IT Contractor Essentials
Practical guides, calculators, industry news and advice to help you set up and run a professional contracting business.
Read our step-by-step setup guide, with everything from navigating IR35 to submitting your first invoice.
Read the 10-Step Guide →
Value Added Tax is a tax on most goods and services in the UK. If you're setting up a limited company, chances are you will also register for VAT. Here is our guide to VAT: what it is, how to register, how to de-register, and how to avoid penalties. … [more]
Umbrella companies have flourished over the past 15+ years and can offer many contractors a ‘hassle-free’ business structure to contract under. Here, with a 10-step walkthrough, we explain how umbrella companies work. … [more]
As an umbrella employee, you will see an entry for your provider's 'margin' on your payslips. Here we explain what an umbrella company's margin is, and how much it will typically set you back. … [more]
One of the most important employment status factors is the mutuality of obligation. Here we explain what 'MOO' means in the context of the IR35 legislation. … [more]
In this guide, IR35 expert, Martyn Valentine, considers the topic of contract duration, and whether the length of an assignment has any bearing on a contractor's IR35 status. … [more]
Company secretaries are usually appointed to help directors complete their statutory duties and carry out other tasks relating to corporate governance. … [more]
To ensure that any contracts you undertake are not deemed inside IR35, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are not a disguised employee, but truly working in the manner of a small business owner. In other words, can you show that you are ‘in … [more]
There is a huge amount of information available about IR35 and how to protect yourself. But what happens if you are selected for an investigation? How does an IR35 enquiry work now and what should you expect if HMRC contacts you regarding IR35 … [more]
There may be a time when you need to borrow money from your own limited company. Here we look at how director's loans are treated, and how you could face a hefty tax bill if you don't plan any cash advances properly. … [more]
A number of key factors are used to establish employment status - whether an individual's contract work is caught by IR35 or not. … [more]
