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Lucy Smith

Lucy has been in the umbrella market since 2013, and has always been an advocate of compliance and transparency in this industry. Offering Clarity by name and by reputation! Clarity Umbrella Ltd

Lucy has sat on numerous HMRC round table events; contributed to the Low Income Tax reform group and is always on hand to provide advice to the ContractorUK forums.

Author Content

A recap of the brolly ‘D-Day’ eight years ago, ahead of another (potential) upending this coming Wednesday.

24th October, 2024 | Umbrella Companies

A tiered evolution of Mini-Umbrella Companies is here, with arrangements as opaque as the consequences for contractors who find themselves embroiled.

Two political parties say the Single Enforcement Body is back in contention, which probably won’t disappoint contractors -- or a few Labour Market Enforcement officials.

Get past the irritation of numerous variables, and PSC-to-brolly-rate considerations are worth a look; maybe even a conversation.

4th June, 2024 | Umbrella Companies

Contrary to popular belief there’s actually a few ways to sweeten the bitter pill of moving from limited to umbrella. Or if not sweeten, make palatable.

Buried in the government-speak, the worrying signs are that UK contracting is looking at the sister of CEST, and a new avoidance mission for HMRC.

Maybe chancellor Jeremy Hunt wouldn’t today be under as much pressure to regulate them if all brollies did these five, as standard.

22nd November, 2023 | Umbrella Companies

What contractors can look for to work out if a brolly is worth it or worrying.

20th November, 2023 | Umbrella Companies

To head off frustration, duplication, and worse -- late payment, one is the magic timesheet number.

8th November, 2023 | Umbrella Companies

Tips, tricks and heads-ups to ensure it won’t be your timesheets that slip you up.

13th September, 2023 | First Timers

One thing’s for sure, ‘unintended consequences’ (potentially from IR35 reform) is something government have had it up to here with.

The top 10 considerations when setting up an umbrella company for contractors.

26th July, 2023 | Umbrella Companies

A long document that’s taken an even longer time to produce. But unfortunately contractors, still there is something missing.

How Pay As You Earn through an umbrella company differs from through a recruitment agency.

17th May, 2023 | Umbrella Companies

Rate, deductions, conversation, and IR35. And possibly explorable in that order -- if you want to avoid nasty surprises as an umbrella employee.

30th November, 2022 | Umbrella Companies

Make the umbrella company selection process less daunting by posing these ten queries.

14th June, 2022 | Umbrella Companies

How much contractors can get paid if they work via an umbrella, now or post-IR35 reform.

5th May, 2022 | Umbrella Companies

The call for evidence on umbrella companies is welcome, but it’s not before time.

Payments, pensions and deductions not being to your liking doesn’t (always) mean they’re unlawful.

10th September, 2021 | Umbrella Companies

Explainer on what goes into the Employer’s NICs payment to HMRC.

2nd September, 2021 | Umbrella Companies