Reply to: is PCG worth it

[BigJake]

Malolio

The sole reason why the PCG exists is because of IR35. They may have tapped on some more recent causes, but if IR35 is repealed, the PCG's days are numbered, whatever any 'activists' like to think.

Contractors are independent by nature. I, and all the contractors I know, only joined the PCG to fight targeted legislation - IR35.

More recent campaigns on security clearance, income shifting, are very nice to see, but are hardly a genuine reason to sign up IMO.

[Fred Bloggs]

Can anyone point me to where the Tories say they will abolish IR35?

They don't, my (Tory) MP confirmed that is the case.

[NickNick]

Can anyone point me to where the Tories say they will abolish IR35?

The Tories have said they will abolish the project I'm working on if they get into power. 2 months before handover to govt.

[ASB]

Can anyone point me to where the Tories say they will abolish IR35?

The pledge was on their website. I believe it isn't any more.

[Coalman]

Given that IR35 gave birth to the the PCG, and the Tories abolish it, surely far fewer people will bother joining up.

That's an irony if ever I saw one.

Can anyone point me to where the Tories say they will abolish IR35?

[malvolio]

No of course they won't fix fix themselves. But the PCG won't fix them either. The question is simply what impact - if any - will the PCG have towards their fixing.

I refer to my earlier answer. Wait and see...

[ASB]

Grow up. Tax inquiries will continue, offshoring will continue, S44-7 IEPTA will continue, there will be new variations on the Arctic case, agencies will continue to screw us and clients will continue to treat us like permies with no rights. But hey, they'll al lfix themselves, won't they...

No of course they won't fix fix themselves. But the PCG won't fix them either. The question is simply what impact - if any - will the PCG have towards their fixing.

[malvolio]

Given that IR35 gave birth to the the PCG, and the Tories abolish it, surely far fewer people will bother joining up.

That's an irony if ever I saw one.

So IR35 is the only thing that freelancers need to worry about then, is it? Stop that and everything is sorted and there's no more battles to fight?

Grow up. Tax inquiries will continue, offshoring will continue, S44-7 IEPTA will continue, there will be new variations on the Arctic case, agencies will continue to screw us and clients will continue to treat us like permies with no rights. But hey, they'll al lfix themselves, won't they...

[BigJake]

IR35 abolition?

Given that IR35 gave birth to the the PCG, and the Tories abolish it, surely far fewer people will bother joining up.

That's an irony if ever I saw one.

[BrilloPad]

Rubbish. IR35 won't go away as long as we have a Labour Government and was never going to. Dim Prawn sold the idea of freelancers as MGB's to the party and they ain't going to change their minds about that.

Then again, the day we don't have one any more may be not that far away of course...

Hi Mal

Long time no post

How are you?

BP
PS I think PCG is well worth it : though their forums are not as good as cuk....

[malvolio]

I'm not overly impressed with the PCG. Their S660 fight was great, but they need to do more on IR35. They should be vigorously pushing it into the public eye and secure concrete policy commitments from the Conservatives and Liberals.

Also in their press releases they say things like "we welcome HMRC's crackdown on umbrellas..." How can they 'welcome' anything like this? Unless you are the type who welcomes a fart in a bath that follows through, you do not welcome tax clampdowns. Especially if you are a trade group set up to fight tax clampdowns...

OTOH look at the Taxpayers' Alliance. They are a small bunch but every week they seem to be in the news. If the PCG had 1% of the TA's nous they would have had IR35 nailed by now.

Rubbish. IR35 won't go away as long as we have a Labour Government and was never going to. Dim Prawn sold the idea of freelancers as MGB's to the party and they ain't going to change their minds about that.

Then again, the day we don't have one any more may be not that far away of course...

[BrilloPad]

Personally I think it is worth joining the PCG. I like the insurance against an IR35 investigation : and they have a legal helpline.

[swamp]

I'm not overly impressed with the PCG. Their S660 fight was great, but they need to do more on IR35. They should be vigorously pushing it into the public eye and secure concrete policy commitments from the Conservatives and Liberals.

Also in their press releases they say things like "we welcome HMRC's crackdown on umbrellas..." How can they 'welcome' anything like this? Unless you are the type who welcomes a fart in a bath that follows through, you do not welcome tax clampdowns. Especially if you are a trade group set up to fight tax clampdowns...

OTOH look at the Taxpayers' Alliance. They are a small bunch but every week they seem to be in the news. If the PCG had 1% of the TA's nous they would have had IR35 nailed by now.

[BrowneIssue]

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

They did for me.

Elan accepted it last year with not a question asked, ymmv.

From: A Gent <A.Gent@elanit.co.uk>
To: BrowneIssue@...

In anticipation of the formal offer coming through from procurement I need the following documents

o Copy of Passport plus Visa if applicable
o Copy of the Company Certificate of Incorporation - (Elan can only work with UK Registered Limited Companies)
o Copy of the Company VAT certification if VAT Registered (no VAT is payable without this certificate)
o Copy of your bank statement (a company cheque is acceptable to verify the bank details i.e. your company name, address and company bank details)
o Copy of the Limited Company insurance certificates (All 3 insurances, Public Liability, Employers Liability and Professional Indemnity should be verified to the limit of £1 million minimum)
o 2 References

PCG Combined Insurance Quotation - BrowneIssue's LtdCo

Professional Indemnity Insurance
Individual limit £1,000,000 in the aggregate including costs and expenses
Excess: £500 each and every loss including costs and expenses
You will have the benefit of a £2 million special aggregate shared limit (costs inclusive) which is available all PCG members be they IT Contractors/Consultants, Engineers and Other Professionals. This £2 million is shared between all members who purchase their insurance from Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc via Randell Dorling Ltd (The Manager).

From: A Gent <A.Gent@elanit.co.uk>
To: BrowneIssue@...

Hi BI,

I have queried our legal department about this insurance and unfortunately we do not accept this type of insurance.

Perhaps it was because in this case the client had expressly stated the need for insurance (which I know they had) so Elan checked the small print for once.

[Stolly]

PS: their arranged discount PI insurance is GROUP insurance - Elan (and others) don't accept that.

Elan accepted it last year with not a question asked, ymmv.