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Reply to: Alpha Republic - please advise or review
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Previously on "Alpha Republic - please advise or review"
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Originally posted by DaveB View PostQuite apart from the dodgy tax arrangements,
No obvious connection to Alph Republic on her profile but, she lists her occupation as Administrator for Pendulum CS, which is a construction sector agency and umbrella company in Liverpool. Previous to that she was an administrator for FS Commercials who are another construction recruitment and employment agency also based in Liverpool. FS Commercials have previously been refused a Gangmasters Licence by the GLA for running a dodgy tax scheme.
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Originally posted by malvolio View PostYou've got to say, that is a lovely example of everything that is wrong with the umbrella industry right now. How about passing it on to your local MP...
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If she's got experience as a colon hydrotherpist she will be used pulling people's pants down and bumming them so perfect material for a scheme type brolly.
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Originally posted by DaveB View PostQuite apart from the dodgy tax arrangements,
No Company info on the website - this is illegal.
Domain name registered in March 2018.
Address on the website (Liverpool) doesn't match the address on companies house, which is a virtual office in London.
Company formed in 2014 but left dormant until 2018. Only one set of accounts ever filed.
Website claims over 5 years of providing contractor services.
Appears to be a one man band with a single director, appointed in July 2018. Net assets of ~£65k at the last accounts. Not a lot to have as a buffer when you need to be paying "employees" while waiting for clients / agents to pay you.
Originally set up by one Waris Khan, lately of Pakistan with a correspondence address in Harley Street. Appears to have been involved in the setup of over 1000 companies in the last 6 years. Mostly keyword Ltd's - Currency Ltd, Shopping Ltd, Sex Diary Ltd (yes, really) etc. as well as a couple such as Nominee Director Ltd and Nominated Secretary Ltd that have then been used to hold directorships in hundreds of other companies.
Wouldn't touch it with someone else's tulipty stick.
EDIT: A bit more digging yields:
Alpha Republic sole director is Victoria Ellen O'Dea.
Fairly unique name, only one hit on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria...alSubdomain=uk
No obvious connection to Alph Republic on her profile but, she lists her occupation as Administrator for Pendulum CS, which is a construction sector agency and umbrella company in Liverpool. Previous to that she was an administrator for FS Commercials who are another construction recruitment and employment agency also based in Liverpool. FS Commercials have previously been refused a Gangmasters Licence by the GLA for running a dodgy tax scheme.
Other previous experience is listed as 9 years as a Colon Hydrotherapist, yoga and meditation Instructor.
LinkdIn group memberships include Umbrella Company Provider.
Still wouldn't.
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Quite apart from the dodgy tax arrangements,
No Company info on the website - this is illegal.
Domain name registered in March 2018.
Address on the website (Liverpool) doesn't match the address on companies house, which is a virtual office in London.
Company formed in 2014 but left dormant until 2018. Only one set of accounts ever filed.
Website claims over 5 years of providing contractor services.
Appears to be a one man band with a single director, appointed in July 2018. Net assets of ~£65k at the last accounts. Not a lot to have as a buffer when you need to be paying "employees" while waiting for clients / agents to pay you.
Originally set up by one Waris Khan, lately of Pakistan with a correspondence address in Harley Street. Appears to have been involved in the setup of over 1000 companies in the last 6 years. Mostly keyword Ltd's - Currency Ltd, Shopping Ltd, Sex Diary Ltd (yes, really) etc. as well as a couple such as Nominee Director Ltd and Nominated Secretary Ltd that have then been used to hold directorships in hundreds of other companies.
Wouldn't touch it with someone else's tulipty stick.
EDIT: A bit more digging yields:
Alpha Republic sole director is Victoria Ellen O'Dea.
Fairly unique name, only one hit on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria...alSubdomain=uk
No obvious connection to Alph Republic on her profile but, she lists her occupation as Administrator for Pendulum CS, which is a construction sector agency and umbrella company in Liverpool. Previous to that she was an administrator for FS Commercials who are another construction recruitment and employment agency also based in Liverpool. FS Commercials have previously been refused a Gangmasters Licence by the GLA for running a dodgy tax scheme.
Other previous experience is listed as 9 years as a Colon Hydrotherapist, yoga and meditation Instructor.
LinkdIn group memberships include Umbrella Company Provider.
Still wouldn't.Last edited by DaveB; 21 May 2020, 13:41.
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Blushing now, but thank you to all!
Hi sabros123, happy to talk you through things so you can make your own "educated" decision If you would like me to call at a convenient time, then let me know here.
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Originally posted by sabros123 View Post
A colleague has advised 'Alpha Republic Limited' to help me with this and states he has had no issue with them.
If this colleague is someone you want to help, you should also advise him to get out of the scheme while he can.
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Originally posted by sabros123 View PostI am a healthcare professional that is very new to the contracting gig. My next assignment is happy for me to be paid via umbrella company, thus presumably saving me some money overall.
Originally posted by sabros123 View PostA colleague has advised 'Alpha Republic Limited' to help me with this and states he has had no issue with them.
Originally posted by sabros123 View PostI have contacted them and they estimate I will be able to take home 75-80pc of my total pay: a base salary and a line of credit, that will increase my tax efficiency. They state that they have had full legal advice regarding this.
Originally posted by sabros123 View PostThanks for any help you may be able to give. I am very new to this and don't have really have trusted mentors to ask currently.
Find a reputable umbrella service provider -- essentially just a payroll service with no fancy-pants 'schemes' behind the scenes -- and sleep well at night. You won't save much over being an employee, but you will be able to channel much more cash into a pension for the future.
Good luck... and pass on this advice to your colleagues.
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Originally posted by cojak View PostAnd to prove this ask the guy on the phone to confirm everything in writing
I bet you get nothing back.
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Originally posted by Old Greg View PostDo not touch this with a bargepole. Please. You may otherwise spend the next many years stressed and being chased by HMRC for interest and penalties, and drowned in paper work.
Speak to Lucy as NLUK says. The only clever tax saving thing you can legitimately do is a pension, if that's of interest.
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Originally posted by sabros123 View PostHi,
I am a healthcare professional that is very new to the contracting gig. My next assignment is happy for me to be paid via umbrella company, thus presumably saving me some money overall.
A colleague has advised 'Alpha Republic Limited' to help me with this and states he has had no issue with them.
I have contacted them and they estimate I will be able to take home 75-80pc of my total pay: a base salary and a line of credit, that will increase my tax efficiency. They state that they have had full legal advice regarding this.
Now my questions:
1. Is anyone familiar with or able to review the above company?
2. The enhanced scheme they are offering: base salary that is taxed plus line of credit - anyone familiar with this?
3. Is this illegal/tax evasion?
4. Is this tax avoidance and what is the law and HMRC's view on this? Frowned upon but legal, or will they come shaft me in the future?
Thanks for any help you may be able to give. I am very new to this and don't have really have trusted mentors to ask currently.
Do not touch this with a bargepole. Please. You may otherwise spend the next many years stressed and being chased by HMRC for interest and penalties, and drowned in paper work.
Speak to Lucy as NLUK says. The only clever tax saving thing you can legitimately do is a pension, if that's of interest.
Leave a comment:
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Originally posted by sabros123 View PostHi,
I am a healthcare professional that is very new to the contracting gig. My next assignment is happy for me to be paid via umbrella company, thus presumably saving me some money overall.
A colleague has advised 'Alpha Republic Limited' to help me with this and states he has had no issue with them.
I have contacted them and they estimate I will be able to take home 75-80pc of my total pay: a base salary and a line of credit, that will increase my tax efficiency. They state that they have had full legal advice regarding this.
Now my questions:
1. Is anyone familiar with or able to review the above company?
2. The enhanced scheme they are offering: base salary that is taxed plus line of credit - anyone familiar with this?
3. Is this illegal/tax evasion?
4. Is this tax avoidance and what is the law and HMRC's view on this? Frowned upon but legal, or will they come shaft me in the future?
Thanks for any help you may be able to give. I am very new to this and don't have really have trusted mentors to ask currently.
If you can use agency or client/employer payroll
If not be very very careful. There are lots of umbrella companies out there that will happily shaft you in one way or another. Buyer beware. Do lots of due diligence. "A colleague has advised 'Alpha Republic Limited' to help me with this and states he has had no issue with them" - he hasn't had an issue yet!
I have heard lots of horror stories about umbrellas from both my time in IT and my time outside of it. I do not like the umbrella company sector. I think a huge part of it is "shady".
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