BIG GROUP

[DotasScandal]

Does anyone know if there is any criminal record implication if we lose in tribunal.

I assume you have not committed evasion or any other crime, so there is NO criminal case! Therefore why would anyone have a criminal record?? *scratches head*

Re IPSE, the idea was more to see if they can help with outreach, considering their large network of members.

What Abbey Tax thinks about this or that is completely besides the point.

[webberg]

Anyway, to the point in question here. Have you, or anyone considered approaching IPSE (a.k.a. PCG)? Their reach is enormous in the contractor world. They will probably not lend their name to the cause, but they may be open to being helpful on contractor awareness. It's surely not in IPSE's interest to see contractors suffering.

Short answer is yes.

We will begin with taking advertising space and build some relationship via lending our expertise etc.

We have to expect however for numbers to build slowly but steadily.

[cojak]

My observation is that the IPSE forums will give you the same level of of support that you would encounter outside of this CUK sub-forum...

[webberg]

I have spoken to IPSE. Abbey Tax is the tax advisor. He persuaded me to settle given the trouble and the chance of winning this. I was told that we will have to go to tribunal eventually after APN is issued. I'm still in a dilemma. Does anyone know if there is any criminal record implication if we lose in tribunal.

A few snippets.

IPSE is not a tax adviser. They may be wise in terms of the structures, but they don't do tax.

Abbey Tax is an insurer. They act as a broker for insurance companies who, in return for a premium, will support legal action to protect tax relief claims. Abbey's role is to evaluate the likelihood of that premium ever having to be used. So, whilst I'm sure Abbey has tax specialists around, be sure of their motives. Are they advising in your best interests or in the interests of the underwriter?

I would agree that contractor schemes close to Boyle are not going to secure a win in Court. Whilst that case has a lot of individual features there are certain key parts that some schemes appear to share and enough of them will mean a challenge is pointless (hence Abbey's advice?)

In most instances it would be possible to get to Court anyway as differences can be produced.
In that case, would HMRC be prepared to negotiate? Perhaps.
Would that negotiation lead to a lower tax/interest/penalty position than the CLSO? Perhaps.
Would the negotiation lead to a final settlement rather than the rather unclear current offer? Certainly.

There is no criminal or other record established by losing a civil tax case. Fraud case, yes.

[webberg]

My observation is that the IPSE forums will give you the same level of of support that you would encounter outside of this CUK sub-forum...

I suspect that is true.

However, Contractor UK, important as it is, reaches only a certain element of the contractor community.

There are contractors in offshore energy, medical, engineering, legal, professional, HR, marketing and many other fields. The intention is to make as many of these people aware of BIG GROUP as possible.

The latest IPSE sponsored report shows that there are now 5m small (less than 10 employees) businesses in the UK. Many of these are contractors.

[eek]

I suspect that is true.

However, Contractor UK, important as it is, reaches only a certain element of the contractor community.

There are contractors in offshore energy, medical, engineering, legal, professional, HR, marketing and many other fields. The intention is to make as many of these people aware of BIG GROUP as possible.

The latest IPSE sponsored report shows that there are now 5m small (less than 10 employees) businesses in the UK. Many of these are contractors.

The IPSE community forum probably reaches less than 20 people who aren't on cUK. It is (no matter what they think) a marie celeste where the main posters seem to be malvolio, mudskipper and theFaqqer.

I can see your desire in getting IPSE to mention you. I just don't think that many people care about it enough to read the IPSE newsletter.

Take up of the £5000 free life assurance they now give IPSE plus members is a prime example of that... I bet no one here has taken them up on the offer or knows what they have to do to get it (I only do as I was sorting life assurance out last night)..

[webberg]

The IPSE community forum probably reaches less than 20 people who aren't on cUK. It is (no matter what they think) a marie celeste where the main posters seem to be malvolio, mudskipper and theFaqqer.

I can see your desire in getting IPSE to mention you. I just don't think that many people care about it enough to read the IPSE newsletter.

Take up of the £5000 free life assurance they now give IPSE plus members is a prime example of that... I bet no one here has taken them up on the offer or knows what they have to do to get it (I only do as I was sorting life assurance out last night)..

Interesting. That is a different story to the marketing person I spoke with (who was trying to sell me space). I'll do some more digging.

[malvolio]

Interesting. That is a different story to the marketing person I spoke with (who was trying to sell me space). I'll do some more digging.

Don't worry about the forums. speak to the MD. They are, despite their various detractors on here, the only independent organisation representing contractors that are recognised and spoken to by HMG. A survey of the membership showed very few using schemes (gosh...) but there are some.

And ignore eek - their communications reach a few tens of thousands across a range of verticals.

[eek]

Don't worry about the forums. speak to the MD. They are, despite their various detractors on here, the only independent organisation representing contractors that are recognised and spoken to by HMG. A survey of the membership showed very few using schemes (gosh...) but there are some.

And ignore eek - their communications reach a few tens of thousands across a range of verticals.

Reach or actually opened and read? Given where my IPSE newsletters continually end up when arriving in my gmail account it seems that a fair number of receivers are continually marking them as spam....

The thing is newsletters are a numbers game. you may eventually reach the people you want to connect to but it will require appearing in multiple issues to be successful...

[malvolio]

Reach or actually opened and read? Given where my IPSE newsletters continually end up when arriving in my gmail account it seems that a fair number of receivers are continually marking them as spam....

The thing is newsletters are a numbers game. you may eventually reach the people you want to connect to but it will require appearing in multiple issues to be successful...

Just because you ignore them... Newsletters aren't the only route being used anyway. Word will get around.

And I think dear Weberg needs to ask the question himself from the people who actually know the answers.