Reply to: PCG worth it?

[mad-dog]

malvolio you don't have to join the PCG to get the level of advice they offer through their helplines.

Most simple home legal policies costing far less than the annual PCG membership can provide the same if not better level of professional advice. The advice is also given unwritten so useless if you intend using it as evidence to build a case.

As for IR35 review most qualified accountants offer it as part of their fees which are tax deductable whilst the PCG fees are not.

[Churchill]

There are some shiny pie charts in the latest Freelancing MAtters that demonstrates it very well. They will be on the PCG website soon as well, I'll drop a link when they are.




Don't be pathetic, you don't need to pay to see their promotional material, it is a legitimate business expense and it's not even a commercial organisation. Why the hell would they need to scam anyone?

Spoken by someone truly up the arse of the PCG.

It's not a "Professional Body", what are the qualifications for membership?

[malvolio]

If it's a legitimate business expense why is it not deductable?

It is, but not from CT, because of some arcane rules about trade bodies. I've explained why as best I can, I'm not doing it again. If you're not a member, it doesn't matter a damn anyway, if you are you can look it up for yourself.

[r0bly0ns]

Don't be pathetic, you don't need to pay to see their promotional material, it is a legitimate business expense and it's not even a commercial organisation. Why the hell would they need to scam anyone?

If it's a legitimate business expense why is it not deductable?

[malvolio]

Well sorry to disappoint malvolio, but apparently the PCG can only advise on whether a contract falls in or outside IR35. They can't apparently advise on liabilities on parties wanting to end restrictive contracts. Nor do they seem to want to help P4 contractors get any answers to resolve the mess they find themselves in. Instead they promote their umbrella 'partner' to lure P4 contractors into a bigger mess trying to walk away from the P4 mess.

The whole thing stinks.

Their free tax and legal helplines can, assuming you're a member.

And don't go on at me about P4, I've been banging that particular drum ever since it kicked off on here (and for a long time before that, if the truth be told). But there are legal restrictions on what can and can't be done. AFAIK, there are 74 P4 clients in the PCG, why aren't they asking their own questions directly? Email p4@pcg.org.uk and tell them, as per http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/index.php?...945&Itemid=566

[mad-dog]

Well sorry to disappoint malvolio, but apparently the PCG can only advise on whether a contract falls in or outside IR35. They can't apparently advise on liabilities on parties wanting to end restrictive contracts. Nor do they seem to want to help P4 contractors get any answers to resolve the mess they find themselves in. Instead they promote their umbrella 'partner' to lure P4 contractors into a bigger mess trying to walk away from the P4 mess.

The whole thing stinks.

[malvolio]

I'd like to see those figures

There are some shiny pie charts in the latest Freelancing MAtters that demonstrates it very well. They will be on the PCG website soon as well, I'll drop a link when they are.

Well to see the figures (and find out why it's not a proper business expense) you first have to pay the money. Doesn't this sort of set-up just scream SCAM?

Don't be pathetic, you don't need to pay to see their promotional material, it is a legitimate business expense and it's not even a commercial organisation. Why the hell would they need to scam anyone?

[hugebrain]

I'd like to see those figures

Well to see the figures (and find out why it's not a proper business expense) you first have to pay the money. Doesn't this sort of set-up just scream SCAM?

Go QDOS.

[Lewis]

PCGPlus is £210 a year and that buys you benefits worth £735

I'd like to see those figures

[zathras]

can I pay for pcg subscription through my company bank account ?

Yes, but you cannot offset that cost against CT.

[malvolio]

I thought PCG provides several business insurance thus it is a business expenses. Can you
please let us know why this is not allowed as business expenses?

I thought I just did.

If you're a PCG member, go on to their fora and the full explanation can be found on the Member Services board, under "PCG Subs and tax", posted by neilg (who's our FD).

[vhadiant]

I wish - there's been a long argument about this on the PCG boards as well.

As best as I understand it, PCG is not on the list of HMRC approved companies that would then permit the subscription to be offset against CT. The case history goes back to 1913 but in essence it can't be argued with.

I thought PCG provides several business insurance thus it is a business expenses. Can you
please let us know why this is not allowed as business expenses?

[malvolio]

Malvolio, why can't you offset it against CT? Can I pay using my own money and expense it as business expense? This expense is wholly & neccessarily for the business and only the business. Can you please explain?

I wish - there's been a long argument about this on the PCG boards as well.

As best as I understand it, PCG is not on the list of HMRC approved companies that would then permit the subscription to be offset against CT. The case history goes back to 1913 but in essence it can't be argued with.

To get on that list, PCG would need to provide the names, addresses and trading details of all it members (15,000 of them). The management quite rightly thought we might object to that.

End result is you can still pay for it through the company, that bit isn't a problem, but you should not include it as an expense to be offset against CT at year end. So for a PCGPlus member like me, you effetively get stuck with an extra £42 a year CT. I'd rather pay that than let Hector have all my details.

[vhadiant]

Yes, most do. The rationale is that it is an expense you wouldn't need if the company didn't exist, therefore it meets the "wholly and neccessarily" rule.

Although we just learned that YourCo can't offset it agasint CT, which is £40 a year down the tubes...

Malvolio, why can't you offset it against CT? Can I pay using my own money and expense it as business expense? This expense is wholly & neccessarily for the business and only the business. Can you please explain?

[salazie]

Hmmmm, failed agency cover eh? That could have helped me save near on £25k a few years ago... While I know it's not a huge amount of money in the big scheme of things it does seem a little wasteful to be double-covered; I'll have a think about it and maybe join up over the weekend.