IPSE defends its stance on Loan Charge 2019

The UK’s contract trade group has defended itself against accusations that it has failed to take a stance on Loan Charge 2019.

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) insists that it has been unflinching, in opposing both the schemes and HMRC’s approach to scheme users.

“Our position on the loan charge has not changed,” says IPSE’s Andy Chamberlain. “We have always advised against Employee Benefit Trusts or other loan scheme arrangements.

“We have also consistently opposed the government’s excessive and aggressive hounding of people who have used these schemes.”

The association’s response came after it was sent a message on Twitter stating, “You are going to lose numerous members due to your lack of support [regarding] the loan charge.”

But hinting that support is indeed overdue, Mr Chamberlain said freelance professionals do “need a clear [tax] system” which “works for the modern economy.” He also said:

“The loan charge chaos, like IR35, is yet another symptom of this country’s confused self-employed tax system. Government should not shirk its own responsibility in causing this.”

The Revenue is responsible too, the deputy director of IPSE added, because the tax authority’s approach to scheme users has caused “widespread hardship and suffering”.

IPSE, which the complainant on Twitter said he had stopped being a member of, took issue with HMRC in October, saying its pursuit of users “retrospectively” seemed “inconsistent”.