Tories must stop sugarcoating their “small business” and startup “support”
OPINION
PM Rishi Sunak spoke to an audience at the CBI this week expressing that the Conservative government wants to "support small businesses to innovate." But few in the audience were convinced those words would amount to anything…
Freelancers: are you paying yourself the right way?
Entrepreneurs and freelancers are being told to pay closer attention to how they pay themselves following the changes announced in the Autumn Statement, according to business finance expert, Lee Murphy. This call to action follows the…
Salary skimming: whose money is actually being deducted?
This article has been updated.
OPINION
While not all Freelance Informer readers are contractors or umbrella company workers, many are, so they will be interested to know that "salary skimming" has no definition in the FCSA's codes of…
2 in 5 SMEs worried about insolvency: can freelancers help them survive the storm?
Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a vital part of the UK economy. However, over recent months, there has been an increase in concern among business owners that they may enter insolvency because they can't weather the looming…
How to get free stuff practically every day
When money is tight, it pays to know where to get free stuff. Here's a list of sites and places to get your free stuff from coffee to boxers to WiFi to toys!
MyWaitrose loyalty card members will be glad to know that the…
Autumn statement: limited company freelancers squeezed like never before
Freelancers and contractors will see their earnings squeezed not only by higher taxes but tax grabs on dividends following the Autumn Statement announcements.
Jeremy Hunt has delivered a budget that has included tens of billions of…
Liquid Friday CEO responds to ‘skimming’ accusations
On the back of fresh allegations that another of the UK’s leading umbrella companies has been ‘skimming’ millions from contractors’ payslips – reportedly amounting to a 1.5% deduction from contractors’ pay – umbrella payroll…
Autumn Statement: self-employed could be hit with more taxes
Everyone is preparing to pay more taxes following the Autumn Statement proposals, but some believe the self-employed could be unfairly over-taxed. Read what economists, tax specialists and MPs are expecting the Autumn Statement to reveal…
Here’s what you can’t bring to the World Cup
If you are travelling to Qatar later this month to watch the 2022 World Cup it is wise to check foreign travel advice and keep up to date with entry requirements to avoid complications or arrest.
Many football fans may not realise…
Are your clients ready for a global recession?
Richard Jeffery, Chief Executive Officer at ActiveOps explores the need for businesses across the UK, US and Australia to take action in the face of an impending recession.
The world has never been more globalised than it is today.…
How can freelancers cut down on rising energy costs?
The latest ONS report has revealed that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting people living in the most deprived areas of England the hardest. Many of the self-employed are finding rising costs, especially energy bills, a…
This happens when you drink coffee before breakfast
A strong, black coffee after a bad night’s sleep could impair the control of your blood sugar levels, according to a new study. Read why and what to do instead.
Research from the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism at the…
How can digital nomads and expat freelancers make the most of the holidays?
It is estimated that there are around 66.2 million expats worldwide, which is expected to continue to rise. As we approach the festive period, it can be a difficult time for expats to celebrate with some being able to return home and…
Freelancer and contractor news round-up
Here are some of the news stories we have been monitoring over the past week
Liquid Friday: the latest developments and contractor reactions
Following Contractor Voice's report of umbrella company Orange Genie allegedly being…
The best countries to be a Digital Nomad
Freelancers looking to work abroad for a change of pace or a better quality of life, may want to check out some of these digital nomad-friendly locations
A new study has revealed the best countries for remote working that offer a…
“Borderline unlawful?”: FCSA members report of agencies attempting assignment rate cuts…
Contractor and freelancer experts respond to FCSA receiving reports that some employment agencies are looking to reduce assignment rates on grounds that there has been a national insurance rate cut.
The Freelancer & Contractor…
Autumn Statement: expert predictions and wishlists
Workforce specialists offer their predictions and wish lists for the upcoming Autumn Statement and how freelancers, contractors, temps and side hustlers might want to prepare for any bad news.
Dividend tax hike would be “short-sighted…
“Exploited?” Why Britain’s temp workers are losing out on £97m each year
OPINION
Many of UK’s 1.6m temps are estimated to be missing out on thousands every year individually. What can they do about it? Julia Kermode of IWORK offers some tips.
Amid a 40-year inflation high, soaring energy bills and…
Top 5 recession-proof professions that you may want to consider
While the British may not like to admit it, what happens in the US jobs market and Central Bank policy has a tendency to influence decision-making over in Old Blighty. That's why it doesn't hurt for freelancers and career shifters to keep…
How to apply for Universal Credit if you are self-employed
One of the advantages of being self-employed is that you can pitch for extra work when money is tight. But what happens when you can't work because of ill health, a spree of clients cutting back on work or personal circumstances?
One of…
Mortgage lenders to lower fixed-rate mortgages
By Amplo Mortgages and Financial Solutions
The last 12 months have seen significant changes in the mortgage market. Anyone considering applying for a mortgage will have found this time especially daunting, especially if navigating…
New App is answer to freelancers’ missing “Water Cooler” moments
A new mobile app called Groove is connecting freelancers for on-demand social focus sessions
Starting a Groove
Up to four workers around the world can participate in 50-minute on-demand focus sessions with short video calls at the…
The Tory Party must prioritise a crackdown on misspending before tax grabs and social cutbacks
OPINION
Will PM Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt use the Autumn Statement to prove that they can relate to citizens by doing them justice by cracking down on Tory party misspending? Or will they go for uncreative tax grabs aimed…
Julie Powell, author behind Julie & Julia, dies at 49
The Julie & Julia food blogger turned author and movie sensation, Julie Powell, has died at her home in New York at the age of 49. Powell, who died of a cardiac arrest, is survived by her husband, brother and parents, according to news…
How to stop your pension benefits going to the wrong person
Six in ten risk pension benefits going to the wrong person, finds HL report
Only 38% of people said they had kept expression of wish forms for all their pensions up to date.Over a quarter (26%) said they hadn’t, 13% were unsure.A…
“You’ve been skimmed” – the last thing an umbrella contractor wants to hear
The Freelance Informer asks Contractor Voice's Jacob Bellas about the latest report of alleged umbrella company payslip skimming. What has his audit and investigation revealed?
Contractor Voice, an advocacy news and campaign site for…
Self-employed sports and fitness coaches: are you prepared to lose more than half your clients?
Cost of living rises force 90 per cent of people to stop taking part in sports and fitness classes
The cost of living crisis is forcing 90 per cent of those aged under 34 to stop taking part in hobbies including fitness classes…
Can freelancers out of work or on holiday pause their business insurance?
Small business owners and freelancers waste £216m on business insurance when out of work or on holiday, says a new study. Can they pause payments on their insurance?
The average freelancer and small business owner has over two months…
Titles do matter: the message behind Prince Harry’s memoir and that rumoured multi-million…
There is no questioning that Prince Harry will have to make a living outside of the Royal family, so releasing an autobiography with an intriguing title will only spark interest and book sales, which is the objective of any author and…
Digital nomads: IR35 can still follow you abroad, plus other pointers
Want to become a digital nomad? Respect the locals.
More freelancers are looking to work abroad for a better way of life, as either digital nomads or eventually long-term residents. Spain, for example, is finalising its digital nomad…
Want to go freelance but can’t quit your job yet?
If you are dreaming of going freelance or even just changing direction with skills you already have, then Career and Interviewing Coach Judy Bullimore and Startup Business Consultant and Mentor John Spencer Williams have some great tips to…
Will Sunak’s policies make his Stanford Alumni proud?
If Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to make good on his “Startup Treasury Mentality” he’ll need to advise his Chancellor to help pass policies that embrace freelancers rather than exclude them. Will Mr Sunak revive the Conservative's…
The self-employed are the most dedicated investors in the UK. So how can they get more bang for…
It comes as a nice surprise to hear that the self-employed are the most likely to invest, especially those that work part-time or on a contract basis. It is also refreshing to learn that SIPP investors, who are largely freelancers,…
Two-thirds of contract workers look to go perm
Two-thirds (65%) of the UK’s temporary and contract workers are currently thinking about moving to a permanent role. Many are changing recruitment agencies, too, finds a new survey
Survey shows building loyalty with talent requires more…
Majority of Gen Z is willing to work nights and weekends for higher pay. What about the Baby…
Gen Z vs Baby Boomers: the most common similarities and differences
Politics, travel, work and climate change are the areas that both Gen Z and Boomers have the most in commonA common misconception for Gen Z is that they are lazy, while…
Freelancers now represent 46.5% of the global workforce – isn’t it about time they were…
One in three freelancers feel they are unrecognised as significant contributors to the economy
Freelance job site Fiverr and Freelancers Union have launched the Freelancer Wellness Fund in recognition of the contributions freelancers…
How to boost your freelance business when inflation is on the rise
For many freelancers, inflation has forced them to adapt their business strategy to safeguard themselves against higher costs.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 14.6% in the 12 months to September 2022, up from 13.1% in…
“Policymakers have been ignoring freelancers for far too long”: third of Europe’s…
Third Of Freelancers Struggling To Pay Their Bills Amidst Cost-Of-Living Crisis, Study Finds
It would seem UK freelancers are not the only ones in Europe not being heard by workforce policymakers. With proposed workforce regulations…
Freelancers: get prepared for more fiscal U-turns, IR35 reform uncertainty
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED
FOR LATEST VIEWS ON IR35 REFORM APPEAL ABANDONMENT SEE DEDICATED SECTION BELOW
The new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has revoked the repeal of the Off-payroll rules that were introduced in 2017 and 2021 to…
Mortgage nightmare: how millennial freelancers can avoid one
On average, mortgages cost £663 a month, with 16% of people paying over £1,000*.A Millennial buying the average house at the age of 30 today, with a 10% deposit, and a 6.07% mortgage would have a monthly payment of £1,706. Only 4% of…
Fail to register your business while trading? It could lead to prison sentences and an unlimited…
HMRC is cracking down on individuals who are trading without complying with anti-money laundering requirements. Estate agents are among the top offenders, according to a new report. With more umbrella company contractors looking to go…
44% of sales professionals experience burnout. Could freelance sales agents come to the rescue?
A new survey finds that almost half of permanent Salesforce professionals have experienced burnout in their current role in the past year. How could freelance sales agents come in to give a helping hand to avoid a mass exodus of…
HMRC research into tax avoidance schemes branded “a waste of time”
OPINION
By Fred Dures, PayePass
HMRC’s commissioned research into disguised remuneration schemes has been described as a “waste of time” with the assessment of the impact of tax avoidance schemes failing to…
Freelancers: when’s the last time you snooped on your competition?
With talk of more highly skilled contractors breaking free of umbrella companies in the next year, they may want to see what the competition is getting up to. Here are some tips to get noticed
Skills in demand today are very…
IR35 reforms likely to be reinstated say legal experts
Some legal experts are not convinced that IR35 reforms set to be repealed in April 2023 will be set in stone or even come to fruition.
And if they do? According to these same experts, there will be new risks and HMRC enforcement powers…
A UK property crash is “unlikely” says expert
The Zoopla House Price Index shows rising mortgage rates will impact household buying power by 28% if rates reach 5% by the end of the year (assuming buyers try to keep the same monthly payments).The UK is shifting to a buyers’ market, as…
Do freelancers see cannabis in their future?
APPG plan suggests UK has big future in hemp and cannabis, Biden overhauls cannabis policies
The UK cannabis industry could create 594,000+ jobs, £5.5 billion in annual tax revenue, and environmental and agricultural benefits aimed at…
Losing sleep? There could be more than one reason and solution. Here are a few tips to consider
If you are losing sleep each night there's likely to be more than one reason for it. That's why you might be struggling to not just fall asleep but get back to sleep. Every freelancer is unique, and it would seem our sleep patterns are…
Freezing taxes and benefits: why it puts more money in the Treasury’s coffers
OPINION
If you have come across an article or news clip on the radio or television today about why tax freezes outlined in last month's mini-budget will cost taxpayers more in take-home pay and benefits over the long term, you won't be…
“Elitist fortresses” – freelancers working on a West End show can’t afford…
Freelancers in the theatrical arts and entertainment are considered the lifeblood of the industry, especially when it comes to London's West End shows. The sad thing is, they can't even afford to go to a show if they wanted. This is one of…
Prepare for another 12 months of inflation say professional investors and watch out for the perils…
SPECIAL REPORT
Is your SIPP and mortgage in the best possible health to hedge against inflation and rising rates?
Professional investors that invest on behalf of institutional and pension funds have predicted that the UK, parts of…
Self-employed tradespeople have something to celebrate
Earnings of self-employed tradespeople bucked the annual trend of an August slow-down. Hudon Contract, a payroll business catering to sub-contractors in the trade, puts this nice boost down to more infrastructure projects coming online and…
Tesla Optimus Robot: what would you programme your Humanoid to do?
Elon Musk revealed two Optimus prototypes at Tesla AI Day 2022, promising to make the robots as quickly as possible, eventually selling millions, which could allow humanoids to become available to the masses.
🤖If you could someday…
How can we put an end to unscrupulous umbrella companies?
The Freelance Informer asks Fred Dures of PayePass how funding raised by taxpayers to prevent the proliferation of tax avoidance schemes can be justified at a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet
Dures offers his…
Umbrella contractors will be motivated to go back to PSC models. But how and when they do it will…
Osborne Clarke's Workforce Solutions Team sheds some light on the repeal of IR35/Off-Payroll reforms and addresses the most pressing questions contractors have right now. Plus a tip from WTT Consulting on how long you may have to wait…
New Canva product suite could boost freelancer earning power
Canva, the no-code design platform, has launched a new suite of visual communication products that are aimed to empower anyone to design and communicate their ideas. Whether you're a small business owner, a nonprofit, a teacher, an…
Avoid these mistakes before you start freelancing– you could lose your gig or get sued if you don’t
Going freelance full or even in your free time is a great way to build an additional income. Before you do though make sure you are not in breach of an existing working contract. You could pay dearly with your livelihood and reputation if…
“Things are about to get spicy”: is now the right time to secure a self-employed…
With the odds of the MPC hiking rates again in an emergency meeting this week shortening after Sterling's all-time low against the Dollar, mortgage brokers offer their market observations.
Do mortgage brokers think lenders will…
IR35 repeal to boost freelancer and digital nomad job opportunities
Following the news that IR35 will be repealed as of April 2023, freelancers can go back to determining their freelance status rather than be beholden to blanket inside IR35 status determinations and freelance job platform businesses are…
IR35 Off-Payroll reforms repealed: initial reactions
OPINION
The news of the repeal of the IR35 OffPayroll reforms couldn't have come at a better time for freelancers across the UK. And what a surprise the news was! No waiting months for some radical reform to happen. In one swift…
Revolut cyberattack overshadows new product for freelancers
Neo bank Revolut has launched a new service called Revolut Pro to help freelancers, sole traders, contractors, and self-employed individuals manage their business income and expense management. Unfortunately, the announcement…
Price guarantee: think your energy bills can’t exceed £2500? You’re wrong
Almost two in five households (38%) wrongly believe that the Government’s energy price guarantee means their bills cannot go above £2,500, according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service. So to combat…
Mini-budget: how much better off could freelancers be?
This report was updated:
National insurance hike is scrapped (read more in the report)
Corporation tax rise cancelled, keeping it at 19% as government sets sights on 2.5% trend rate of growth.Basic rate of income tax cut to 19% in…
20 years pay growth wiped out – what is really going on with the UK jobs market and how will it…
Average pay was up by 4.3 per cent in the private sector between October-December 2021 including bonuses – that’s a good sign, but pay rises aren’t matching 2022 inflation. Freelancers are feeling squeezed Freelancers must know their…
Self-employed or a zero-hours worker with kids? Get your “free” childcare sorted before…
The extra bank holiday observing the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II could adversely affect self-employed parents and workers on zero-hours contracts, HR Magazine has reported. That's why it is important for these groups to organise "free"…
Worker’s death was avoidable says HSE
The following case is a tragic lesson to all small business owners and those that work for them to carry out risk assessments. No one ever thinks the unthinkable will happen until it does.
Two companies and two people have been…
Want to freelance for a startup? Know which sectors are hot and which are not before you do
Startups are exciting places to excel in experience and skill sets. But when the global economy tightens its belt, startups can be among the first to make redundancies. They can also unexpectedly experience growth. We look at which sectors…
How to get your freelance portfolio in front of more prospective clients and agencies
For those freelancers that rely solely on a recruitment agency and an umbrella company to bag new projects or fixed contract jobs, you might want to up your game and make your portfolio more accessible to agencies and prospective clients.…
Commemorating the Queen
The Freelance Informer sends its most heartfelt sympathies to the Royal Family, their staff and long-life friends on news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
It is a time of great sadness and reflection shared by many nations and…
How to avoid getting “flexi-fished” in a new job
Care is needed when advertising flexible working patterns in job roles
Many of us have heard of catfishing whereby someone deceptively creates a false identity to lure people on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific…
What would you do with one “free day” each week?
A UK 4-day week study is showing lasting positive effects on worker productivity and wellbeing. How are people spending their "free day" and what impact has it had on their life so far? Plus tips on how freelancers can arrange their…
How to budget for higher mortgage rates when you’re a freelancer
How will interest rate rises impact my monthly mortgage payments? This is what all home-owning or soon-to-be homeowners should be asking themselves, especially if they have fluctuating incomes.
Higher interest rates will start to feed…
Self-employed and buying a newbuild? Here’s how to avoid “dodgy” developer tactics
Buying a property is probably one if not the, largest financial commitment you will make. So, what should you do if you are in the market to buy a swish newbuild property and developers are breathing down your neck to exchange contracts?…
Crucial money tips for freelancers with kids
SPECIAL REPORT
HL Savings & Resilience Barometer July 2022 showed just how much parents are struggling to make ends meet. Where can they get a break?
The Cost of Living Crisis is going to take a toll on parents/ Photo by Keira…
What recruiters want Truss to do next
Liz Truss has won the Conservative leadership race and the top job as Prime Minister, so what do recruiters want from the new PM and is it in the interests of British freelancers?
The Association of Professional Staffing Companies…
In Truss we Trust? What the self-employed need from the new PM and her Cabinet
For those freelancers out there that were worried about Rishi Sunak being offered a role in new Prime Minister Liz Truss’s cabinet and leaving the self-employed out in the cold this winter, it has emerged that he will not be on hand to…
Government response to PAC’s IR35 report is “legally incorrect” “predictable” and loaded with “ivory…
The Government has responded to the Public Account Committee’s report on the lessons learned from implementing IR35 that was published in May 2022, but IR35 compliance experts aren’t convinced contractor concerns are being fairly addressed…
Freelancers aren’t who you think finds new report
Original reporting by Toby McInnis
For the majority of us, the word “freelancer” evokes an image of a young person tapping away on their laptop in an overpriced coffee shop. But recently published data suggests this is far from reality,…
Will a bonus or Cost of Living pay-out put freelancers in hot water with HMRC?
Some contractor recruitment agencies, such as Andrew Construction Recruitment (ACR), believe self-employed contractors deserve a Cost of Living pay-out to make ends meet. Such agencies are following the leads of those influencing their…
Should I make my spouse a director of my limited company?
TAX CLINIC
By Graham Webber Director of Tax at WTT Consultancy
There are no reasons why any individual, including a spouse, cannot be a director of a company provided that they are not barred from holding such a post. But…
Cost of living crisis: what are your rights if your landlord wants to increase your rent?
By Tom Simcock, University of Huddersfield via The Conversation
A lack of affordable housing and growing demand for rental properties has sent the rental market into a state of crisis, and young people are particularly affected. New…
How to pitch to SMEs and solve their challenges
A poll of 500 SME decision-makers, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of NatWest’s Mentor service, highlights the most pressing HR issues affecting SMEs today. Here's how freelancers can pitch their services to solve those problems.
From…
New book helps you not make stupid mistakes
This new book could help you avoid silly mistakes when you talk and write
You've penned a pitch to a prospective client. You've hit the send button. It's a week later and you are starting to think you've been ghosted. What if your…
Freelancers have this awesome trait, says McKinsey
Isn't it about time governments on both sides of the Atlantic started recognising and celebrating freelancers, who according to a McKinsey study, have a distinctive characteristic that the average worker doesn't?
The rising cost of…
The rise of the silver freelancer
For those who have been freelancing or self-employed for a decade (or two), working any other way, even in retirement years, is almost unthinkable. Katherine Steiner-Dicks looks at how our longevity as a nation should be motivating…
Embracing the self-employed could be one of the best moves for the economy
While British politicians have announced plans to help people manage the cost-of-living crisis, the Tory leadership contenders and the Labour Party have ignored one of the most innovative parts of the UK economy: the self-employed. If they…
IR35: Truss must “fix it or ditch it” to boost economy, says compliance expert
Conservative leader and Prime Minister candidate Liz Truss has pledged, if voted into power, to review IR35, the tax legislation that many serving and working in the freelance economy see as an “iron shackle” on their employment and…
Procrastinating is linked to health and career problems – but there are things you can do to stop
By Fuschia Sirois, Durham University
Fuschia Sirois
Do you ever beat yourself up for procrastinating? You might be composing that message to a friend who you have to let down, or writing a big report for school or work, and doing…
How to get paid in crypto and not get scammed
Vyacheslav Demchuk, Ukraine entrepreneur and CEO of anti-money laundering service AMLBot and the first crypto wallet with AML (anti-money laundering) module AMLSafe, reflects on the steady growth of the freelance workforce and how crypto…
Mass layoffs at US tech startups. What does this mean for freelancers on both sides of the Atlantic?
The tech startup space in the United States has been on a downward trend, according to new data coming in from across the pond.
The number of layoffs by tech startups increased eightfold in Q2 2022. Some 170 startups and tech-oriented…
What is the “new” creator economy and how can freelancers and contractors get in on the…
First things first, what is the creator economy? Once you understand what the new creator economy is all about and what drives it you can best cater your interests and skill set to any given segment and start pitching for freelance work.…
Freelancers and self-employed to be at heart of £350m High Street Buyout Fund
Anyone can start a community business. That's according to Susie Finlayson, interim head of programme delivery, at Power to Change, the trust that supports community businesses in England.
If Power to Change gets its way, it will…
Is this new hospitality brand the answer to digital nomad loneliness?
Fiverr, the international freelance jobs platform, has formed a partnership with Selina, to build an experiential hospitality brand to address one of the most pressing needs of millennial and Gen Z freelancers and travellers:…
“Something doesn’t smell right”: who’s going to foot the bill for these tax…
What could happen to the UK's freelancer economy if recruitment agencies and end clients start getting fined by HMRC if their freelancers/contractors are linked to a tax avoidance scheme?
Will freelance job boards, recruitment agencies…
How to get your agency to negotiate higher rates on your behalf
Q: I've seen a freelance/contractor role that I really want to go for but know that I must raise my rate to be in line with inflation. What guidance or tips do you have as a recruiter on how to pitch a higher rate for a role? What have…
Private equity firms on a tech recruitment drive
Hiring contractors and freelancers can be an excellent way for private equity firms and their portfolio companies to fast-track the most pressing jobs while HR is recruiting for permanent hires
31% of private equity firms confirmed they…
HMRC scrutiny over freelancers on the rise
TAX CLINIC/READER QUESTION
What would trigger an HMRC investigation? Is it different for a limited company freelancer versus an umbrella company worker? And if your umbrella company or payroll service has been named by HMRC as a tax…
HR mistakes to blame for IR35 investigations
HMRC is actively investigating IR35 compliance across many sectors, but the oil and gas sector is particularly under the scope. A report reveals that many investigations gone wrong might be avoided if in-house HR training and processes…
Loan charge investigation: Zahawi must “act directly,” says APPG letter; suicide notes…
SPECIAL REPORT
A ninth suicide has been confirmed in relation to disguised remuneration (DR) schemes, some of which are now subject to the retrospective Loan Charge. A letter from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury has confirmed…
How can you get cheaper or social tariff broadband?
BT's decision to impose an above-inflation broadband price rise next spring will add more than £50 to the average household bill, according to Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com. Broadband is a lifeline for most freelancers, so it…
Which business savings accounts offer the best rates?
If you leave money in a business current account then it’s your bank who benefits and not you, so it might be time you made some of your money work for you by generating some additional interest income, suggests comparison site, Money…
How do I hire a replacement freelancer when I want to go on holiday?
THE FREELANCER'S COUCH
Seb Maley, Qdos CEO, offers some guidance to this reader's question, which tackles the very topical subject of how freelancers can arrange for their replacement when they take a much-deserved holiday
Seb…
Predicted January energy price cap rises again
Freelancers have to brace themselves for higher-than-expected energy bills this winter. The latest predicted energy price cap is nearing closer to £4000, much higher than previously predicted. Policy experts share their views on what they…
How to win awards and boost your earning power
Winners, nominees and hundreds more freelancers from the YunoJuno community gathered for the UK’s largest freelancer event, back in-person after a two-year hiatus.
Katherine Steiner-Dicks speaks with Shib Mathew, YunoJuno Founder and…
Epic road trip to the World Cup costs this much
What football fan doesn’t dream of watching the World Cup live? However, with this year’s tournament taking place in Qatar, for many fans, it seems an unachievable dream. But those with an adventurous streak are considering making the…
“Astonishing”: Conservatives refuse inside IR35 contractors employment rights yet want them to pay…
OPINION
The government responds to an employment status consultation held four years ago, confirming that contractors operating inside IR35 will not receive employment rights despite paying employment tax
It means the government…
How to set up your parent pod this summer
Parent podding, once a saving grace for freelancers and working parents during COVID lockdowns, is making a comeback during the summer holidays. The NHS has even launched a Disney-inspired campaign of games and activities to get kids…
Freelancers must plan now to avoid “unretirement”
Changes to the State Pension age and the cost of living crisis have seen poverty rates among 65-year-olds more than double, according to The Institute of Fiscal Studies and a subsequent report by Restless, a digital community and advocate…
UK’s higher-earning contractors to benefit most if government offers free or discounted…
If the UK government follows the lead of other European nations by offering free or discounted public transport and energy costs in response to inflation, it seems higher earners could be the ones to benefit most
By Philipp Stadle…
Instagram launches new features
Freelancers that use Instagram as a part of their business will be interested to know that the social media tool is making it more fun and easy to collaborate with clients and audiences with new Template and Reel features
Freelancers…
Legal claims could be on the cards following Harpur Trust v Brazel decision
Osborne Clarke’s Workforce Solutions team explains the wider impacts on the UK workforce and those that serve it following the Supreme Court decision in Harpur Trust v Brazel
'Part-year workers' will be entitled to 5.6 weeks paid…
Recession, new CGT tax relief to impact divorce rates in unexpected ways says research
A cost-of-living crisis, paired with an economic recession and late-paying clients could be the perfect storm to put enough strain on a freelancer's marriage to break it up. However, various studies have suggested…
Conservatives set to lose 2 million voters despite recovery loan scheme extension
The Government has extended a support scheme offering government-backed loans to small businesses for a further two years. Yet, the Tories are expected to still lose up to 2 million small business owner voters at the next general election…
Top ten worst late payers in the UK
New IPSE research finds that late payments have worsened despite recent government reforms, alluding that not enough is being done to crack down on companies that do not pay freelancers on time.
Now more than ever freelancers must do…
Steps freelancers can take to get paid on time
By Gary Prince, Chief Strategy Officer at SimplyPayMe
Gary Prince pf SimplyPayMe
Earlier in the year, a report by the Federation of Small Businesses found that 440,000 small firms in the UK suffered from the late payment ‘crisis’ and…
Is it worth using a recruitment agency if you want to stay self-employed and outside IR35?
THE FREELANCER'S COUCH
Q: I am a freelancer that gets work from word of mouth and recommendations, so I haven't used an agency before. I sometimes see exciting roles through agency adverts on LinkedIn and other job sites. Still, I…
Tap launches crypto trading platform and debit card for freelancers
FREELANCER TURNED FOUNDER STORY
A fintech platform called Tap Global has launched a new product for freelancers to make passive income with crypto trading with the added convenience of a crypto banking card for everyday purchases and…
How to use cashback apps to pay your utility bills
If things are financially tight now, wait until we have to turn the heating on this winter when power and heating bills will be at their highest. That is why signing up for cashback apps now rather than later could help you build up a bit…
A debt trap awaits for higher-earning freelancers
Higher-earning freelancers may not be as financially secure as first thought
Higher earners are more likely to have borrowed more (and a higher percentage of their income) than those on lower incomes.They are more than twice as likely…
Delegation: how to delegate like a pro to earn more money and achieve work-life balance
A Caunce O’Hara survey of 200 reveals exactly how freelancers are managing their time and how they could better develop the essential business building and life balancing tool of delegation.
The most successful freelancers and small…
New gender pay gap study shows how many more days a woman must work to earn as much as a man
A new study reveals just how much men are earning more than women and why the gender pay gap still exists in 2022.
In 2020, women earned 84% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of…
BT and others under investigation for suspected freelancer rate collusion
The CMA is investigating suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the purchase of freelance services in the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK.
If you have been freelancing in a particular sector or…
Solo self-employed numbers nosedive says report
Government report reveals there were large falls in the number of solo self-employed in the most highly skilled occupations over the past two years. But sadly, the government report did not remark on the findings being worrying.
…
IPSE Pens Wish List To New Chancellor Zahawi, but will Sunak or other candidates ruin any chances…
Following the appointment of Nadhim Zahawi as Chancellor, IPSE is hoping a fresh face at the Treasury could mean the opportunity to request a more pro-freelancer and pro-business approach to build back the economy during the Cost of Living…
Flight risk: here’s how much you could save by driving to your summer holiday abroad instead…
Disastrous airline cancellations and disruption at airports across the country are putting hundreds of thousands of holidays at risk this summer. Is driving to your destination a safer and cheaper bet?
UK airports have faced utter…
Cross border embryo adoption: an option British fertility patients didn’t even know they had?
The Institut Marquès reports on how "surplus" embryos from different European clinics can be donated to other families. More than 2,000 babies have already been born through this initiative. The greater awareness of cross-border embryo…
Know Your Worth as a Creative Freelancer
The Freelance Informer (FI) hands over this week’s Freelancer Tales section to Alex Cooper, YunoJuno Creative Freelancer of the Year 2021. Alex reveals his personal journey into the freelance economy and provides tips he has learned along…
Chaplin on PM resignation: UK economy’s greatest asset is its highly skilled freelance…
OPINION
By Dave Chaplin, CEO, IR35 Shield
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s resignation, Dave Chaplin, CEO of tax compliance firm IR35 Shield offers his thoughts on how the freelance economy in Britain has been impacted since the…
On the brink of abuse: contractors could lose as much as £900 if FCA and DWP do not clamp down on…
Pension transfer delays are costing Brits considrable amounts of money just when they need it most. While some delays are normal, some are questionable and on the brink of abuse. That is why Pension Bee has reported pension providers to…
46% of contractors have raised their rates in 2022, yet expect poor cash flow to be a major concern
A survey commissioned by Cool Company found that nearly half of contractors have increased their rates in 2022, while 17% have reduced their day rate. Cash flow concerns have remained a top driver for more than a quarter of respondents to…
Freelance sports presenter Alan Parry hit with IR35 £356,420 tax bill at age 74
Sky Sports presenter, Alan Parry (74), has lost his IR35 case appeal at the First Tier Tribunal – a development which leaves him with a £356,000 tax bill.
Sky Sports presenter, Alan Parry, age 74, has had his appeal against a…
British freelancers abroad still haunted by IR35
READER LETTER
In recent years highly skilled contractors have made the move abroad for a better way of life, Brexit or simply for personal reasons. Following the move, many believe it means the ability to attain freelance projects…
Self-employed could be “back into the abyss”
British entrepreneurialism is under attack by what appears to be counterproductive government-led tax grab and hiring policies, writes Katherine Steiner-Dicks
IR35, Off-Payroll rules, Loan Charges, pocketed umbrella contractor holiday…
Overarching v. single contract: what’s the difference?
By Graham Webber, WTT
Following a recent article that The Freelance Informer published on the Exchequer umbrella case v. HMRC, readers wanted more clarity on the difference between different types of contracts and the role of expenses,…
Soul-destroying loan charge letters revealed same week as government suicide prevention campaign
“The Impact Statement used to persuade the House of Commons to vote legislation through is an appalling indictment of #HMRC as it was deliberately designed to mislead MPs (think there were only 15 in the House when it was voted through),”…
By 2025 almost everyone will be paying more tax
Just when you manage to negotiate a pay or rate rise, you are pushed into a higher tax bracket. It seems the National Insurance tweak eases April’s pain for some, but not by much. Enjoy it while you can because by 2025 every worker can…
Stress cues like nail-biting make you more likeable, says study
Nail biters, hair twirlers, item fidgeters, lip biters, to shoulder shifters. Most of us exhibit some form of physical cue or outlet when we experience stress. Some of us may even exhibit behaviours linked to superstition when avoiding…
Bali soon to be tax-free for freelancers
Indonesia's tourism minister Sandiaga Uno has said the country, including islands like Bali, will soon start to issue five-year ‘digital nomad visas’ to attract up to 3.6 million overseas travellers and create one million jobs for…
Fashion startup embraces freelancers
A new marketplace and platform has been launched to help independent fashion and jewellery designers not become overshadowed by either fast, low-quality fashion or flagship fashion houses during the Cost of Living Crisis. It's introducing…
Financial services to see boom for career-changers and freelancers
The number of qualified financial advisers in the UK is on the decline, leaving a gap in career-changing opportunities. The Freelance Informer speaks to someone who made the career change to the industry and is now self-employed and loving…
Barclays enters self-employed mortgage market
Kensington Mortgages, a specialist mortgage lender that caters to the self-employed, has been sold to Barclays Bank UK PLC. The sale follows an auction process that attracted a broad range of bidders, highlighting that the freelancer…
Unions threaten teacher strikes and exam result delays
Pupils across the UK could face delays in receiving their GCSE and A-Level results if exam board AQA fails to improve its pay offer to staff, UNISON warned today. A ballot for strike action is in place. Is the big teacher strike next?
…
Agency workers to fill staff gaps during strike action
A new law will swiftly come into action to allow businesses to supply skilled agency workers to plug staffing gaps during industrial action, the government has reported.
The news is found surprising by employment experts given the…
Don’t believe the stereotype: dog breed myths debunked
If you have a canine office buddy ( or are considering adopting one) you may be surprised by a new study that challenges dog breed reputations
Any unsuspecting delivery person or postman walking up our drive would think we have a jowly,…
Mortgage affordability checks to be scrapped
Is the Bank of England’s axing of mortgage affordability ‘utter madness’?
Following a consultation, the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee FPC has decided to withdraw the affordability test Recommendation with effect…
Financial expert reveals how freelancers can maximise income
The Cost of Living Crisis is hitting freelancers hard. Tony Clark of St. James's Place outlines some tips on how they can best protect their income in tough times
By Tony Clark, Senior Proposition Manager, St James’s Place…
Freelancing is the ideal soft landing for retirement
Don't retire. Go freelance. This societal mindset could radically improve the world's workplace talent pool and financial viability going into full retirement, argues data scientist Erik Stettler
Our work is a big part of our…
Exchequer v. HMRC: will it mean more bills for contractors?
This article has been updated
Judges have ruled that umbrella provider Exchequer Solutions owes HMRC £11m in unpaid tax, but will contractors end up picking up the tax tab? We ask the experts to see what they think and their tips to…
New call for adviser evidence: HMRC and Treasury continue to “seek to ignore and deny”…
APPG launches call for evidence from advisers following harrowing evidence supplied by individuals
The 248-mmber strong Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness APPG has launched a new call for evidence, this time from advisers with clients…
UK staff cuts to spike freelancer demand says Fiverr
Two new surveys published today, National Freelancers Day, reveal some telling freelancer hiring and talent trends and why we can expect to see freelancer numbers grow in 2022.
Almost one-third of UK freelancers attribute increased…
Call for agency staff to break strikes – will contractors and recruiters take the risk?
It is unclear how serious the government is in its proposals to change the law around strikes and agency workers – or how interested major staffing companies would be in getting involved in what would be highly controversial supplies.…
IR35: Move abroad and you’ll get preferential treatment from UK clients, says contractor
READER LETTERS
I have been following your newsletter and meaning to get in touch for a while. I am one of the many small business operators in the IT sector who emigrated in recent years due to IR35 changes and ever-increasing taxes…
Fiverr launches new platform called Togetherr™
Getting access to $50K+ advertising campaigns as a freelancer could be career-changingThe new company’s proprietary technology, the Creative Genome™, uses AI and machine learning to build creative teams for each unique project and…
Pension Woes: what umbrella company contractors must look out for
By Tony Clark, Senior Proposition Manager, St James’s Place (www.sjp.co.uk)
What's covered in this article:
What can freelancers do to avoid having many small pension pots?What are the different types of SIPPs or pension funds that a…
The IR35 F-up: how do we explain it to our kids?
If the UK remains inhospitable territory for freelancers then we can probably expect younger generations to have delayed career trajectories.
OPINION
Most 18-year-olds won't have a clue what tax regulation IR35 is, but in my family,…
Report: colour impacts how people treat you
Colour has an impact on how people treat and react to you. Whether it be the colours of your car, clothes, the colour of your hair or the colours of makeup you choose - they all have an effect. That's according to research conducted by two…
Modern-day “serfdom”? Brits spend over 40% of the year working for the taxman. Umbrella…
Taxpayers worked 159 days for HMRC this year. The 8th of June is the first day they start working for themselves. But with umbrella company contractors forking out both employee and employer national insurance contributions, and the…
HMRC names and shames tax avoidance umbrella scheme, yet contractors left to pick up the pieces
The HMRC may be urging customers to leave another tax avoidance scheme promoted by an umbrella company, but there's no talk yet of making the London-based firm pay up. It seems the contractors that fell into the scheme may have to do that.…
“I’m a miracle”: cancer disappears in 14 people after experimental use of immunotherapy
The following is an excerpt of an account published by Memorial Sloan Ketting Cancer Center regarding how rectal cancer disappeared in some 14 people following experimental use of immunotherapy. Given there has been a disturbing rise in…
Google contractors battle injustices
Strike threats over return-to office orders and cases of recruiters reportedly skimming a percentage of contractor salaries are just some of the developments being addressed by the Alphabet Workers Union.
Google Maps contract workers in…
The political party most likely to win the hearts of voters if the general election was held…
OPINION
From the 88 constituencies which the Conservatives either (a) won from Labour in 2019, or (b) currently hold with a majority of less than 15pts over Labour, YouGov's modelling predicts that just three would remain in…
Impressive last-minute Jubilee Party dishes
Most freelancers are juggling projects and family demands as usual so when they are asked to bring something to a Jubilee Party dishes for all the neighbours to witness, they may start to fret.
For those last-minute attempts to impress…
Partygate: did its ramifications influence revisions to the Ministerial Code?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Lord Geidt this week, the Conservative Party’s ethics adviser and former Private Secretary to the Sovereign, in response to the latest annual report from the Independent Adviser on Ministers’…
How to plan for a summer abroad working remotely
If you already work remotely or have the opportunity to over the summer months, then why not consider travelling to an exciting new location? Here are some sites that can help you make that happen.
Remote Year
To get an idea of…
A world without freelancers is a world without free thinkers
If IR35 was a tax mechanism used in centuries past, I dare say the CEST "tool" we are presented with today, would have been a befuddling series of questions presented by the tax collector to unsuspecting freelancers.
Freelancers, much…
Surprising freelancer trends revealed in new report
Freelance workers on the whole are working more hours than their salaried counterparts, a new survey has revealed. What else has the survey found?
Those in freelance roles appear to be working longer hours, with 46% working 41+ hours…
Inflation: there’s a vital way to reduce it that everyone overlooks – raise productivity
By David McMillan, University of Stirling
Inflation has become one of the great issues of our times. The UK’s is the highest in the G7, weighing in at 9% a year according to the most recent figures on consumer price inflation.
When…
Inflation-beating survival tips for solo entrepreneurs
The solo entrepreneur boom of the COVID-19 pandemic bucked the typical pattern of company creation during other economic times of crisis, according to new research by the Bank of England (BoE). But there are signs this boom could be…
Energy Profits Levy: how much money will you get?
The vast majority of households will receive £550Pensioners will receive £850Almost all of the eight million most vulnerable households in the country will, in total, receive support of at least £1,200Ofgem expects the energy price cap to…
IR35 could blockade new government taskforce to support female start-ups
The British government is launching a taskforce to support women entrepreneurs, tackle investing barriers, and increase the number of women-led fast-growing businesses outside the capital. But with many women starting out as solo-person…
Freelancers saved from big energy bills
Freelancers will be among those in Spain and Portugal who will see gas and power bills dropped significantly through a new law, as much as €90. But many freelancers in the UK are not holding their breath about a windfall tax on oil and gas…
When is it worth paying early redemption charges on a fixed-rate mortgage?
If the Bank of England rate hits 1.5%, it could mean more than a third of people with variable-rate mortgages face difficulties.Meanwhile, with 1.5 million fixed-rate mortgages set to expire this year, more than a third could face…
Bald jokes banned in the workplace
Calling someone bald is unlawful harassment, reports Osborne Clarke
Courtesy of Osborne Clarke's Employment Law Coffee Break
An employment tribunal has ruled that an electrician called a "bald ***t" during heated arguments…
IR35: Contractors lose their independence, now careers finds new report
Twelve months on Contractors are still considering leaving their profession due to IR35, according to a new survey. The news comes at a time that experts call for a boycott of the Future of Work Review as they predict it could stifle…
Why I bought the Hairy Bikers’ new healthy cookbook before it was even out on the shelves
I am not one for impulse purchases. But, on this one sunny morning, I made an exception. I happened to be on the way back from the school run and tuned into the Chris Moyles radio show when one of Britain’s foodie heroes came on – Si King…
This is how much more you’ll pay for everyday stuff
OBR predicts the biggest fall in living standards in a generation
Consumer inflation levels are reaching new highs, which means essential household items and so much more will spike in price. Personal finance experts show us how much…
Freelancer rates in these sectors could soar
A lot has been said about employment, inactivity and job vacancies over the pandemic, but what’s happening to earnings? Salary trends in earnings using payroll data from HMRC revealed which sectors are seeing the highest…
Freelancers leery over Future of Work Review
An independent employment status expert has called the latest Future of Work Review “absolutely ridiculous” given the government has yet to act on findings that have come out of previous reviews.
Limited company freelancers and…
How is HMRC’s “Don’t’ Get Caught Out” campaign “helping” contractors?
Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.Nelson Mandela
Many of you may recall that back in April HMRC named and shamed tax avoidance schemes used by umbrella companies for the first time. There was even a video (see…
HMRC v. SEB: how can tax grabs from victims first, bad guys later ever be justified?
The omittance of any remark over the Employment Bill and the Single Enforcement Body in the Queen's Speech, speaks volumes of "indifference" about how discrimination against freelancers and solo business owners is reaching a fever pitch.…
Want a better broadband deal?
If you’re coming to the end of your broadband contract, you might be able to move to a faster connection and still save money. Here are the latest broadband deals courtesy of Uswitch. Plus tips to speed up your internet connection for…
Does your emergency fund stack up to these targets?
A new report suggests how much to save for an emergency fund based on where you live.
Freelancers and business owners express what the government should do next about the Cost of Living CrisisLatest on how Klarna could affect your…
Cybersecurity: can umbrella contractors afford to be as complacent as client staff?
Complacent attitudes among employees towards cybersecurity are putting UK businesses more at risk.
In a survey of 1,500 UK employees, 40% feel that upholding cybersecurity best practices is not their responsibility. So why does more…
Could the political party that gives a damn about freelancers and their contribution to the economy…
OPINION
When a nation’s employment options and freelancer freedoms are taken away from them, everyone suffers, including The Treasury and oddly enough, Countdown viewers. Katherine Steiner-Dicks highlights concerns over growing…
Dubai: new residency rules welcome freelancers and their families
More freelancers could call Dubai their home thanks to an overhaul of the Emirate's latest residency rules. Two new visas boast a no-sponsor-needed residency and are being highly praised for their flexible and long-term approach.
The…
What’s SUP? And could it be your “happy place”?
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a "happy" sport, according to Blue Planet founder Robert Stehlik. The low-impact activity could tick all those healthy boxes from core, balance, to muscle tone, to connecting with nature, plus it's a great…
Contractor blanket bans on the way says tax expert
The Court of Appeal’s decision in broadcaster Kaye Adams’ long-standing case against HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) could ultimately create more cases of blanket bans on freelancers and contractors if a less complex IR35 status test…
Umbrella companies: they’re stripping the UK of its entrepreneurial spirit and economic growth
OPINION
If Britain's millions of self-employed are increasingly being forced to pay for the privilege to work, then surely they should see some advantages. That just isn't the case when it comes to the nation's growing number of…
Here’s how Kremlin’s “sick masterminds” will bait everyone from our kids to…
UK-funded expert research has exposed how the Kremlin is using a troll factory to spread lies on social media and in comment sections of popular websites
"Cyber soldiers" are targeting politicians and audiences across a number of…
These freelancers could be out of pocket the most
Millions will feel the pinch, but which freelancers could be squeezed the most and why?Plus, what are the quickest ways to cut costs?
In April, 91% of people said the cost of living had increased – up from 62% in November. Freelancers,…
Freelancer escapes prison sentence for second time
Freelance travel agent’s business was booming until she landed herself with a suspended prison sentence
Dublin-based freelance travel agent, Kelli Kilpatrick, 34, mishandled nearly €29,000 from 31 holidaymakers and has received a fully…
What’s the average day rate for freelancers in the UK?
Some of the UK's 1.9 million freelancers are charging higher day rates and enjoying longer contacts, according to new research. Find out which disciplines are attracting the highest rates and longest projects.
Highly skilled…
IR35 litigation against freelancers set to change
A freelancer's career should be considered in its entirety when determining status under IR35 legislation, it has been declared in a Court of Appeal.
The decision came following a legal case, HMRC v Atholl House, involving presenter…
What do you do if you get a SEISS reassessment letter?
Freelancers and small business owners could receive a letter from HMRC identifying them as taxpayers who must repay all or part of their fourth or fifth self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) grant following a tax return…
The Bulb Bailout: is it morally justifiable right now?
As state bailouts go, the failed gas and electricity provider Bulb Energy is the largest since the £45.4bn Royal Bank of Scotland bailout of 2008. But something about this latest bailout is making many freelancers and small business owners…
Freelancers over 50 hit with more costs. Where are the perks?
Average premiums have risen 6.2% for the over-50s in the last three months, with motorists aged 25-49 also seeing increases of 4.1%. IMF forecasts that the UK's planned corporate tax rises from 19% to 23% may constrain the UK's economic…
What’s on this weekend across the UK?
Netflix saw one of its biggest exodus of subscriptions to date this week as people cut down on streaming costs. But if you are thinking, without Netflix, Now, or Sky Sports, what can we do? Check out what's going on this weekend across the…
How freelancers can get more done in a day
Not feeling the work-life balance lately? Feeling constantly under pressure with not enough time in the day to finish assignments? Then these time management tips for freelancers just might help you get that balance again.
Focus &…
Fraudsters invoice £7m in fake invoices to feed lavish lifestyle. How did they get away with it?
Three people were convicted of defrauding the taxpayer for over £1 million in a criminal scheme that exploited government systems designed to support businesses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reported. The people involved spent…
The best places freelancers can find new clients
Looking for new clients or a new business sector to pitch your freelance services to? Then one of the most effective ways to beat the competition is knowing where to look.
What are unicorns?
Unicorns are companies valued at $US1bn,…
IFS: interest rates could put students off university
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is calling on the government to urgently adjust the way the interest rate cap operates on student loans to avoid a significant spike in September.
English and Welsh graduates who took out a student loan…
Clients hiring veterans to save serious cash on NICs
Businesses hiring military veterans, including umbrella companies and recruitment agencies, can save thousands of pounds in employee National Insurance contributions.
The relief is available to all employers of veterans regardless of…
HMRC cracks down on workers’ tips and gratuity
Agency workers that receive tips or gratuity as part of their job or service industry, could have their employment records checked from time to time by HMRC. A review of their employer's records would be carried out by HMRC to make sure…
Freelancers now have dedicated airline
OP-ED
An airline in the US has been launched that will cater solely to freelancers, specifically content creators and brand influencers. Yes, you read that right. The airline, Willa Air, is funded in part by freelancer payment app,…
These tax year tips could help you make ends meet
“In the new tax year freelancers are having to deal with the most wide-ranging changes in personal income taxation for more than a decade, says Daniel Fallows, director of accountancy Gorilla.
“We have to go back as…
Inside IR35 contractors say goodbye to old salaries and weekends
IR35 reforms one year on: 60% of contractors report drop in income. Some end-clients are still exhibiting "inside IR35 or leave" blanket ban contractor policies.72% of contractors said that hiring businesses are not taking reasonable care…
I work through two contractor agencies. Am I paying too much tax?
TAX CLINIC
A government contractor that works via two agencies, writes in to find out if they are paying too much tax and if they ever had to apply for Universal Credit could they do it if their agencies pay in arrears at very different…
Poll: British economy “devastated” by IR35
Changes to the off-payroll working rules in the UK, namely IR35, have had “devastating economic consequences for businesses,” according to a poll of more than 500 companies. Over two in five companies (42%) reported that the IR35 reforms…
How to get through a divorce during the cost of living crisis
Going through a divorce in the middle of a cost of living crisis will be difficult for most, but probably even more so for freelancers given their demanding work deadlines and constant juggling between projects. That's why going through a…
Sole director contractors warned they could be limited to unaffordable mortgage rates
Mortgage lenders including Santander have announced that they are changing their affordability calculations on 6 April, taking into account not just rising energy bills and household expenditure as per the revised ONS data, but also the…
How freelancing parents can receive help with Easter childcare costs
Working parents could get up to £2,000 a year to pay for regulated childcare, including holiday clubs and out-of-school activities in the Easter holidays.
GOVERNMENT STATEMENT
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working…
Your limited company has received an HMRC discovery letter. What do you do first?
TAX CLINIC
Q: What steps should I take if I receive a “discovery” letter from HMRC as a limited company freelancer who does not work through a recruitment agency, umbrella or payroll company?
A: A discovery assessment, most likely…
Freelancers take client to court for unpaid bills
Freelancers are taking the owner of Dragonfly Digital Video Services to court over thousands of pounds of unpaid bills, it has been reported by Brighton and Hove News.
The news report stated that the news service has spoken to several…
Contractors blindsided by MSC tax charges
HMRC has issued letters to thousands of contractors, demanding up to £50,000 from them. The tax office is arguing that contractors have breached the MSC legislation – this is despite HMRC not having established all of the facts, says Seb…
My home office needs a makeover. Can I expense it?
TAX CLINIC
Q: I want to redecorate my home office since I do a lot of client calls online and informative videos for my business. What can I expense on the business and what would need to be claimed if I sold the house in say 10 years’…
Is joining an umbrella company a good way to jumpstart a freelance career?
If you’re interested in trying out contract working and are not ready to register your own company yet, umbrella companies could provide a taster into freelancing. With an existing client bank and full administrative control, it’s arguably…
What’s the secret to becoming an ISA millionaire?
There are 973 Hargreaves Lansdown ISA millionaires – up from 576 last year - or 69%.There are 2,000 ISA millionaires in the UK.The average age of an HL ISA millionaire is 72.The most common age among HL ISA millionaires is 73, but we have…
Fiscal drag to trap more freelancers into 40% tax bracket
By Daniel Fallows
As the UK faces a cost-of-living crisis with inflation reaching its highest level for 30 years and the Bank of England forecasting that inflation will rise further to 8% this year – Rishi Sunak has been…
Virtual events on the hunt for freelance tech talent
With demand for virtual events rising, a new report reveals more than half of marketing directors are facing a technical skills shortage, leading them to outsource services.
Brand experience agency, FIRST, has published a report,…
National Insurance threshold hike: will it impact your state pension entitlement?
In April 2022 the Health and Social care levy comes into effect. This is a 1.25 percentage point increase on National Insurance contributions.The Chancellor had been under pressure to scrap the increase in the face of the rising cost of…
NI threshold raised to £12,570 but some freelancers will be worse off next year says expert
NEWSFLASH
From July, the National Insurance threshold will rise to £12,570 (it had been scheduled to rise from £9,568 to £9.880). 70% of people will pay less NI than they do this year.Income tax will be cut by the end of the parliament…
P&O Ferries: Will British agency staff ever trust the maritime sector again?
Crew Inspections Have Started On P&O Ferries As Airlines Step In To Recruit Redundant Staff
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be carrying out inspections before any of the eight P&O Ferries affected by the mass…
NICs hike: call for recruitment agencies and end clients to pay up for umbrella contractors
Recruitment agents and their end clients need to “step up to the plate and increase assignments fees to cover the cost to the worker”, according to the FCSA’s CEO, Chris Bryce.
The FCSA’s call for higher contractor pay, especially for…
PSCs and contractors can reclaim duplicated taxes
If a contractor’s personal service company (PSC) and the agency or client that has engaged them have paid tax on the value of the same contract, the PSC and/or contractor should be able to reclaim any duplicated taxes, according to…
Help! I think my umbrella company is going bust
TAX CLINIC
Welcome to The Freelance Informer's Tax Clinic where freelancers write in to get their tax questions and dilemmas addressed. This week a reader writes in about what to do if they have unpaid wages and they think their…
5% fuel duty cut welcome but the government is still making 80p per litre at the pumps
Fuel duty is a drop in the ocean, says personal finance expert. Others serving self-employed workers are asking for tougher, perhaps unpopular measures
The Spring Statement has cut fuel duty by 5p a litre.Currently fuel duty costs…
The Spring Statement: what should freelancers expect and what could surprise them?
Just when work opportunities and day rates started to soar towards pre-pandemic levels, freelancers could see those gains wiped out.
The cost of living crisis will be exacerbated for freelancers come April 2022 when increased national…
Money-saving tips for freelancers
Freelancers do not have the luxury of always getting paid on time, this means that certain months they have to find ways to stretch their money. Here are some tips to help ease the cost of living, plus a proactive payment reminder template…
Freelancers could see rate rises wiped out in 2022
The enormous impact of HMRC moving and freezing income holds in recent years has been revealed.
Great Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility changed its forecasts to reflect higher inflation, which means not only will more people…
LimeWire makes comeback just as NFT interest fizzles
Google Trends has suggested that people are losing interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTS), yet that could be because they do not realise the possibilities, according to new research and one company, in particular, LimeWire.
LimeWire…
Ukrainian Child Cancer Patients Brought To The UK In Urgent Flight To Receive Treatment On NHS
21 Ukrainian children with cancer have been brought to England to receive care through the NHS, the government has reported. The UK partnered with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a non-profit US organisation that specialises in…
Freelancers in financial services could see their workload shrink
“If a portfolio manager teleported from 2020 into 2030, they would most likely not recognise their industry.” - Daniel Celeghin, Indefi
Asset managers will increasingly struggle to run global enterprises, as cross-border investments…
Award-winning freelancer and peacekeeper shot and killed by Russian forces in Ukraine
Craig (left) and Brent Renaud (right) produced award-winning films and documentaries; Photo source: RenaudBrothers (@renaudbrothers) • Instagram photos and videos
Brent Renaud, a 50-year-old freelance filmmaker, came under fire by…
Want To Win Over Mum’s Heart This Mother’s Day?
MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Not sure what gift to get the Mums in your life this Mother's Day? The Freelance Informer offers some guidance on great gift ideas from the clever, beautiful, charitable, inspirational to even the sustainable.
…
Upwork helps preserve careers of Ukraine freelancers and suspends all ties with Russia and Belarus…
Upwork, the freelancer talent platform, has suspended all business operations in Russia and Belarus, taking full effect by May 1, 2022. It has already started shutting down Upwork support for new business generation in both countries.
…
US tightens H-1B visas to crack down on foreign outsourcing companies. Could the UK do the same?
The US is cracking down on outsourcing highly skilled jobs to foreign workers. Could the UK be next? Or is that just wishful thinking for the thousands of UK freelancers and contractors that have witnessed the UK Brain Drain first-hand…
SAP contractor, 54, forced out of the market on cost
OPINION
Nick Bremner, a UK-based SAP Contractor says he has finished his last “contractor project” with no intention of going back to the contractor life anytime soon. Bremner shares in his own words his experiences as an SAP…
SteadyPay offers interest-free £1K salary “top-up” loans for freelancers
London-based SteadyPay, a payment solutions lender for workers with fluctuating income (contractors, temp workers, and shift workers), says it is not only helping its subscribers with salary “top-ups” but building their…
Dyson to recruit 2000 engineers and digital experts despite “forced” labour legal claims
Dyson, the global home electronics designer and manufacturer, could struggle to hire up to 2000 new recruits following claims of labour abuse in its manufacturing supply chain.
Following a Channel 4 news report (see video report and…
Can you eat your way out of getting cancer?
SPECIAL REPORT
What you'll find in this report:
👉🏽The single most predominant factor that will increase your chances of getting cancer
👉🏽Foods and lifestyle changes that can help starve cancer cells, plus healthy recipes
👉🏽What…
Contractors looking to buy a new home or switch mortgages need to spot these red flags
Photo by Ravi Kant from Pexels
A spike in conditional selling, whereby estate agents pressure and insinuate that buyers will have a better chance of landing a property from a vendor if they are "financially verified" in-house, means…
The brave international freelancers staying in Ukraine: who are they?
SPECIAL REPORT
International freelancers are bravely covering the escalating conflict in Ukraine. Some are even working free of charge.
If you don’t know who Alex Lourie is, you may know his work. Alex is the American freelance…
“SJD had copies of my passport, my bank transfers, and other hugely sensitive information.”
Dustin Gorski, 35, a freelance software engineer living in London, trading as Dusted Codes reveals what it was like to be affected by the Optionis ransomware attack and what he's done to rectify his situation.
Gorski, is a freelance…
Tech firms extend support to freelancers in Ukraine
Companies, such as Netguru, have said that they are ready to support their freelancers in Ukraine.
The company said in an online statement: "We are ready to take action and are already in touch with our Ukrainian employees, partners and…
Russian invasion intensifies over Ukraine border: are ports and cyberattacks on Europe and US next?
There have been reports of Russian Federation-initiated attacks on key military bases, civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The Department of Homeland Security has set up a page warning of cyberattacks emanating from Russia, and both the…
How easy is it to become a freelance solicitor?
By Bradon Matthews with additional reporting by K. Steiner-Dicks
The legal industry is one of the biggest areas of opportunity for freelance work. But many solicitors that have branched out on their own have been missing out on a vital…
New publisher on the hunt for writers
Nearly two years and 50 books later, a husband-and-wife duo is launching their publishing start-up, Noodle Fuel, at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair. And it’s looking for writers.
Writers looking for a new outlet for their…
How can freelancers avoid a “jobfish” scandal?
The Madbird design agency scandal unearthed an elaborate “jobfish” scheme that impacted up to 50 remote workers across the globe, placing many in debt. What steps can freelancers take to ensure they are dealing with a legitimate client and…
Are you better off as a contractor or consultant in 2022?
Inside IR35 jobs have made skilled contractors question if they can even afford this method of employment. What’s the point if you are no longer self-employed? Are forced to become an umbrella employee, which, for some, has meant late…
BT Digital invests £30m in freelancer platform. Which corporate is next to join the trend?
First of its kind contract means BT Digital has a stake in an IT freelancer talent platformThe partnership will see Distributed provide on-demand, Elastic Teams™️ in AI, cloud, product, design and more for BT DigitalThe deal…
What does JSA’s acquisition of 6CATS mean for contractors?
JSA Group, an umbrella company based in Watford, has made yet another acquisition, its eighth deal since 2018. This time it has acquired 6CATS Group, a London-based global independent contractor compliance and payment services business.…
KPMG To Scale Services With New Hires Despite Internal Challenges
Global business services firm KPMG is to grow its South West team after being integral to the firm’s pre-tax profit of £436m, it has been reported. The news comes at a time when the firm is facing several internal hurdles, including a…
Cost of living set to cancel out freelancer rate rises
TOPIC OF THE WEEK
How will freelancers and micro-businesses make ends meet in 2022 in the face of rising food, energy and fuel prices? Should the government step in before it’s too late?
The hiring boom is set to continue for 2022,…
How Adrian Chiles Won His £1.7m IR35 Tax Appeal (for Now): the key freelancer takeaways
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED
The Freelance Informer reports on the key takeaways of the Presenter Adrian Chiles’ 7-year legal battle with HMRC that proves he was truly self-employed; why independent oversight is required for such cases…
This debt collection platform claims it has a foolproof way to get you paid fast
A British entrepreneur who recently launched an automated digital platform to collect business debts believes he has settled the country's oldest invoice – and in less than an hour. The news comes at a time that freelancers, small…
Timerr: UAE launches “Fiverr” style platform for crypto
BLOCKCHAIN AND THE FUTURE OF FREELANCER RECRUITMENT
Timerr.Io, a freelancer platform dedicated exclusively to cryptocurrency professionals run out of UAE's Media City will be onboarding freelancers in a matter of days, it has been…
This one word is killing your charisma, folks
“Most of us, most of the time, aren’t consciously trying to be the centre of attention. But we can fall into this trap subconsciously, focusing on ourselves in ways that are anti-charismatic. Humour me for a moment and try this exercise…”…
IR35: can contractors claim back tax offsets?
HMRC estimates that the 2021 IR35 reforms to the private sector will or already have affected around 180,000 personal service contractors, compared to the estimated 50,000 contractors already affected by the 2017 public sector reforms.…
How to market yourself after a career break
By Shona Chambers, Marketing Consultant, Shona Chambers Marketing
Career breaks that start out short term can end up lasting much longer, for all kinds of reasons.
Maybe you’ve been busy raising a family, been made redundant or come…
Umbrella contractors: do you think your data has been leaked?
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should umbrella company contractors, worried about recent cyber attacks, request a Protective Registration against their personal details? And expect a refund of the related expenses to be paid by their umbrella…
Who is Gordon Berger?
Gordon Berger, a digital artist and "NFT and Crypto Art Movement pioneer", is giving a 5-day intensive course through auction house Christie's to provide a complete overview of the NFT landscape. Berger minted three of the first 100 tokens…
Contractor input excluded from Off-Payroll report
HMRC has published its report, ‘Long-term effects of the Off-Payroll working rules reform for public sector organisations’, but some IR35 and contractor industry experts suggest the report appears self-serving and one-sided.
The…
time to talk: suicide is rife among self-employed construction workers says new data
SPECIAL REPORT
Builders had the highest annual turnover among self-employed UK tradespeople in 2021, according to new research. However, not all is rosy for the sector.
According to the ONS, self-employed men in construction are…
Freelancers from around the world share their recipes
Hayden Brown, the CEO of freelancer job platform Upwork, was in need of some food inspiration to spice up yet another "covid-induced-at-home-date-night" when a new cookbook from a community of Upwork freelancers came her way. The recipes…
Umbrella Companies Could See A Spree Of Class Action suits From Workers Following New Judgment on…
During his six-year engagement with Pimlico Plumbers, Gary Smith, was never given any right to paid annual holidays, according to Michael Ford, QC at Old Square Chambers. But the heating engineer has seen a change of fate with the Court of…
In debt and dating? How to approach the money talk
Talking about money when you are on one of those loved-up first dates is like ripping off a plaster on a healing wound. The damage may leave a scar on your blooming relationship. But when you avoid the subject of money early on in dating…
Umbrella company workers slammed again
The Chancellor and Prime Minister have confirmed that the National Insurance rise will go ahead this April – a move that freelancers, contractors and their fellow small business owners know will hit them hard in the midst of a cost of…
New rate card Puts Stop To freelancer Exploitation
Bectu, the trade union for TV and film workers, including thousands of freelancers, has published rate guidance for members in unscripted television. The move is unprecedented as the first reference point for members and employers in the…
Man quits career of 35 years to launch “Middle School MBA”
The old adage that money makes the world go round doesn't always make sense to kids or many adults for that matter. Let's face it, most people will find the concept of business studies and economics "boring" or "too tough to understand."…
How to become your client’s Workforce data hero
Data analysis for environmental, governance and sustainability (ESG) reporting is no easy task for any organisation. Let's face it, ESG is now part and parcel of workforce data and someone has to make sense of it. Someone has to lead a…
Freelancer Payment crisis threatens livelihoods
Younger freelancers aged 18-24 are more likely to leave freelancing55% of freelancer invoices are paid over a month late and the problem is getting worse23.7% or one in four freelancers currently considering their position because of late…
Freelance Voiceover artist gives mother lasting gift
Working as a freelance voiceover artist and video producer has provided Shenteria Childs with many career and lifestyle opportunities. Freelancing has provided her, like so many other independent workers, the financial freedom to travel to…
Inside IR35 v. the pandemic: which is the bigger threat to freelancers in 2022?
IR35 seen as ‘biggest threat’ to £300bn contracting sector in 2022 Ten times more contractors are most concerned by IR35 than the impact of the pandemicA spree of cyberattacks on umbrella companies has left inside IR35 workers…
National insurance tax hike: “now is not the time”
With a spree of tax hikes introduced at the height of a cost of living crisis, April 2022 could go down in British political history as the Spring of discontent.
“Now is not the time for a tax hike: the National Insurance rise in…
The Pallo backstory: The Freelancers That launched an app to fix their biggest problem
I came across a fintech startup called Pallo over on Product Hunt. It wasn't just the product that intrigued me, but the freelancers-turned-founders' back story.
Pallo, an AI integrated business and personal finance app designed by…
How inflation can create opportunities for freelancers
A Totaljobs study reveals that higher inflation and the subsequent cost of living is expected to have the biggest impact on the labour market in 2022, according to 62% of businesses. This is higher than candidate shortages (45%), a high…
Have you tried deep working yet?
Multitasking is overrated. Well, any parent or entrepreneur could have told you that. But there's some science that backs that statement up. According to research and science presented in Cal Newport's book Deep Work, a singular focus on a…
Why now is a good time for freelancers to raise rates
Sarah Coles, Hargreaves Lansdown Senior Personal Finance Analyst and Podcast Host for Switch Your Money On, offers tips to freelancers in times of growing inflation.
BY SARAH COLES
At times of higher inflation, it’s really important…
More skilled professionals to enter freelancing in 2022
What does the growth of the highly skilled, educated freelancer mean for the freelancer economy and contractor recruitment in 2022?
There is a shift away from ‘gig work,’ and instead, increasing growth in the number of skilled and…
58% of freelancers and SMEs waiting to be paid
Small Business Commissioner Fights For On-Time Payment For Freelancers
Barclays and Small Business Commissioner call to unite the small business community to tackle late payments and raise the social conscience of larger businesses who…
The sports Metaverse is turning the love of sport into a decentralised money-maker
HOT SECTOR TO WATCH: SPORTS METAVERSE
The evolution of immersive sport or the "sports metaverse" – that place that brings sports fans together through virtual reality, NFT sports player card marketplaces and live streaming – is…
Disgruntled Freelancers: Employers Have You On Their Radar
CONTRACTOR RECRUITMENT
Regardless of their remote-only or "freelance" LinkedIn status, freelancers and contractors are increasingly being approached by employers, according to a new survey.
“Targeting disgruntled freelancers or…
“Our jobs aren’t a luxury. They’re our careers.”
Britain's world-renown theatre workers could be taking a final bow
Could you imagine putting in hours of your skill and time into a project, passing up on other work to complete said work, only for it to be cancelled or delayed…
IR35 Impact: Will 2022 be a better year for contractors?
Fresh cry for radical change to Off-payroll legislation after IR35 impact survey reveals lasting damage to talent and Treasury revenues
Revelations over the “IR35 impact” and subsequent Off-Payroll legislation on the private sector…
How to pass the soft skills test to land your dream client
With the greater use of artificial intelligence in recruitment, there is a strong likelihood that soft skill "buzzwords" will be picked up by job portals, ranking some candidates up higher in the short-listing process than others. Here are…
Freelancers: the “real life” Teachers that schools need
Many schools and colleges would like to increase their financial and career education efforts but they are hindered by a busy timetable, curriculum and a lack of skills and knowledge. That's according to the Money and Pension Service's…
Political palava: MP salary boost same day as NI tax hike
Many freelancers and small business owners would like to see the national insurance tax hike set for this April to be postponed. But in light of upcoming MP pay rises and soaring energy prices, a growing number of them are calling for the…
Fintech: why it needs freelancers to maintain its growth
OPINION
It pays to track investment trends when you're a freelancer. The sectors that attract the most cash are equally on the hunt for talent. A case in point is fintech, which saw bumper growth last year and is on track to keep the…
Court thwarts HMRC’s tax grab on freelancers
The outcome of a landmark and very personal First-Tier Tax Tribunal case, that dragged on for five years, is a reminder to all freelancers and small business owners that, sometimes, a battle is worth fighting for.
Businesses owners,…
female freelancers on edge over pension poverty
Over 7 in 10 (71%) freelancers are worried about saving for later life following COVID-19, with female freelancers most likely to be affected, according to research carried out by IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the…
Days of Fixed-term contracts in Spain are numbered
INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTOR SPECIAL REPORT
Contractors dreaming to land freelance or fixed-term contracts in Spain might have to re-think their plans. Labour reforms are set to stifle temporary and fixed-term contracts, which is also bad…
Disastrous December for Freelancers: what happened?
For some freelancers and solopreneurs, the December 2021 trading period was a time when everything fell into place. For others, everything seemed to fall apart. What lessons can be shared? And should government widen its freelancer support…
Competition heats up amongst freelancers
☕COFFEE BREAK: SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
With almost 35% of the global workforce self-identifying as freelance talent, the freelance economy is bound to expand greatly in the coming years. This is good news for freelance talent and for…
Kwarteng’s crackdown: directors who dissolve companies to evade debts could be disqualified up…
The UK Insolvency Service has been granted new powers to tackle unfit directors who dissolve companies to avoid paying their liabilities. But the news should not put off legitimate businesses that want to close up shop. They just have to…
Experts reveal 2022 property market predictions
With Nationwide's December House Price Index just out, property experts reveal their 2022 predictions for the UK housing market, including the impact rising interest rates could have on housing stock and where all those Londoners…
What every freelancer must prepare for in 2022
While running your own business as a freelancer you can easily miss news and government policies that could impact your financial well-being. The Freelance Informer outlines just a few things that every freelancer should prepare for in…
Over 70s fastest-growing group of freelancers
New research has revealed that people in their 70s and 80s shifted into self-employment to become freelancers faster than any other age group in the UK over the past two years, which brings to light a whole host of questions about how…
Stories that spoke to freelancers the most
The Freelance Informer re-launched at the height of the COVID pandemic, which was one of the most testing times for PSC contractors, freelancers and small business owners. We look back at the stories and issues that triggered the interest…
HMRC late payment interest rates to increase
HMRC interest rates for late payments will be going up following the Bank of England interest rate rise to 0.25%.
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted on 16 December 2021 to increase the Bank of England base rate to 0.25%…
DWP pilots auto-enrolment plans for self-employed
Two pilots have been announced by the Department for Work and Pensions to test new forms of auto-enrolment pension savings plans that keep the variable income of the self-employed in mind.
Nest Insight, a public-benefit research and…
IR35 + Automation = disaster for UK’s digital skills gap
More than two-thirds (67%) of digital leaders globally are now unable to keep pace with change because of a dearth of the talent they need, according to Harvey Nash Group.Cyber security is the most sought after tech skill with 43%…
aerospace execs indicted in recruitment conspiracy
When an unscrupulous employer or recruitment fraudster gets their comeuppance, it's not just in Hollywood films. At times, it happens in real life. Take the recent example of an unfolding US labour market conspiracy that emerged earlier…
Education agencies prep for high demand as education secretary calls for ex-teachers to return to…
Omicron expected to cause increased staff absence levels in the spring term, with former teachers and supply agencies needed to expand supply staff across the country.
The Government is asking former teachers who have the skills and…
2022: experts reveal freelance market predictions
Recruitment and IR35 specialists outline their predictions and wishes for freelancers in the new year including:
most in-demand freelance servicesrate risesgovernment policy impacts on independent workforce
“We are seeing an…
Most side hustlers profiting £1000 or more a month
A boom in side-hustles means side-hustlers are now contributing an estimated £72bn to the UK economy with as many as 25% of adults having a side hustling today, according to research carried out by Caunce O’Hara and analysis Henley…
New app maps out your dream home in minutes
The rise in remote and hybrid working means many Britons are spending fewer days commuting to and from the office. Is it time hybrid contractors started searching for a new place to live?
Because of this reduced travel time, many…
Off-payroll Legislative “side effects” are piling up
The impacts or "side effects" of Off-payroll legislation and private sector IR35 reform on the flexible labour market have been unravelling fast since April, as The Freelance Informer has previously reported. Yet, there seems to be an…
How much could a cyber-attack cost a freelancer?
Cyber-crime continues to be a major concern for freelancers and small business owners with as many as 51% falling victim to a cyber security breach. How much could one cost you?
In a survey that polled 1000 respondents, self-employment…
set up a second-hand business
From second hand car parts, furniture, clothes, jewellery, home decor, laptops, mobile phones to white goods find out which second-hand products are in high demand from customers and insurers who see the green benefits.
Waste not,…
Intergenerational online gaming: why it’s so important
🎄HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES🕯️
With the holiday season upon us, family gatherings could be even more memorable by encouraging multiple generations to play a video game together. Did you just roll your eyes? Haven't touched a video game since the…
Freelancers should build Next-Gen gaming studios
OPINION
With more than half of the UK population playing online games since the onset of the pandemic, gaming sector users are diversifying on so many levels (age for one). The problem is, those working in the industry are not. With…
Self-employed estate agents prep for change in 2022
PROPERTY SPECIAL REPORT
Property market specialists share their expectations over what shape the UK property market will take in 2022 now that there’s talk of The Bank of England loosening mortgage criteria. Plus the latest on the…
Australia-UK FTA Signed, boon for freelancers
Freelancers, contractors and highly skilled professionals from the UK, including lawyers, will now be able to work in Australia temporarily and Aussie firms will no longer have to prioritise hiring Australian nationals first. The benefits…
IR35: umbrellas are feeding HMRC’s £3.6bn tax grab
IR35 expert, Qdos, has responded to the release of HMRC’s evidence put forward to the Finance Bill Sub Committee for their inquiry into IR35 reform in the private sector. Will the HMRC admit what the reform is really doing to British…
Boost your eco cred with this Coldplay-approved gift
Climeworks, a pioneering direct air capture company, that includes band Coldplay among its clients, is launching its company gifts for Christmas, enabling freelancers and small businesses to give the gift of carbon dioxide removal to…
IT Contractor recruitment platform “thinks” like tinder
OnSkil claims it is shaking things up in IT contractor recruitment by basing its platform’s usability on Tinder, the dating app.
The experience of finding a new partner via a dating app is very similar to finding a new job, since they…
Report: demeaning freelancer conditions revealed
Writer Jack Thorne ( "Help", “His Dark Materials”) has launched the pressure group Underlying Health Conditions (UHC) alongside “The Silence” star Genevieve Barr, production manager Katie Player (“Churchill) and producer Holly…
Interim vacancies set to grow in 2022 says APSCo CEO
Which sectors and companies are hiring interims and why?
Interim vacancies will continue to grow in 2022 as demand for flexible talent shows no signs of slowing down, according to new research from the Association of…
blanket bans on PSC contractors exposes UK to risks
SPECIAL REPORT
UK vulnerable to extreme risks due to government’s “default to secrecy” and lack of experts
COVID-19 has exposed the UK’s risk management system so much that it is deemed as “deficient and too inflexible”…
Sold a property? HMRC on hunt for “missing” CGT
HMRC is sending out a new batch of nudge letters to sellers of residential properties to make sure that they have paid the right amount of capital gains tax. The tax authority believes that some may owe another 8% on top of what they have…
Stranded Freelancers caught out by residence test
Internationally mobile taxpayers, such as expats, freelancers and company founders are among those that have been affected by pandemic travel restrictions and the UK's statutory residence test (SRT).
HMRC has responded by introducing…
Salaries on the rise, no signs of WFH pay cuts
Some 61% of employers are set to give salary increases over the next year, according to a new survey. Now is the time to see how your rate and benefits compare so you can get your project and LinkedIn profiles updated.
Salaries across…
SIA, HMRC carry out tax abuse checks on contractors
Contractor tax abuse checks carried out across 29 venues
The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, and the HMRC have carried out inspections across 29…
Flexeconomy: it contributes £37bn to the UK economy so why are agency contractors still excluded?
SPECIAL REPORT
Agency contractors: where do they fit within the "Flexeconomy"?
What's in this report:
Flexibilty for all: cultural change in mind-set and how to argue your case for flexible workingUmbrella companies and…
Financially undervalued with your dream client? Start acting more like a cat than a dog says careers…
A Randstad survey found an overwhelming 67% of people feel either confident or very confident at the prospect of moving to a new employer; in fact, an astonishing 48% of respondents have reportedly switched roles in 2021. But what happens…
What is open innovation and how can freelancers use it to build their business?
Taking a cue from the CBI's Big Fish, Little Fish campaign, which aims for large companies to develop partnerships with start-ups and scale-ups, The Freelance Informer asks, what's stopping freelancers from doing the same thing?
…
IR35 + Brexit: What happens to scalability and the UK skills gap when freelancers and contractors…
With over a third of contractors (35%) having left self-employment since private sector IR35 changes came into effect in April 2021, the skills gap is widening in vital sectors, such as IT and healthcare. Startups are also leaving the UK…
Black Friday 2021: will it be the grinch that stole Christmas for freelance artisans and independent…
OPINION
Small Business Saturday is on 4 DecemberAccording to the latest ONS retail data, 6 % of businesses still trading have little conficence that they still will be by February 2022
Black Friday is fast upon us (26 November). The…
Stressed? Sleepless nights? You’re not alone.
New research has uncovered what is keeping freelancers and small business owners up at night. What can they do to get their much-needed ZZZs? Katherine Steiner-Dicks looks for some solutions.
New mental health research reveals the top…
Contractors expect more IR35 costs to come, Charity sector could be hardest hit
Contractors are concerned that IR35 rules will change again in the near future, spurring even more costs
Nearly three quarters (74%) of contractors are concerned IR35 rules may change again in the coming monthsOnly 43% of people agree…
The top-ranked “workcation” locations in Europe and how you can get the most out of…
Rather than booking a one-week holiday, more people from the UK are considering an extended "workcation" at home or abroad. A new report highlights the benefits of taking one, the highest ranked workcation locations and what to consider…
Vodafone launches new ‘Shout Out for Small Businesses’ competition offering bespoke mentoring…
Vodafone has launched its second Shout Out for Small Businesses competition.One winning business will win a bespoke, face-to-face business mentoring session with entrepreneur and BBC Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett.Ten runner-up…
British freelance poet sells poem for $525K
A British poet has made history after selling a single poem for more than half a million dollars at a New York auction.
Writer Arch Hades sold her poem Arcadia for $525,000 at Christies in Manhattan - making it the most expensive poem…
Life advice for freelancers and founders
Freelancers and founders are amazing individuals. Yeah, we may be biased here at The Freelance Informer, but it's true. They often spend each day delving out tips and sharing their skills with their clients and customers. But even they…
The Midlife Pension Review: why freelancers and founders need one more than most
A Midlife Pension Review with an independent financial adviser or a free advice service, such as Money Helper, could give company founders, freelancers and contractors the impartial and independent guidance they need to manage their…
Shortage in cyber security professionals highest ever – jumping by nearly 25% this year
Cybersecurity contractors are in high demand, but companies can't fill vacancies quick enough, The Freelance Informer reports.
When it comes to malware, ransomware is one of the fastest-growing threats in recent history, with experts…
Former pensions MP says government wants to sweep away Pension credit protection even though it was…
On 13 October 2021, the second reading of the Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. There are over 2 million pensioners in poverty and inflation has been soaring.An adjusted earnings…
The UK’s most entrepreneurial towns and cities
The pandemic has significantly impacted the labour market, leading to 'The Great Resignation' and a boom in entrepreneurship. New research has revealed the top ten towns and cities proving the most entrepreneurial. Could living in one of…
Lords IR35 inquiry could unearth cases of tax revenue losses and recruitment woes
The House of Lords Bill Sub-Committee has opened a follow-up inquiry into the “performance” of tax regulation IR35 following the news of another review into public sector reform. Could the latest inquiry prove counterproductive to…
How creative industries could boost the economies of small islands crippled by COVID
By Peter Rudge, Staffordshire University
Peter Rudge
Small islands in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean or in the Pacific islands promise dream holidays and the fulfilment of bucket lists. And, for the islands themselves, tourism is a…
Christie’s auctions World’s first fine art NFT
Poetry is being sold for the first time as fine art through blockchain. So is an NFT video sequence including an iconic picture used by Banksy, which could provide a link to the artist's real identity. Could this artistic medium open up…
SEISS Claimants: HMRC to crackdown on missing 2019/20 tax return information
NEWS from the ICAEW
HMRC is writing to individuals who have received grants under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme but have yet to fully complete a self-assessment tax return for 2019/20, the ICAEW has reported. If you were not…
Hidden £1.7 Billion tax Grab on self-employed
One could say that the Chancellor chose to hand out tricks rather than treats this Halloween in the form of a £1.7bn tax grab hidden in his Autumn budget
Could you afford to pay a tax bill over not just one tax year but two? If not,…
20 questions with… Sylvia Tillmann, TRE Provider
NEVER MIND THE FLUFF Q&A
When the pandemic first hit, Sylvia Tillman's job as an IT and business development consultant came to an end. That's when she took the plunge and launched a new venture in alternative health.
"I am now…
How to Get a business landline number in minutes that redirects calls to your mobile or WhatsApp…
FREELANCER'S LUNCH
If you are a freelancer or small business owner and want to keep your personal and business numbers separate but don't want the hassle or cost of installing a physical landline, an online business number might be the…
Alternative health “tools for life” could be every freelancer’s answer to less…
If 90% of Illnesses are linked to stress, why aren't more of us relieving our stress levels as if our lives depended on it? The Freelance Informer looks at some of the latest alternative health tools and gadgets to find that some could add…
No cushion for impact: how the Chancellor’s budget outlook ignored the imminent cost of living…
OPINION
The Autumn Budget could be seen as no news is good news for the UK's 4.3 million freelancers and self-employed businesses. Thing is, the Chancellor and the Tory government had already delivered a series of bad news in the…
Vaccine Experts Share Their Thoughts: should you get a booster shot? What Would A Plan B Look Like?
With COVID cases returning in dangerously high numbers, ministers are considering cutting the waiting time for COVID-19 booster vaccines from 6 months to 5. What do the virologists have to say about this? Plus the latest on what a Plan B…
IR35: it’s driven 35% of contractors out of self-employment
We all saw the signs, but now new research by IPSE has proven it: IR35 is killing self-employment in the UK.
The member group's research found that over a third of contractors (35%) have left self-employment since the changes to IR35,…
Guilty of these “unproductive” work from home habits?
Having a separately designated, functional office space is vital to your success if you are working from home, according to Adriana Lopez, of US software and home moving and maintenance services company, Porch. She also says our daily…
Brits purchasing power halved: Top tips to make your money stretch with rising inflation
Even with talk of rising inflation hitting 4% by December, freelancers may not be taking the developments too seriously. They do have a life and job to get on with, right? That said, purchasing power in the UK has effectively halved,…
Cheapest Car insurance quotes have this in common
Telematics car insurance is growing in popularity since their rates are among the most competitive, says a new report.
Telematic or "black box" insurers feel they can afford to provide cheaper deals since they can monitor a driver’s…
Autumn Budget: Will Rishi come through for Freelancers?
AUTUMN BUDGET SPECIAL
Freelancers and small business owners around the UK share what they'd like to see Rishi Sunak announce in the Autumn Budget.
The Autumn Budget wishlist of freelancers and small business owners includes a range…
Ditch the degree: 46% of graduates say start a business instead. But do business owners agree?
A new study has explored whether students, past and present, consider a degree to hold the prestige it once did in business - or whether entrepreneurial spirit can get you just as far. Or is there a happy medium? Freelancers, business…
A “bleak” Over 50s middle management job market urging candidates to go freelance or…
Recruitment specialists respond to the latest ONS Labour Market Statistics, which showed a record number of job vacancies (1,102,000) from July to September 2021 and another monthly increase of the number of employees in work (a record of…
Gigatisation: How ‘big brother’ apps and worker exploitation are giving freelancing a…
Thousands of drivers delivering for Amazon in the UK could be entitled to an average of £10,500 compensation for each year they have delivered for the company, according to law firm Leigh Day. But could this lead to greater government…
Freelancers face £25 billion tax admin burden
The Federation of Small Businesses is calling on the Government to protect small businesses from unfair profit-seeking behaviour from Make Tax Digital (MTD) software providers and other recommendations to avoid economic hardship for…
River Cottage chef’s TV production company sold off after going bust. But Have the freelancers been…
Insolvency documents show that the directors of KEO Films, including co-founder River Cottage chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, paid themselves £4m over the last seven years, even though the company consistently failed to record a profit…
Just how far would you commute for the ideal property?
92% of hybrid workers and PAYE contractors are willing to commute further to get their desired property or location. Many freelancers though took the risk to go freelance to avoid the commute altogether.
According to the latest report…
‘Not On Amazon’ founder Jamie Rackham: could he be the E-commerce Robin Hood for…
Have you heard of NOT ON AMAZON? It's a Facebook e-commerce community for small independent retailers and artisans. It's grown faster than ever over the past month. The Freelance Informer finds out why.
NOT ON AMAZON, an online…
A virtual camera and video app that alters your onscreen likeness, outfit and environment (even when…
FREELANCER'S LUNCH
Bad hair day? Still in your pyjamas when a client wants to do a video call? Not to worry, a virtual camera app claims it can fix all that.
If you want to be looking your best, in a suit with your hair looking its…
Nobel Peace prize awarded to brave freelance journalists that built Media startups to safeguard…
Freelance journalists turned media company founders were awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their bravery in reporting and company foundations built on freedom of expression.
More tax hikes to come?
Under current government spending plans, council tax increases of 3.6% per year will be needed for the next three years just to ensure councils can provide the same range and quality of services in 2024–25 as was provided…
Nepotism at heart of Cambridge freelance supervisor exploitation, says student union report
A freedom of information (FoI) request by the Cambridge University and College Union (CUCU) branch to Pembroke College has found that the university had been challenged by HMRC over its failure to put freelance college supervisors on the…
The PGMOL case: how it could give HMRC greater powers to take the “freedom” out of…
FREELANCER'S LUNCH
The long-awaited Court of Appeal decision in the football referees case has been handed down and it is significant, with implications far wider than the world of football, according to Pinsent Masons Tax specialist…
Freelancers may have to pay back ‘COVID’ tax benefits
SEISS, child benefit and marriage allowance are some of the tax benefits sole traders and limited company directors may have to pay back if their income increased more than a normal trading year during the COVID pandemic.
…
Love pets? Love tech? Join a pet startup community
If you are interested in launching or investing in a pet startup, you may want to join the 300 strong Unleashed EMENA pet startup community. You can join the investor and startup group by submitting this form. But you can also sign up as a…
City struggles to Hire talent, compete on global stage
FINANCIAL SERVICES
The City is calling for the UK to explore new measures to allow employees to enter the UK for short-term work without a work visa. Authors of a new report allude that an exodus of foreign talent will continue to hurt…
Top tips to get rid of freelancer guilt
Only 2% of freelancers in a recent survey claimed to have never had to prioritise work over family. What impact does this have for the other 92% when it comes to their personal lives, marriage and most importantly, children?
The…
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Buddies Tried to Get the VA to Sell Access to Veterans’ Medical Records
A congressional investigation prompted by ProPublica’s reporting found Trump’s “Mar-a-Lago crowd,” wealthy civilians with no U.S. government or military experience, pursued a plan to monetize veterans’ medical data.
By Isaac Arnsdorf,…
October: a month of many changes for freelancers
October could mark several changes that will impact freelancer household income.
Goodbye SEISS grants
The self-employed income support scheme (SEISS grants), which paid up to £7,500 for some freelance workers affected by Covid will…
Panic buying: why our squirrelling nature kicks in and how we can predict and curb shortages
Panic or over-buying and hoarding of necessities is a common response to crises, especially in developed economies where there is normally an expectation of plentiful supply, a study finds.
It seems we can't help it when our foraging…
90% LTV mortgage for contractors and self-employed
Saffron Building Society, a broker-linked mortgage provider, has launched two 90 per cent loan-to-value mortgages for contractors and the self-employed.
The three-year deal is offering a 90% LTV mortgage…
Making Tax Digital: “not fit” for Freelancers
The 'Making Tax Digital' for Income Tax programme will be delayed from 6 April 2023 until 6 April 2024. But the basis period proposals of the programme, additional costs and not-fit-for-purpose software could make things very unattractive…
Labour Party vows to abolish business rates
The Labour Party is vowing if it came into majority power it would freeze business rates next year. Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Labour MP for Leeds West, made some bold statements about abolishing the current…
IFS report: Lack of vacancies for UK’s highly skilled. Is IR35 partly to blame?
If you are a highly skilled contractor or freelancer looking for work, you may find the process discouraging due to the limited number of vacancies. A new report confirms the trend.
‘While prominent stories about rising vacancies and…
under 40? check out this free cash opportunity
Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) can be opened by anyone aged between 18 and 39 in the UK, after that you've missed the boat. The attraction of these investment vehicles is that you can save up to £4,000 a year in them, towards say your first home or…
Family or personal problems? This is how happy and healthy freelancers not only cope but remain…
Mental resilience is strong amongst Britain’s freelancers and small business owners despite pandemic challenges, a new study has found. What's keeping them positive?
Despite the many challenges Britain’s small business owners and…
EU takes charge: why USB-Cs will rule digital devices
All smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers according to new proposals put forward by the European Commission.
The move is to stop "e-waste and consumer inconvenience, caused by the prevalence of different, incompatible…
Is SEO and aI dumbing down Contractor recruitment?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
If you use a recruitment agency or consultant for your future workflow, you may develop a grudge against Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) bias, which bears the question, who or what has…
Will your career still be viable in 10 years?
Olga, the career fortune teller over at The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, has looked into her crystal ball to reveal which will be the fastest-growing careers over the next decade and which could be all but obsolete.
If you are not…
How much are freelancers willing to put at risk?
80 new businesses were created every hour across the UK in the first half of 2021. What does this say about Britain's appetite for risk and are company founders putting all their chips on the table?
Over half (57%) of Britain's…
Why freelancers should negotiate everything right now
Freelancers urged to negotiate better deals on everything from day rates to energy bills - before tax and interest rate hikes kick in.
What freelancers should negotiate now:
Mortgage rates and whether it wll pay off staying or…
How contractor-managers build influence in the workplace
Despite being outsiders with no personal connections or networks, increasingly contractor-managers are doing a terrific job, according to a study by the Center for Human Resources at Wharton School.
When Wharton management…
What are the new “Freedoms” of Brexit?
New plans to "capitalise on the freedoms from Brexit" have been announced and one of the first places you might witness these changes are on a pint glass down the pub. Some tweeters have had a field day with the news.
Regulatory…
ONS reveals £35bn in missing tax payments
Some wealth planners are expecting radical changes to the UK tax system in the next few years.
The Office for National Statistics has published a report, 'Measuring tax gaps', noting that the tax gap amounted to £35bn, or 5.3% in the…
HMRC handed new powers to Clampdown on promoters of tax avoidance schemes
UMBRELLA COMPANY CONTRACTORS
ICAEW warns that the current legislative phrasing provides HMRC with “a very wide-ranging power with extremely serious consequences.”
The government is giving the nation's tax authority, the HMRC, more…
IR35 contributed to freelancers’ 10% drop in day rates
Average quarterly earnings by UK freelancers fell 10% in the second quarter to £18,652, but on track to rise
Freelancers cut their own day rates to £397 in the second quarter from £445 in the first quarter — lower than during the…
NI tax hikes: Will umbrella contractors get the chop?
The UK's Federation of Small Business (FSB) has called the Conservative government's national insurance tax hike of 1.25% as “anti-small business” and could spark job losses of 50,000 or more. It will also lead to a 2.5% national…
Are umbrella companies really exploiting contractors?
Welcome back to the Freelancer's Lunch where we scan the net for topical, inspiring and career-impacting videos and podcasts talking about matters impacting the freelancer, contractor, and founder communities.
In this week's selection,…
Self-employed hardest hit by pandemic says ONS
The numbers don't lie as they say and it looks like the self-employed have been the hardest hit by the pandemic, according to the latest ONS figures.
Throughout the pandemic, self-employed workers were consistently more likely to report…
Four factors that increase the risk of vaccinated people getting COVID
Authored by Vassilios Vassiliou, University of East Anglia; Ciaran Grafton-Clarke, University of East Anglia, and Ranu Baral, University of East Anglia
Two weeks after your second COVID-19 vaccine dose, the protective effects of…
Creditors free to go after distressed companies
Temporary measures brought in to support businesses from insolvency during the pandemic will be phased out from 1 October. Companies in financial distress as a result of the pandemic have been protected from creditor action since June last…
Amazon to Pay Full College Tuition for Its Front-Line Employees, transition staff into IT experts
Amazon’s more than 750,000 operations employees in the US are eligible for fully funded college tuition, including cost of classes, books, and fees
The online retail giant is also adding three new skills training…
Self-employed to be in higher demand thanks to health and social care levy says think tank. but at…
The NHS will be exempt from the new health and social care levy, government plans reveal, yet in a bizarre twist, care providers and their workers will pay for the levy, The Telegraph has reported.
There are also revelations that the…
“Short sighted attack”: Freelancers and small businesses hit with Dividend tax, NI hike…
SPECIAL REPORT
The government has announced a 1.25% Health and Social Care levy based on National Insurance contributions to tackle the social care crisis. "Another short-sighted attack from the government on the self-employed": Seb…
Is your client ghosting your IR35 concerns?
Off-payroll labour and IR35 – six months on but uncertainty remains for end clients, recruiters and contractors
More than half of the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have not put in a formal process to adhere to changes…
Social care tax hikes: Who will take care of our elderly if careworkers jump ship to work for…
Care workers are quitting to become Amazon warehouse pickers and for other better-paid jobs in a growing staffing crisis which operators now warn could leave 170,000 vacancies by the end of the year, the Guardian reported.
The shift of…
20 questions with… Sarah Townsend
Freelancers and contractors are curious people. That’s why they love to hear how others broke into this weird and wonderful world of work and how they are improving their game and switching off when they aren’t working.
This week Sarah…
Instagram outage – Hilarious business owner responses
On the 2nd of September, the Insta villagers revolted. Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but Instagrammers did voice their outcry when the platform was not refreshing posts, was "down" or "compromised".
Social media for some freelancers and…
Comms professionals snub agencies in favour of in-house roles: but how do salaries and benefits…
Agencies are still playing second fiddle to in-house companies when it comes to where communications professionals would consider moving to in their next role, according to a new salary guide.
The Annual Salary Guide 2021 by The Works,…
Amazon preps for 55K corporate hires
Amazon is preparing another massive hiring spree, this time it's looking to fill corporate roles, including in the UK.
Amazon is planning to hire 55,000 people for corporate and technology roles globally in the coming months, according…
Number of disabled individuals going self-employed up 30% in 5 years
Fourteen per cent of the UK’s 4.5 million self-employed are disabled individuals, highlighting the growth of the freelancer economy and the flexible opportunities it can offer talent. But their freelancer stories are rarely heard. But…
Insider trading and the dangers of data for contractors
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SEC charges Netflix insider trading ring led by software engineers
If you are a contractor or freelancer of a publicly-traded company or a start-up that is looking to list, know the dangers of…
The Covid-15: Back-to-office life may not be the only thing weighing us down
FREELANCER HEALTH GUIDE
The COVID-15 has spread across international borders. Luckily, it’s not a new virus. It’s the 15-pounds of unwanted weight gain that has sneakily spread across a growing number of freelancer waistlines and…
20 questions with Claudia Kozeny-Pelling
Freelancers and contractors are curious people. That’s why they love to hear how others broke into this weird and wonderful world of work and how they are improving their game and switching off when they aren't working.
This week…
the tell-tale signs a contractor may need to dissolve their limited company
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John Bell of Clarke Bell
John Bell, Director and founder of licensed insolvency firm, Clarke Bell has kindly offered to provide some guidance on this sticky subject.
Dear…
IR35: Taxpayers could pay multi-million Government tax bills thanks to CEST tool casualties
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Government documents have revealed that the HM Courts and Tribunal Service has been hit with a £12m IR35 bill*.
The latest news comes hot on the heels of the other government departments…
Is prioritising business over family and friends worth it?
Research has revealed that almost 2 in 5 (37%) entrepreneurs in Britain said the feeling of launching their own business was the same or better feeling than sex. And some entrepreneurs are notorious for cancelling dates and missing family…
HMRC trawling “mind-boggling” amounts of financial data on freelancers and contractors
Tax experts have confirmed with the Financial Times that the UK tax authority is securing a mind-boggling amount of financial data on people, including personal online transactions.
The experts said that the HMRC secures data from…
81% of female freelancers treated “differently”
A survey carried out among female freelancers by Xolo reveals that four out of five respondents feel that they have been treated differently in their careers due to their gender. Stories shared within the survey indicate that this is…
Embassy contractors under review after Berlin spy sting
The arrest of David Smith, 57, on suspicion of spying for Russia prompts calls for review of embassy contractors
Private British contractors, including former military personnel, wanting to work in British embassies across the globe…
“It’s shambolic” : IR35 specialist reacts to HMRC missed deadline to appeal locum…
IR35 specialist, Qdos, have responded to the news that HMRC has been denied the chance to appeal an outside IR35 verdict at the Upper Tier Tribunal (UTT) after submitting their application after the deadline.
It has also been…
Fiverr Launches Invite-Only Programme for Freelancers (but it’s not for free)
Seller Plus, a global loyalty subscription-based programme launched by freelancer platform, Fiverr, will provide freelancers with advanced tools, analytics and a personal success manager to help them build or grow their business.
…
Which Country is the Cheapest for Starting A Business?
If you are a digital nomad, considering expanding your freelance services or even sub-contracting abroad, you have some cost analysis to do. Learn which countries are the most cost-effective for startups and freelancers. You may be…
Lionel Messi: why his arrival in Paris is a key part of Qatar’s game plan
Lionel Messi’s emotional though lucrative move to Paris Saint-Germain is now complete. After scoring 672 goals for Barcelona, the football world eagerly awaits what he can bring to the French league.
His new club’s owners, meanwhile,…
Solopreneur millionaires on the rise
The growth of solopreneur millionaires is surging, not just in the UK, but in the US and across the globe. For some one-person businesses, becoming a millionaire is when they see their pension pot hit the £1m mark. For others, it is…
Self-employed and on the NHS waiting list?
The new Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, has warned that the number of people on a waiting list for NHS care in England could reach as many as 13 million. For many self-employed people, including freelancers and…
Self-employed Mortgages: How to best prepare
The number one reason for a mortgage application rejection for the self-employed was being self-employed, with a third (32%) citing this as a reason for rejection, according to a new study.
Research from Aldermore Bank…
IR35: All IT contractors deemed “employed” under Halifax mortgage criteria; Plus Expert…
Expert Application Tips For Contractors
Inheritance tax: how to calculate it and pass down more assets to your loved ones tax-free
Almost a third of over-55s have never checked how Inheritance Tax could affect them, according to a new study.
A new study by TIME Investments, a provider of Inheritance Tax services, has found that nearly one in three (31%) over-55s…
Freelancers could be among small business owners that lose £5.6 billion a year in unclaimed expenses
"Losing receipts" and "not being bothered" are two of the most popular reasons small business owners and freelancers are not claiming legitimate expenses. The thing is, if you’re self-employed, most of your business expenses can be claimed…
What are allowable expenses if you’re self-employed?
If you’re self-employed in the UK and are not sure what you can and cannot claim as a business expense you are not alone. Many small business owners, freelancers and contractors do not claim expenses because they hold doubts over what…
Hollywood comes to Hertfordshire: £700m World-Class Film and TV Studios to create 4500 jobs
Proposed development to be a hub for UK and international productionsEstimated over £700 million investment to create state-of-the-art studio facilitiesProject expected to create over 4,500 permanent jobs and contribute £300 million…
Event Organisers: Did you hear the one about the spectator and the golf ball? Plus the latest on the…
Earlier this summer, Ireland's High Court dismissed a claim from a spectator who was struck by a golf ball while attending the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point Golf Club in 2016. It was an important decision for sports clubs,…
How much are UK energy prices going up and why?
Record gas prices are driving up the UK's energy price cap by £139, Ofgem, the energy regulator has reported. The Institute of Economic Affairs said the energy price cap is "useless" and could backfire on consumers. The Freelance Informer…
small business owners: would you like a Free electric van service?
Small businesses can always use an extra hand, especially when getting their products delivered. Hammersmith & Fulham Council is doing just that by teaming up with Zipcar and Fulham Broadway BID to provide the first…
Hybrid working Study: “it’s Exhausting Us”
Almost 50% of professionals claim ‘hybrid working’ is not fit for purpose
63% of companies have adopted hybrid-work models40% of employees are yet to hear about their future way of working55% of employees claim hybrid working has…
How to take on More clients as a freelancer
Want to take on more clients or projects to grow your freelance business, but think you can't afford to hire seasoned staff to delegate the workload? Are you an entrepreneurial graduate looking to get experience in a small business or…
Freelance v. Flexible Working: Which is right for you?
Now with the Labour Party's Flexible Working Manifesto and a worldwide adoption to remote working, does flexible employment have more pros or cons to going freelance over the long term?
They say when you have children or become a…
Latest rates for designers, animators and videographers
Freelance talent and jobs platform YunoJuno has published the latest average day rates across the Film & Motion discipline. The average day rate increased nearly 5% in 2020.
Check out rates for the following roles: 3D Designer,…
12 Mental Methods to Get Smarter
🎧FREELANCER'S LUNCH
Boosting our raw brainpower in adulthood may seem impossible, but that doesn't stop some people, regardless of their IQ, from consistently excelling at their jobs, personal goals and breaking into new areas. How do…
Should you take the COVID vaccine if you’re pregnant?
Despite the number of daily cases falling in the UK over the past week, doctors are yet to see any reduction in the number of COVID patients admitted to hospital, writes Dr Richard Cree, an intensive care consultant at the James Cook…
Labour Party proposals: will they help or hinder contractors and freelancers?
At the onset, the Labour Party's new spree of proposals impacting the world of work is promising. For one, the Party takes the realities of everyday people seriously, like juggling school hours with working hours and the cost of living.…
PINGDEMIC: A guide for contractors, freelancers and sole traders
4.2 million self-employed workers do not qualify for SSP
The NHS Track & Trace "pingdemic" has dominated the UK news headlines over the past two weeks. The Freelance Informer reports on the latest statutory sick pay entitlements of…
Self-employed denied SEISS worse off than furloughed says IFS study
Those self-employed workers who lost 100% of their work in the first lockdown saw a sharp rise in deprivation in the wake of the pandemic. Their financial circumstances have seen little improvement, according to a Joseph Rowntree…
How policymakers and tax experts think platform and gig workers should be taxed
THE FREELANCER'S LUNCH
The ‘gig economy’ has grown and risen up the policy agenda in recent years. The associated growth in people working through their own businesses and in work happening through platforms highlights difficult…
DWP stung with £87.9m in “fruitless” IR35 liabilities
The Department for Work and Pensions, which administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers has reported £87.9m in national insurance liabilities…
Largest freelance telecoms network Outvise joins FTTH Councils to build out EMEA infrastructure
Outvise, one of the largest freelance talent platforms in telecoms, is now a member of the three main Fibre to the Home (FTTH) councils in Europe, MENA and Africa. The link-up comes at a time when broadband infrastructure is critical to…
Half of companies have regrets over IR35 decisions and blanket bans
Four in ten businesses impacted by recent changes to IR35 in the private sector have admitted they would approach the changes differently if given the opportunity. This is according to a study carried out by IR35 specialist, Qdos, in which…
Loan charge: is it breaching the rule of law?
SPECIAL REPORT: THE LOAN CHARGE
In a July session HMRC management including Jim Harra, the HMRC's Chief Executive, was questioned by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on the Loan Charge. The discussion spurred more…
A Contractor’s Guide to Umbrella Companies
CONTRACTOR'S GUIDE
Crawford Temple, CO of Professional Passport
The new Off-Payroll legislation came into effect on April 6th 2021. It means that many contractors who currently work through their own limited companies have…
Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin: can they be more than ‘space’ joyrides for millionaires?
By Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University and Gareth Dorrian, University of Birmingham
Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson and his team successfully flew to the “edge of space” on the Unity 22 mission aboard a Virgin Galactic…
Freedom Day: small business owners may need to take extra precautions into their own hands to avoid…
SMALL BUSINESS FREEDOM DAY REPORT
The government has confirmed that ‘Freedom Day’ will go ahead as planned on Monday 19 July in a bid to boost the economy. But 53% of small businesses including freelancers and solopreneurs polled think…
Johnson and Sunak not to take part in daily contact testing pilot but others might
The Freelance Informer highlights what the daily contact testing pilot is, how it works and why some may be chosen to take part as the number of COVID cases will rise this August and September despite double vaccinations.
Following…
Most COVID deaths in England now are in the vaccinated – here’s why that shouldn’t alarm you
As we get older the risk of dying from COVID doubles every seven years. How do our chances change once we are fully vaccinated from COVID yet new variants emerge? Christian Yates, a Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of…
Europe No. 1 Holiday spot for US Travelers Since Covid-19 but where can Brits go on holiday?
🧳SPECIAL TRAVEL REPORT
For the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, more US travellers are heading to Europe than any other destination. But depending on individual US state COVID regulations, British travellers and…
Inflation has arrived: 70% of UK businesses said they will increase prices
Many UK businesses struggling with rising costs are considering increasing the prices they charge customers, a new survey of Chartered Accountants has found. Should freelancers up their rates to keep in line with inflation?
ICAEW…
How your social media posts could get your freelance contract cancelled or worse
SPECIAL REPORT
Recruiters and umbrella companies should be taking a stance on social media policies for new and existing contractors to avoid reputational risk for their clients. But are contractors even aware of their social media…
Is it time to talk about location-based tech salaries?
The explosion of remote work has led to some interesting developments in tech salaries, according to Hays Technology Recruitment. The Freelancer Informer covers how to prep for rate rise talks.
In September 2020, Bloomberg…
Variants affecting fully vaxxed
From BBC host Andrew Marr to neighbours, friends and colleagues, people are catching COVID after double vaccinations. Some are bed-bound for a few days. Some are losing their lives. Medical experts comment on the latest developments on new…
Are contractors obliged to be office-bound or can they negotiate remote working?
SPECIAL REPORT: UK law states that employees can only request to work flexibly after 26 weeks of employment, with a limit of one request per 12-months. However, what about independent contractors or those that go through an agency? Two…
🎧Freelancer’s Lunch: should contractors ditch the CV and try something new?
🎧Freelancer's Lunch
As a contractor, should you have a CV? Or is it falling into IR35 territory? What role should the CV play in the future of contracting and consulting? None at all? Should seasoned contractors attract new clients…
Take a cue from Nextdoor: build a hyperlocal freelance business to revolutionise your revenues
If you already use the hyperlocal social media platform Nextdoor, you'll understand the value of connecting with neighbours and locals. From rating local businesses, exchanging goods and services to finding a lost pet you are benefiting…
How to land a new contract before you take off on holiday
"Before you take off on vacation, think of yourself", says Caroline Ramade, the founder of 50inTech, an online recruitment platform. She and her team have gathered more than 1000 jobs validated for women in tech. The variety of roles…
Self-isolation to be eased in UK for double jabbed adults by mid-August
From 16 August, double jabbed individuals and under 18s will no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19
As part of step 4 of the Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, double vaccinated…
Tips to curb spending as lockdown lifts
The UK government’s lifting of lockdown restrictions poses more temptation to spend and additional expenses. The same could hold true for freelancers in other markets, such as Australia, Asia and Europe.
The UK government’s announcement…
How to future-proof your freelance business and dream lifestyle
A vision board could motivate you to future-proof your freelance business and financial future. The Freelance Informer lays out a plan to create your vision board and how to put it to good use.
According to a TD Bank Survey in the…
Taxpayers to pay billions in COVID fraud and errors
Fraud and error in public spending are estimated to cost the taxpayer up to £51.8 billion every year. Around £25 billion is outside the tax and benefits system, according to a report published by the Public Accounts Committee.
From…
IR35 limbo: could it motivate UK contractors to move to Spain?
If contractors and project freelancers are in limbo over their IR35 status, disheartened by umbrella company fees, being replaced by overseas contractors and lower take-home pay, should they seriously consider repatriating to markets such…
Health alert: chemical toxins in food affect male fertility and boy foetuses, study finds
Toxic chemicals in our food and environment accumulate in the body and act like female hormones. Men are much more vulnerable than women to infertility due to pollutants.Endocrine-disrupting toxins in women are related to an increase…
Sunak set to rebuild The City by tapping China’s £40tn financial services market
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has big plans to woo China's $40tn financial services market to The City. Freelance consultants servicing the financial services industry should prepare for any upcoming opportunities. Ting Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO…
Self-employed and contractors should prepare for National Insurance tax hikes
Anyone who is self-employed in the UK should be preparing for increased national insurance rates, possibly at the same rate as employed taxpayers, according to Mark Collins, Head of Tax at Handelsbanken Wealth Management.
According to a…
How to complete a tax return if you received a COVID self-employment grant
If you received a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant and are struggling to find where to add this information on your tax return you are not alone. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has provided a guide for that…
Gig sites exploiting “ghost workers” says Oxford study
Oxford report shows some freelance platforms fail minimum fairness standards. See which major English-language platforms were among those at the bottom of the scale and which ranked highest. Plus commentary on the…
Outside IR35 contracts may not stand up in court says legal expert
In an attempt to reduce uncertainty and assist businesses when making determinations, HMRC developed the 'Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST)' online tool. Although useful, the tool has been widely criticised for its inability to…
Pension tax is pushing NHS doctors into early retirement. Will locums fill the gap?
The number of doctors taking early retirement from the NHS has more than trebled over the past 13 years, official figures show. Many retired because of the large tax bills spurred by pension caps. Will locum doctors cover the exodus?
A…
Heart inflammation a rare side effect of mRNA vaccines in adolescents and teens
Since April 2021, there has been an increase in the number of cases of inflammation of the heart—called myocarditis and pericarditis—happening after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), the Centre for Disease Control…
Could a minimalist lifestyle boost your bank balance and meaning in your life?
This philosophy is a popular one: the promise that we can maximise our lives with a minimalist lifestyle. But, by putting select old belongings into cardboard boxes or donating them, can we put more meaning into our lives?
A study…
Female engineers share their personal stories about working in the male-dominated sector
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), three female engineers from Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), share their personal stories about what inspired them to become engineers and why the sustainability and…
Contracting: it’s helping to eliminate ageism and the gender pay gap, says study
A study carried out by Ireland's Trinity Business School suggests that ageism does not carry over to the freelancing sector, with the researchers suggesting that experience is “highly valued” in the independent contractor market.
…
Will “all of life” communities make us happier and rebuild the UK economy?
Construction contractors, engineers, architects and zero-carbon experts should be at the heart of the UK's planning reform so that the Prime Minister's good intentions don't backfire. There is a call for all projects to embrace the lessons…
Tips to declutter your home office
Did you know that a cluttered home office can wreak havoc on your mind? Having to navigate piles of clutter can overstimulate your brain, a study has found. The solution? A tidy desk. The results? Focused concentration on your working…
New platform helps to keep contractors outside IR35
Looking for a way to remain outside IR35 and build your client network?
The Freelance Informer chats with Andy Barnes, Managing Director and Co-Founder of contractor and recruiter platform 6Prog on how it is offering contractors and…
Major IT projects: are they misunderstood by tax tribunals?
IT Contractor Robert Lee and his company Northern Lights have had his appeal dismissed against HMRC by Upper Tribunal. Dave Chaplin, CEO of ContractorCalculator offers his insights into the key lessons from the case.
HMRC has won a…