Contracting News

The interesting (court) case of the would-be contractor unreasonably denied freelance work serves as a cautionary client tale for 2025.

In wake of Gary’s Lineker settlement, Bauer & Cottrell provides crucial Christmas reading for contractors wanting an HMRC-free new tax year.

Autumn Budget brought a glimmer of hope that ‘LTD’ will be back in business in 2025-26, if only because the taxman’s new tanks are parked on the lawn of everybody else.

The taxman pulls no punches in his latest MSC appearance, so potentially bob and weave, don’t just read.

The National Insurance ‘shock’ to employers is so ‘sharp’ that lockdown was the last time IT contractor demand was weaker -- REC.

While the crystal ball is as opaque as it gets, it’s clear that the contractor-friendly lender is meeting a need, at least psychologically.

Just as umbrella company regulation is doing, the taxman’s talk about his avoidance list appears to be taking the gloss off it.

Photo, headline and job title are key, to entice agents to click beyond their premium product showing you only in ‘snapshot.’

Far from the demise of brollies, new legislation from April 6th 2026 will see many operators thrive.

When the IT contractor who shows up for work isn’t the UK citizen/PSC director who landed the role.

Legislation will have the final word, but we can already say the speculation, misinterpretation, and mischaracterisation appear to have no bounds.

Contractors may be the sole beneficiaries of Labour’s umbrella company regulation plan (which won’t be consulted on).

The cheered-on Covid Corruption Commissioner is set to back strictness for taxpayers and leniency for the taxman (not vice versa), as seen in Ark Angel Ltd v HMRC.

Nineteen ‘exceptional’ companies, six ‘highly commended’ providers, and two individuals. All just got acknowledged as going ‘the extra mile’ for UK IT contracting.

Rigour mortis will surely set into the umbrella industry before April 6th 2026 -- potentially the point of death for umbrellas as we know them today.

The temporary tech jobs market gets a ‘glimmer’ to offset the ‘dire’, but it’s hardly thanks to the chancellor.

There’s no final bill or liability admission. But the Welsh government agency set up to sustainably manage the environment clearly didn’t manage off-payroll worker status properly.

A seemingly small Autumn Budget announcement is actually a big concern, and it’s not even the nearly double-figure rate that’s unsettling.

The definitive guide to eight ‘easy target’ areas the Labour chancellor is hitting to raise many extra billions.

A day looks like a long time in leaky Budget politics, or so suggests the global market reaction to Rachel Reeves being at the helm.

A ‘smiling,’ ‘slashing’ and ‘butchering’ Rachel Reeves 'squeezes the juice from business while not giving enterprise much to get on with business.'

Rachel Reeves unveils a Budget to ‘restore economic stability’ and ‘rebuild Britain.’

Change for contractors and contractors’ workplaces is incoming -- next year, October 2026, and potentially even today too.

Vindicated for its 'reasonableness,' an NHS supplier won’t have to pay our unsympathetic taxman a £250,000 penalty for a late VAT return.

The first Labour Budget in 14 years is imminent, but what’s expected from chancellor Rachel Reeves and what do contractors need to see unveiled?

What the Supreme Court's employment status ruling means for the IR35 factors Control and MoO, and even Status Determinations under OPW.

Seven takeaways from the 15 month-coming ‘Mutuality’ case, where the final whistle on the referees’ status may still be pipped at the post by a rematch.

Over a dozen arrangements ‘named and shamed’ by the taxman, including one with reserves so low that contractors must be in the frame.

For contractors and other taxpayers, even celebrities, the government's reach growing is (for once) something to get behind.

IR35, umbrella regulation and Single Worker Status. Labour puts it all off until tomorrow, so it can keep its promise to the masses today.

The early bird catches the worm. Or does it? Harvey Nash answers for ContractorUK.

Autumn Budget’s bung on tech staff hiring is being shored up by the Employment Rights bill and Industrial Strategy.

Despite now being blocked, the voice of rugby’s outside IR35 attempt passes on key lessons for tackling the hypothetical contract’s complexity.

What will make government happy on October 30th will make UK homeowners happy, too. At least that’s the theory.

Contractors, have you got a substitution policy document, outlining how the supply chain would deal with you enacting your RoS?

The latest public sector IR35 bill is pretty swingeing -- but the overall trend suggests public sector bodies are getting to grips with the OPW rules, after seven long years.

It’s clear HMRC has learnt from its enforcement work in the public sector, before HS2 and as a direct result of it. Don’t leave your own learnings to the last.

The taxman’s ‘naming and shaming’ just passed a major milestone, mirroring ‘increasing concern about umbrella supply chains.’

Maybe the contractor industry should just take the hint, because despite a Green Paper back in 2022, SWS appears to have gone missing -- for now.

The unknown of October 30th and an opaque Employment Rights Bill are keeping IT 'recruitment and investment plans on hold.'