Reply to: How much is the Freelance industry worth?

[malvolio]

Anyone got any stats on the number of contractors in the City?

Not sure anyone knows but I've seen numbers around 250k in the Smoke in the past. I suspect about half are in what we would call the City; HMG uses up an awful lot all by itself.

[bluemonkey71]

Anyone got any stats on the number of contractors in the City?

[MarkT]

I can see it being an April 2017 implementation, otherwise there will be restraint of trade cases going in for those people who are signing six month contracts any time soon.

Agreed, imagine the 1 month thing coming in in April 16, no contracting via a PSC from that date. Thousands of unemployed accountants on the dole.
The entire contracting workforce of the city of London going on holiday for the month of May....thousands of projects incomplete....rates sky high as nobody wants to contract anymore...

[LondonManc]

I can see it being an April 2017 implementation, otherwise there will be restraint of trade cases going in for those people who are signing six month contracts any time soon.

[MarkT]

Even if they do pull the plug, there's still time after 25th Nov to respond. I just cannot see how it could be possible to put all this in place by April 16.

It's got to be further consultation, lose your T+S now, and report back this time next year, by which time industry should have pulled this apart.

Hopefully.

[MrMarkyMark]

Ermm, wrong. But if it makes you happy...

Errrm, wrong about what exactly?

1) IPSE came up with it / backed it?
2) Or its a stupid idea?

http://forums.contractoruk.com/futur...ring-ipse.html

[hildaoblivion]

Perhaps because they are on-going discussions and so not ready for public consumption?

But I'm not debating the point here either.

I dont see anything about that on the IPSE forums either, but IPSE DID send out the 'email your MPs NOW!!' communication which tells us something.

If they are having communications with HMG AND they felt the need to send out the 'panic' message then that doesnt bode well.

Or am I reading too much info into too little data....

[malvolio]

I don't see the answers on the IPSE forums either.

Perhaps because they are on-going discussions and so not ready for public consumption?

But I'm not debating the point here either.

[pjt]

If you want an accurate answer, I'd suggest that this isn't the forum in which to ask the question - no-one from IPSE should be revealing on CUK any details of the discussions that have been had and how they have been received.

I don't see the answers on the IPSE forums either.

[TheFaQQer]

Malvolio do you have knowledge then of IPSE's current attempts at lobbying. What feedback have they had so far is it all pissing in the wind??

If you want an accurate answer, I'd suggest that this isn't the forum in which to ask the question - no-one from IPSE should be revealing on CUK any details of the discussions that have been had and how they have been received.

[pjt]

They are, believe me, and have been for some time. The fact that HMG are ignoring the simple economics should highlight how much a punt this latest "leak" really is.

Until we see a concrete proposal, probably in the Autumn Statement, there is not actually a lot to argue against.

Malvolio do you have knowledge then of IPSE's current attempts at lobbying. What feedback have they had so far is it all pissing in the wind??

[Zero Liability]

Its makes the case very well. We need to be seeing articles light this getting the light of day rather than the usual PSC tax avoidance nonsense. The facts in this case would be hard for HMRC to argue against. I thought that's what I partially paid my IPSE dues for. But if they're not then using these facts to beat HRMC around with whats the point in doing the research

Given that the £400m figure is still being bandied about, I'd say they're pretty impervious to facts. I don't think HMT can afford to be, however, which is why I'm not entirely pessimistic.

[malvolio]

Instead, they roll over and suggest, such, ill advising ideas as the Freelancers Limited Co

Ermm, wrong. But if it makes you happy...

[malvolio]

Its makes the case very well. We need to be seeing articles light this getting the light of day rather than the usual PSC tax avoidance nonsense. The facts in this case would be hard for HMRC to argue against. I thought that's what I partially paid my IPSE dues for. But if they're not then using these facts to beat HRMC around with whats the point in doing the research

They are, believe me, and have been for some time. The fact that HMG are ignoring the simple economics should highlight how much a punt this latest "leak" really is.

Until we see a concrete proposal, probably in the Autumn Statement, there is not actually a lot to argue against.

[LondonManc]

So, of that £21bn, how much of the VAT goes to HMRC without a reclaim? How much will they lose out on for the sake of a bit of lobbying from bob consulting, whose tax liabilities mostly disappear back to the sub-continent?