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Public Sector Inside IR35 - Still worth taking contracts?

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    Public Sector Inside IR35 - Still worth taking contracts?

    Ive seen a few emails flying around about public sector contracts with low rates attached...how many people are still working these contracts and are they worth the hassle they look to be?

    Thanks
    Gareth

    #2
    If you can get local contracts with no expenses, I guess it would be worth looking at.
    "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
    - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

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      #3
      Depends on your circumstances.
      'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

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        #4
        Doesn't that depend on your alternatives? Of course they are not as lucrative as they once were. However, if there is nothing else on the go then why not?

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          #5
          If low rates then after the (if I'm in the right ball park on the figure) ~45% tax taken off due to employer/employee NI and basic rate tax, and apprenticeship levy, and ... you may find it's more a volunteering role.

          So unless short term while awaiting better contract, or they have some sort of in role upskilling that appeals, then doesn't seem attractive at all to me unless no warchest to wait for something better.

          Personally I'm only entertaining PS opportunities if the rate has been increased to offset a fair portion of the IR35 tax, which may not be in the spirit of IR35 but as a freelancer I'm free to choose what I go for.
          Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

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            #6
            The one public sector IR35 contract someone has asked me about died a death as soon as my current rate requirements were revealed to them..

            And I would still have been 50% cheaper than the consultancy they are using instead...
            merely at clientco for the entertainment

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              #7
              Don't dismiss out of hand. Look at the rate, costs etc. Bear in mind that you're probably going to have to go umbrella which is a PITA.

              I'd never suggest staying in a role that is now (or could be) inside IR35 when previously you worked outside. Too much risk they might go retrospective.

              My situation. I had an outside IR35 role which was 60 miles away. Rate was OK but the travelling wasn't great. For 21 months, I could claim expenses. After this (for the few more months I was there) I couldn't (because of 24 month) so I took a bit of a hit. I left because they were fannying around the IR35 issue and I didnt want to risk retrospective.

              So role comes up close to home. I groan when I hear its PS Inside IR35 BUT they hike the market rate by about 35%. Loads of contractors had left because of IR35

              So for me, takehome is probably about same as before... Like I said, umbrella is a PITA but hey ho.
              Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

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                #8
                The rate hike seems relatively common now many PS clients are seeing contractors leave rather than risk retrospective taxation if staying in same role post April 2017, and attracting new contractors at the old rate is proving difficult.

                However I almost daren't think about this as the normal tax situation of approx 45% (so take home around 55% via normal route when inside IR35), but if the rate hike is sufficient to offset most of the IR35 pain then it also means we'll be in the higher tax bracket sooner, and I don't want to think that means take home will be much lower than 50%.

                So not only will contractors be leaving to avoid IR35 they may also leave when they reach higher tax bracket and the hit becomes even more painful.
                Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Hobosapien View Post
                  The rate hike seems relatively common now many PS clients are seeing contractors leave rather than risk retrospective taxation if staying in same role post April 2017, and attracting new contractors at the old rate is proving difficult.
                  As ever, it's going to vary by client, role and location.

                  I've spoken to people who had received a 70% increase, people who had negotiated a 45% increase, people who were on projects where everyone was offered a 20% increase, and people who have been told "there's no increase, that would defeat the purpose of you being inside IR35".

                  I would encourage those who have been through the negotiations (whether you stayed or left) to contact the policy team at IPSE so that there are specific examples that can be referenced when talking to press, politicians and civil servants.
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                    #10
                    Originally posted by TheFaQQer View Post
                    I would encourage those who have been through the negotiations (whether you stayed or left) to contact the policy team at IPSE so that there are specific examples that can be referenced when talking to press, politicians and civil servants.

                    For what purpose? To show that public sector implementation of IR35 isn't working and further changes are required?

                    Depends whether one thinks that would result in reforms that benefit everyone, or a clampdown on rate increases in the spirit of IR35 as to whether that may or may not be a good idea.
                    Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

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