Staying in the same public sector contract after April 2017

[Gaz_M]

Start looking NOW and you may still avoid the stampede.
The more forward thinking people have been making their exits more or less discreetly for months now...

I'm currently in the PS & did a quick straw poll of the other 7 contractors here yesterday after the Autumn Statement.

Unbelievably 5 out of the 7 didn't know what I was talking about and the other two said "they'll worry about it at the time".

Are 90% of contractors really that stupid?

I'll be leaving here in January to give me two months to find a private sector gig which will probably keep me contracting for one or two more years (depending on when they hit private too).

[westtester]

I'm currently in the PS & did a quick straw poll of the other 7 contractors here yesterday after the Autumn Statement.

Unbelievably 5 out of the 7 didn't know what I was talking about and the other two said "they'll worry about it at the time".

Are 90% of contractors really that stupid?

I'll be leaving here in January to give me two months to find a private sector gig which will probably keep me contracting for one or two more years (depending on when they hit private too).

They deserve to get caught out with a complacent attitude like that. I buggered off from PS first chance I got after the MoD introduced enforced IR35. You only have to look at what happened with UKHO to see what could happen in April to everywhere else. I think the sooner you get out, the better.

IR35 dispute prompts mass walkout of IT contractors from MoD agency

[QCApproved]

I'm wondering if there is some wishful thinking on the actual possibility of a mass exodus to the private sector form the PS. Where are the roles in the private sector people expect to migrate to.
The FS institution I work for has released scores of contractors in the last year. I've never been sent PS CVs - I think rightly or wrongly the perception is that PS contractors don't have the commitment or flexibility for the Private Sector, particularly those that have been there for years in essentially the same role.

[LandRover]

I'm wondering if there is some wishful thinking on the actual possibility of a mass exodus to the private sector form the PS. Where are the roles in the private sector people expect to migrate to.
The FS institution I work for has released scores of contractors in the last year. I've never been sent PS CVs - I think rightly or wrongly the perception is that PS contractors don't have the commitment or flexibility for the Private Sector, particularly those that have been there for years in essentially the same role.

Agree, and yet there must be a real fear that HMRC will take the line post April 2017.

"Ok you were a contractor who alleged you were outside IR35 last week, now you are inside, and yet your working conditions are no different."

Worrying indeed. Will IR35 investigations increase?

[gables]

Agree, and yet there must be a real fear that HMRC will take the line post April 2017.

"Ok you were a contractor who alleged you were outside IR35 last week, now you are inside, and yet your working conditions are no different."

Worrying indeed. Will IR35 investigations increase?

Knowing HMRC it wouldn't surprise me but putting that aside for the moment, a reason people will be inside now is not because they should be inside working practice wise, but purely because HMRC have dictated that they're inside and therefore a retro investigation is inappropriate, but this is HMRC so no need to be appropriate.

[DotasScandal]

Knowing HMRC it wouldn't surprise me but putting that aside for the moment, a reason people will be inside now is not because they should be inside working practice wise, but purely because HMRC have dictated that they're inside and therefore a retro investigation is inappropriate, but this is HMRC so no need to be appropriate.

This.
If there is perception (correct or not) that there is money to be made, believe they will go for it.
As someone wrote on AccountingWeb, HMRC are not a tax collection authority anymore, they are a highway robber.

Plan accordingly.

[QCApproved]

Agree DR nothing can be ruled out retro or otherwise

[DotasScandal]

I'm wondering if there is some wishful thinking on the actual possibility of a mass exodus to the private sector form the PS. Where are the roles in the private sector people expect to migrate to.
The FS institution I work for has released scores of contractors in the last year. I've never been sent PS CVs - I think rightly or wrongly the perception is that PS contractors don't have the commitment or flexibility for the Private Sector, particularly those that have been there for years in essentially the same role.

Absolutely agree.
The level of hubris amongst contractors at large is much higher that we ever imagined.
The attitude to the APN legislation was an eye opener.
Yes, many are really "that stupid".

[QCApproved]

Given the way projects seem to be run in the PS no wonder so much tax needs to be collected in the first place. There appears to be no location strategy/offshoring etc not to mention huge pension provisions etc - its about time these organs of the state were more prudent with our money. Then they might not need to hold us up for so much.

[MarkT]

No matter what - I'll just go the umbrella route and stay contracting. Still earning more and still free to make my own decisions.

Not sure what is a better solution to be honest.