Contractors' Questions: What now my contract's been found inside IR35?

A newcomer to the country, not just to contracting, is encouraged to fight.

Umbrella payslips: what they look like in 2017-18

Get to grips with what's not a boring bit of paper, to have a window into your brolly.

Contractors' Questions: What if I filed my VAT return late, twice?

The leeway HMRC affords on VAT returns might rescue a forgetful PSC.

The Quick and the Dead: IT contractor skills judged

Amid all the skills scarcity, some will get you hired rapidly -- others will leave your chances cold.

A bypass to the 24-month rule that it's probably best to bypass

Contractors with expenses will appreciate a legislative quirk, but acting on it is only for the brave. 

Contractors' Questions: Can my limited company pay a work space fee?

As long as it's reasonable, the cost of a collaborative workplace is payable by a PSC.

Contractors' Questions: Can they change my service agreement end date?

What a mistaken email said will be trumped -- unfairly -- by what was initially agreed.

Brexit: the end game contractors could see

Consequences for the EU -- and UK -- will be significant post-March 30th 2019. Right!?

Autumn Budget 2017: Free webinar on how the Budget impacts contractors

Join Orange Genie on 1st December at 1.30pm for advice on the best way to move forward, post Budget. 

IR35 advisers size up Autumn Budget's big pledge

Good, bad or incompatible? Contractor bosses clash over Hammond's IR35 move.

Autumn Budget 2017: 10 contractor takeaways

The main areas where Hammond hit (or helped) limited and umbrella workers.

Autumn Budget 2017: a contractor's cash review

An unchanged forecast for your finances won't excite, but 'no news is good news.'

Take Your Career to the Next Level by Getting Certified

Getting a higher credential in practically any field of work is almost always a good thing. Getting a certification creates a level of trust between you and other people. From an employer’s perspective, the fact that you have some type of credential from a reputable organization means that you can be trusted and makes you more likely to get hired. From a client’s side of things, seeing that you have a degree or certification by your name can give them assurance that you have a certain level of competence, knowledge-base and can get the job done. While it might be a bit of an investment upfront in both time and money, the right certification can make a world of difference over the life of your career. Below is a list of some credentials for a variety of careers that can help you succeed.

1. CPA License

If you are an accountant or perhaps thinking about becoming one eventually, a CPA license is a great way to accelerate your career. Getting your CPA license means that you have obtained the profession’s highest standard of competence. While passing the CPA exam might seem daunting, it is definitely possible with the proper CPA study materials and is well worth the effort.

By getting the skills needed to beat the CPA exam, you create a level of trust with your employers and customers. Because you have met the requirement of an objective process, those around you know they can trust you as well. If you are in accounting, or perhaps looking to join that career field, getting your CPA license is something you should certainly consider.

2. Lawyer Specialty Certifications

If you are currently a lawyer, or you are looking to become one, thinking about getting certified in a specialty may be the way to go. This is a great option for lawyers who like practicing law but want to focus in on one specific area due to interest or financial reasons. According to this article from NELF, the requirements for a certificate of specialization can be a bit stringent, but it may be well worth it for your career.

3. BBA or MBA

If you are in business, specifically business administration, then getting a BBA or getting your MBA could be a great option for you. While not absolutely necessary, getting a degree in business administration, whether a bachelors or masters, can greatly help you by increasing your knowledge on the subject and also increase your chances of getting hired. Having a degree in the subject can also help produce trust in your clients. While getting a degree is an investment in time, money and energy, it can help get you a higher salary in your field, which in the long run of your career can more than pay back the investment you have made. If you are in the business administration field, getting a degree in the area is certainly something you should consider.

4. Medical Certifications

If you are looking to start work in health care and the medical field, getting certified in different areas can be a great way to enhance and advance your career. According to this article, there are many career paths available for someone who wants to work in healthcare without necessarily needing a degree in the field. Careers such as CNAs, EMTs and Medical Assistants are all ones that typically require some type of certification. Getting certified in these areas, or getting higher levels of certification within the fields themselves, can often lead to a pay increase and more opportunities.

In the end, many times getting a certification or credential is about creating trust and ensuring a level of competence in your work. By completing the training and earning a diploma or certification, you are setting yourself up for success in your career. While they can at times be quite an investment, the right certification will almost always pay off in the end and can help take you to the next level.

 

Hammond to consult on extending IR35 reforms to private PSCs

Chancellor clears the ground to widen April's off-payroll rules, but is cheered for not bulldozing.

Autumn Budget 2017 -- chancellor's full speech

Hammond unveils his second Budget, to 'build a Britain fit for the future.'

Autumn Budget 2017: Contractor's Personal Finance Preview

The inaugural Autumn Budget is almost here: how might it affect your cash?

When CEST can't decide your IR35 status

Are you in the 15%? You've got options but, unlike HMRC, you'll probably wish they were better.  

Why the axe keeps hovering over Entrepreneurs' Relief

It's not only this Budget that supporters of ER will want it to emerge from unscathed.

Contractors' Questions: How can my IR35 status be set before I even begin?

Where working practices now get decided ahead of the work being practiced.

IR35 in job adverts: a contractor's refresher

Below pay and perks is your status -- unexplained, but of the utmost importance.

Private sector IR35 reform: what if it happens on Wednesday?

Just because our sector can manage, it'll be remiss of the government if it repeats its mistakes.

Contractors' Questions: Will MTD feature in the Autumn Budget?

Expert helps a contractor fearing an imminent digital tax account update.

Where HMRC has missed an opportunity on disguised remuneration

Four fundamental wrongs in a new settlement plan make it unacceptable to contractors.

Autumn Budget 2017: what contractors can expect

The 22nd isn't just about IR35, as Hammond tends to hit PSCs on multiple fronts.

What's really happened to IT contracting since IR35 changed

My half-year assessment of IR35 in the public sector is in, and it doesn't look very good.

The way we work has changed, why hasn't the training tax regime?

Sole trader or 'Ltd'? Here's how your skills development options should be improved.

IR35 petition launches against private sector reform

A formal bid to keep the off-payroll rules public sector-only nears a government response.

Call for soft landing on trust registration penalties

'An extension to the trust registration deadline for self-assessing doesn't go far enough.'

IR35 petition launches against private sector reform

A formal bid to keep the off-payroll rules public sector-only nears a government response.

Sudden IT skills famine overruns recruiters

Scarcity of computer skills soars, with 22 types of techie now deemed 'hard to find.'

OTS's idea to lower VAT threshold 'a cash grab'

Big dent in the £85,0000 ceiling billed as a ‘disaster' for one-person traders.

OTS unveils eight ways to change your VAT bill

At-a-glance rundown of what OTS is proposing on Value Added Tax, and why.

Managing Payment Lags in Freight

One of the greatest challenges in a business with a physical service or product is the delay between completion of the work and the receipt of payment. While most businesses pay their bills on the same net-30 terms that they use with their own customers, new businesses in particular may not have established credit with their suppliers and could consequently struggle to keep current with them if receivables are taking too long.

Freight is a particularly problematic issue. A typical run has predictable costs for the fuel and driver, but outside factors like traffic, road construction, poor directions, and other interference can drastically increase those expenditures.

Controlling those costs is vital. Your company will be more successful if they implement smart cost-saving strategies. Finding a solution to these challenges can be the difference between profitability and failure for businesses of any age, so making that happen is a high priority for management.

Successful operators have used several different strategies to handle this situation. They make sure their drivers know what weather is ahead and where road work is being done. They use a good maintenance program to maximize fuel economy, and they train personnel on proper loading to reduce damage to shipments.

Those are strategies for managing payables, but there is still the issue of receivables. There are a number of ways to ensure that your customers get your payments made on time, but transportation factoring is one of the most effective.

Factoring is a fairly simple process. Rather than directly billing your customer, you sell the invoice to the factoring company at a discounted rate. This discount is how you pay the factoring company, so there’s no separate bill from them. Once you send the invoice, you get your money immediately and the factoring company deals with getting paid by the customer.

This system isn’t some complicated shell game. It’s actually a reflection of what’s taking place in countless other industries. They have all learned that separating the various costs and spreading the inherent risk among other parties is a great way to help everyone be more profitable.

Agriculture has been doing this for years. Instead of a single farmer doing the entire production process, many crops today have some producers who produce only the transplants, others who grow, and others who process for transport. That way, each producer only carries risk in one of the three categories instead of all three.

Factoring works the same way. You’re distributing the risk of late payments to a specialist that can devote itself fully to collecting payment because it’s not spending time doing anything else. It’s just like having an established department that understands why customers pay late and how to deal with it.

A business model like this can be very effective for you, even before you open your doors. Because collecting payment is one of those very problematic areas for new businesses, would-be investors and lenders want to know what your plan is for handling it.

A good business plan will allow for that; if you mention that you plan to use a factoring service, you’ve not only acknowledged the importance of managing receivables, you’ve also assigned the task to someone with more resources and experience than yourself. Likewise, as you subsequently make proposals to improve sales, you’ll convey a more positive message if you incorporate a factoring strategy. Your customers will prefer paying through the factoring company because it will provide more flexibility in how they pay, while still keeping the customer in your good graces for future shipments.

Transporting freight is a very unpredictable business. Weather, traffic, theft, and countless other issues can get in the way of an efficient delivery. When you consider the added burden of getting paid for your deliveries, the uncertainty can be almost unmanageable.

Developing a strategy that will get you paid in a timely fashion is just good business, and freight factoring can be the centerpiece of that strategy.

Why Trump's chances trump Hammond's on IR35 reform

The ability of even the US President to incite backlash may be dwarfed by the chancellor's on the 22nd.

IT contractor skills shortages surge in London

UK capital goes from almost no shortages to half a dozen in just a month.

Hammond tipped to offer VAT reprieve

Autumn Budget expected to contain a suspension or snip to the £85,000 threshold.

HMRC worker avoids jail despite tax credit fraud

Woman who stole over £40,000 from the taxman has her sentence suspended.

BBC hosts IR35 reform 'debate' on Money Box

Speculation over whether thousands face changes to how they work plays on Radio 4.

Avoiders 'are far from the tax gap's main contributors'

Revenue reminded that only 5% of what's missing is from people ducking their liabilities.

IR35 legal challengers reveal new details

As one fight against the off-payroll rules 'takes a breath,' another vows to go the distance.

Two IR35 legal challenges launched against NHS

'Multiple' judicial reviews threatened, to expose 'kangaroo court' assessments of PSCs.

How contractors can succeed, not cringe, at self-marketing

A guide on promoting oneself as a self-respecting consultant, averse to US-inspired tripe.

HMRC rewords IR35 Forum minutes after staunch criticism

July's record of what was said is quietly replaced, but it's still deemed 'unreflective.'