With the upcoming IR35 reform in the private sector, and the way in which some of the major businesses have responded, it may feel like you are a helpless pawn in a one-sided game of chess. But, whether or not it makes a difference, there are ways that you can still have your say.
Join the protest day
This Wednesday (12th February 2020), the Stop The Off-Payroll Tax campaign has organised a protest in Westminster between 11am and 3pm. Campaigners will be marching to the Treasury to deliver a letter outlining the problems with the upcoming IR35 reform.
After the march, former Liberal Democrat leader, and current MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, will be hosting a drop-in session for MPs to meet constituents affected by the reform at Portcullis House.
So if you want to get out there and make your voice heard, this protest could be for you.
Contact the House of Lords
A House of Lords select committee is currently scrutinising the extension of the reform to the private sector, and as such, have invited contributions to its inquiry (to be submitted by 25th February).
Former Conservative cabinet minister, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, chair of the Lords Finance Bill Sub-Committee, said “We are interested in how this change will work in practice, and how it relates to wider changes in working arrangements… To inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of people and organisations as possible. If you have a view on off-payroll working rules, please let us know what you think”.
The inquiry will focus on both the public sector IR35 reform (introduced in 2017), and how the proposed changes to the private sector are already having an impact. It will also look into HMRC’s much maligned
CEST tool and how it may be improved.
Look elsewhere and let your feet do the talking
If your current client is one of the many who are now blanket banning PSCs, forcing you to work through an umbrella company, or go permanent, speak out, or let your feet do the talking.
There is now a handy website (offpayroll.org.uk) where contractors are able to report back on how their clients are responding to the upcoming reform. This means it’s an incredibly useful tool to help find a new,
outside IR35 contract.
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