FCSA research on travel & subsistence confirms umbrella employment still viable option for UK’s flexible workforce
Umbrellas are still a viable engagement mechanism for freelancers and the temporary workforce in spite of the introduction of Travel & Subsistence legislation introduced in April this year, according to the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA), the UK’s largest independent trade association, whose members represent 120,000 freelancers and contractors. According to FCSA research undertaken…
Autumn Statement 2016: contractor clients feel the impact
Witten by FCSA Business Partner, FreeAgent. In his debut Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a number of plans that will affect your contractor and micro-business clients. Emily Coltman FCA, Chief Accountant to award-winning cloud accounting software provider, FreeAgent, investigates. From the moment the Chancellor mentioned “rising incorporation and self-employment eroding tax collection” in the early…
Autumn Statement, a quick overview
The Government announced a number of changes that will affect the temporary workforce in the Autumn Statement. Planned changes to off-payroll working in the public sector are going ahead and a crackdown on perceived VAT avoidance through the use of the Flat Rate Scheme will affect most Personal Service Companies. The devil as always is in the…
FCSA members get sneak preview of HMRC’s IR35 online digital tool
‘More work to be done’ is the overall message FCSA members have sent to HMRC following a preliminary demonstration of HMRC’s new online digital tool. As Government presses ahead to implement IR35 reforms in the public sector in April 2017, HMRC has been developing a new online tool designed to provide reassurance and a “safe…
FCSA reacts to Autumn Statement
Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement Julia Kermode, chief executive of The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association said: “As the largest representative body in our sector that is committed to setting standards and stamping out unethical practices, FCSA welcomes any measures that tackle disguised remuneration schemes. Such schemes have become more prevalent, some with particularly complex…
FCSA urges agencies under attack for tax avoidance to check their due diligence
A media report in The Guardian (November 15th) suggesting that temporary agencies are operating tax avoidance schemes costing taxpayers millions of pounds has prompted The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association, the UK’s largest independent trade association that is committed to setting standards for contractor accountancy providers and umbrella employers, to urge all agencies to seek legal…
14% of intermediaries fear going out of business when Apprenticeship Levy is imposed
Government plans to introduce the Apprenticeship Levy have been met with mixed response by intermediaries according to research conducted by The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA), the UK’s largest independent trade association whose members provide professional support services to some 120,000 freelancers and contractors. 14% of intermediaries believe that their businesses could be…
FCSA responds to Deliveroo couriers pursuing worker rights
As we hear that Deliveroo couriers will pursue workers rights and to unionise Julia Kermode, CEO of The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA), whose members provide accountancy and umbrella services to 120,000 freelancers and contractors said: “It is no surprise to hear that Deliveroo drivers have been spurred on by the Uber verdict to…
FCSA urges Government not to destabilise the flexible workforce as it launches inquiry into the future world of work
Whilst FCSA acknowledges that vulnerable workers in today’s gig economy must be protected by legislation, the UK’s largest independent trade body for accountancy providers and umbrella firms is concerned that the Government’s new inquiry into the future world of work will constrain agency workers and impose more burdensome red tape on genuine self-employed workers. FCSA…
Contractors & Compliance – What difference does having insurance make?
Written by FCSA Business Partner, Kingsbridge Most of us have faced a scenario where we’ve been told we need to have something, only to disregard that advice and then regret it later. For contractors and freelancers having the right insurance in place is essential. Read on below for a few of the key reasons. It…