Reply to: Agent raising invoive on my Ltd's behalf

[Contreras]

Just accepted a role via an agency called Steria. They insist that this is how the client will be billed.

Sounds a bit suspect to me - how does it sound from an IR35 point of view?

Basic advice when running your own Contractor business - Self-Billing Invoices. <-- READ THIS.

More discussion here.

Remember also that unless you have specifically agreed to self-billing (by signing a self-billing agreement) then you must issue VAT invoices as normal whether the agency wants them or not.

And this...

... the agency's frequent mistakes and miscalculations, especially around expenses.

Personally I'm not happy where the self-billing is linked to electronic sign-off of timesheets and no paper trail to settle "computer says no" arguments.

[malvolio]

You'll get used to him, in fact I'm sure that you will get lots of helpful comments from him.

Still got a way to go, though

[BigRed]

Hey buddy - I don't know what your problem is coming on here shillin at bods all the time.

You'll get used to him, in fact I'm sure that you will get lots of helpful comments from him.

[BigRed]

My first contract was through them. First payment was late because I hadn't registered for VAT so apparently needed to raise my own invoices. Apart from that they were fine. Never heard from them since of course, despite the client asking me recently if I was available for another contract.

[Freaki Li Cuatre]

How can people can know so little about IR35 beggars belief.

This is either utterly ridiculous or a troll.

Hey buddy - I don't know what your problem is coming on here shillin at bods all the time.

[malvolio]

You should not raise your own invoice in addition, this is one of the conditions you agree to, being in this type of arrangement with your client.

You should not submit your own invoice, I agree, but as long as you keep the VAT Point straight (most easily done by mimicking their version of the invoice, which you treat as a Remittance Advice), how you maintain your own payment records is up to you. It has the additional benefit of highlighting the agency's frequent mistakes and miscalculations, especially around expenses.

[Brett at Nixon Williams]

A number of agency's offer self billing arrangements.

The following link covers some main aspects, including VAT.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/...lf-billing.htm

You should not raise your own invoice in addition, this is one of the conditions you agree to, being in this type of arrangement with your client.

I hope this helps.

Brett

[stek]

Thanks Clare. Let's hope QDOS give me the thumbs up then!

Too late if you've accepted.

[kevpuk]

They will send you a copy of the invoice as a PDF when it gets paid.

Aye, my current Agency offered me self-billing, which I took them up on. Each time an invoice is raised, which had always been prompt, they email a PDF. Same for Remittance slips every week.
Certainly not a worry or even point in terms of IR35....still, lots of Hector stuff here... for your reading pleasure.

[TheFaQQer]

It's an admin function, nothing to do with working conditions so not an issue in my view. Provided you are safely outside based on one of the usual trinity - Control, Substitution or MOO - then it's not relevant.

Just raise your own invoices and keep them for your own records in case you need them later on.

They will send you a copy of the invoice as a PDF when it gets paid.

[TheFaQQer]

Thanks Clare. Let's hope QDOS give me the thumbs up then!

If it's their standard contract, then unless it's been reworded in the past couple of years, expect a failure.

[TheFaQQer]

Steria aren't an agency - they are an IT solutions provider.

Formerly Druid, then Xansa, then bought by Steria, who are French IIRC. I contracted to Xansa when they were bought out by Steria, and have been back to Steria since.

What you mean is that they operate self-billing, based on you completing their timesheet system. Weekly invoicing paid on 28 day terms.

[Wanderer]

I presume this is a form of "self billing" where the agency raises the invoice. That's fine and normal procedure because it simplifies the agency's admin.

Just raise your own invoices and keep them for your own records in case you need them later on.

Yep, I wouldn't just trust a third party raise my invoices for me. Sometimes they get it wrong.

What I do is keep a spreadsheet of the invoices, amounts and the date they should be raised and paid so I can keep track of them that way.

[northernladuk]

Sounds a bit suspect to me - how does it sound from an IR35 point of view?

How can people can know so little about IR35 beggars belief.

This is either utterly ridiculous or a troll.

[Freaki Li Cuatre]

It's an admin function, nothing to do with working conditions so not an issue in my view. Provided you are safely outside based on one of the usual trinity - Control, Substitution or MOO - then it's not relevant.

Just raise your own invoices and keep them for your own records in case you need them later on.

Thanks Clare. Let's hope QDOS give me the thumbs up then!