large dividend lose their right to an opinion on what happens to the NHS, as they aren't fairly contributing towards it. Even if what they do is legal, morally it's completely wrong."

By the way, I'm a contractor and sick of being attacked and would like to know what to say back

Don't bother engaging with it. Even if you explain to them about agencies forcing us (to avoid paying NI) and the higher tax take we generate they still want to wave their pitchforks because to them it's 'not fair' that you chose to become a contractor and they didn't and chose righteous suffering because people who earn good money are 'bad'.

Seriously - don't bother - this is who you're talking to:

[LondonManc]

In plenty of forums, Facebook, social media etc, I always see the following phrase and I wondered what everyone else thought about it and how you answered it.

"People who avoid paying fair amounts of tax by creating a company, employing themselves on minimum wage and paying themselves a large dividend lose their right to an opinion on what happens to the NHS, as they aren't fairly contributing towards it. Even if what they do is legal, morally it's completely wrong."

By the way, I'm a contractor and sick of being attacked and would like to know what to say back

Ask them if they get sick pay, holidays, redundancy, notice periods that are enforceable, furloughs, rate cuts, etc.

It's a risk and reward model, that if it wasn't for the enforced travel due to the location of contracts, I'd still be engaging in. As it is, I choose to be a permie employee, pay my fare share of tax and accept that there are those who prefer the variety of contracting.

[psychocandy]

Tell them you don't do morals....

And the only time you ever did was when you decided it was a bit off when you were thinking of shagging the cat.

[Zigenare]

Tell them you don't do morals....

And the only time you ever did was when you decided it was a bit off when you were thinking of shagging the cat - but you didn't let that stop you, it merely created a brief hiatus in the proceedings while you set up the webcam.

Just saying like...

[vwdan]

Ask them why, if it's all so easy and guaranteed why they aren't contracting. Any "moral" response is a lie - and the rest of the answers are your reasons for engaging through a Ltd Co.

[Cirrus]

Young people of today

In plenty of forums, Facebook, social media etc ... I'm a contractor and sick of being attacked and would like to know what to say back

I just don't get it.

Why do you waste your life away on social media sites that have a go at you? You don't need to look at them. Just walk away.

[OwlHoot]

In plenty of forums, Facebook, social media etc, I always see the following phrase and I wondered what everyone else thought about it and how you answered it.

"People who avoid paying fair amounts of tax by creating a company, employing themselves on minimum wage and paying themselves a large dividend lose their right to an opinion on what happens to the NHS, as they aren't fairly contributing towards it. Even if what they do is legal, morally it's completely wrong."

By the way, I'm a contractor and sick of being attacked and would like to know what to say back

That you don't give a flying feck what happens to the NHS, as it would be run far more efficiently and just as effectively by being privatised and sold to the Yanks?

Go on the attack, man!

[FIERCE TANK BATTLE]

Just ask em how much the NHS is paying for locum doctors since the introduction of IR35 in the public sector