Autumn Budget 2021: key areas affecting contractors: demystified

IR35, umbrellas, and just about everything else the chancellor did or didn’t announce that impacts ContractorUK readers.

The slider-wearing, Sprite-slurping chancellor, and what he means for your pocket

Personal finance expert Paul Mayhew reviews some of the Autumn Budget’s money measures.

Autumn Budget 2021: No direct hit on contractor mortgages, but a few red flags hoisted

Home loans expert John Yerou rounds-up what the chancellor’s moves might mean for property buyers.

A bare Autumn Budget for contractors confirms IR35 reform as ‘done and dusted’

Silence on off-payroll and umbrellas speaks volumes -- that the ‘anti-contractor arc’ is now ‘business as usual’ for HMG.

Autumn Budget 2021: chancellor’s full speech

Rishi Sunak delivers his third Budget, to build a ‘stronger economy’ and make Britain a ‘tech superpower.’

Contractor Insolvency Solutions from Beacon

Whatever your business and whatever its financial challenges, BEACON can help.

Contractors' guide to the Settlements legislation

The lowdown on HMRC’s rules when extracting profit as a jointly-owned company.

Contractors' Questions: How to work tax-efficiently from Spain?

Self-employment seems easier than being a PSC for a Briton wanting to see out his days in Barcelona.

Top 10 tax return tips for contractors

Since October marks the start of the tax return season, here are some handy hints to keep in mind. 

Lords reprobe off-payroll rules, ahead of NAO looking for IR35 ‘lessons learned’

Two separate inquiries into the Intermediaries legislation emerge on the cusp of Autumn Budget 2021.

Chancellor, regulate umbrella companies to usher in a fairer future

FairScore can beat back the Frankenstein monster, but it’s up to Sunak to banish it.

Indefensible to claim law was clear from 2010, loan charge reviewer Lord Morse told

Twelve pages lay bare all that's happened since the Morse Review to make it ‘fail to deliver’.

Rishi Sunak sent final wishes on IR35, umbrella regulation, before Autumn Budget 2021

Covid is weighted against the contractor sector getting two big fixes it wants from the chancellor.

A limited company director’s guide to pension contributions

Retirement saving when running your own personal services company: an overview.

Contractors’ Questions: When are Paris business trip costs a legitimate business expense?

Overview of tax deduction rules for roaming staff, self-employed workers and PSCs.

Culture shock? When IR35 catapults you from limited company to on-payroll employee

Adaptability is a quality many have but for some contractors, a master-servant relationship may be a bend too far.

Contractors, here's the problem with LinkedIn

Ahead of an important webinar for ContractorUK readers, Matt Craven concedes that LinkedIn is inescapable.

Autumn Budget 2021: predictions for contractors

Contractor accountant Patrick Gribben doesn’t expect a bold chancellor, especially with two big tax hikes already incoming.

A tech pay bonanza for IT contractors is on, and permie bonuses just can't keep up

Competition for techie talent is putting pay on a next level, but it’s reserved just for contractors.

Contractors’ Questions: What to beware as the furlough scheme amendments deadline looms?

Key considerations for limited company directors facing the CJRS’s September claims deadline of October 28th.

Benefits of a Starling Bank business account for contractors

Starling makes business banking straightforward and efficient, offering digital business accounts with no monthly fees for a standard account.

'Nice-to-have HMRC guidance not a replacement for regulating umbrella companies at Autumn Budget 2021'

Four-part Revenue factsheet could be a substitute, or starting pistol, for umbrella company regulation measures next Wednesday.

How to get more out of your contractor umbrella company

Amid more contractors regarding ‘Ltd’ as limited, here’s nine ways to ensure umbrella contracting works for you.

Why the taxman’s IR35 scrutiny of individual contractors is far from over

As the case of The Trainline two shows, HMRC remains interested in PSCs. But you can forget your accountant’s old adage.

Giant clears contractor payment backlog following cyber attack

Umbrella company says it’s back to ‘business as usual,’ although questions remain over data protection.

Filing your tax return with TaxScouts

TaxScouts simplify the process of sorting your taxes by making getting professional accounting help easier, and more accessible.

Contractors' Questions: What does HMRC ask in an IR35 investigation?

Ten queries the taxman fires in his bid to enforce the off-payroll legislation.

Two Trainline contractors investigated under IR35 stop HMRC in its tracks

The residual risk of IR35 just got real (for a bit) for two PSCs, confirming retrospective challenges are still a threat.

7 Tips for Saving on Moving Costs When Relocating for a Job

If your career path is shooting for the stars, you might find yourself landing in a new city along the way. Relocating can be as thrilling as it is intimidating, as your living situation and your job blur together for the months of your moving process. 

Though you may be moving for a promotion, relocation can still be an expensive affair. With that said, it’s still possible to break into a new city without breaking the bank. Here are seven tips for saving money on a work relocation. 

Aim to save on auto shipping costs

You want to be up and running in your new home as quickly as possible, and that means ensuring that your vehicle comes with you. It might be tempting to drive a car thousands of miles by yourself, but it’s not always the most economical choice in the long run.

You have to consider refueling costs, lodging, driving fatigue, wear and tear, and possible accidents that might occur along the way. Also, if you have more than one vehicle, you won’t be able to make the trek without help, which can add complications if you’re moving alone. 

The easiest option for moving a car from A to B is to use car transport services. Most transporters offer three types of transport services at different price points. Open-air auto transport is the cheapest and most popular option but includes less protection for your vehicle. There is also enclosed auto transport and express or expedited shipping for those transporting classic or luxury cars. 

Get rid of clutter

Most people accumulate a lot of clutter in their houses, which becomes evident when you decide to move. For instance, you might have outdated toys and gadgets, damaged electrical appliances, clothes you don’t wear, books you’ve already read, and so on, clogging up your moving boxes. The more weight you have to move, the more expensive it’ll be, so it’s vital to pare down your possessions before you hit the road.

You can throw unnecessary items away, donate them, or host a yard sale to send them to a new home. If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, you could even use the yard sale proceeds to help offset the cost of your relocation.

Avoid moving during the high season

While the best time to move is between May and September, it’s also the most expensive period, as most people shift locations during the summer months. If you can afford to wait until the fall or winter seasons, you might win significantly lower rates from the movers.

Don’t buy boxes

It always looks neat to pack items in boxes, but buying cardboard can add a lot of bulk to your budget. Instead, you can borrow boxes from your current workplace, as there are usually tons of them in most offices. If workplace boxes aren’t an option, reuse materials like the original packaging for glassware, kitchen or paper towels to separate plates, and garments to wrap glassware.

Ask for reimbursement

Before relocating, ask your new employer if you can receive a stipend to cover the moving costs. Your company is asking you to move, so you shouldn’t hesitate to try and negotiate a relocation package for yourself whenever possible. 

Compare movers’ prices

Shopping around for movers and comparing their rates can feel like having a second job, but it might end up saving you some much-needed cash. 

Solicit rates from at least three different movers, but the more, the merrier. Ensure the company you pick has all the required licenses and certifications before signing a contract.

Consider renting a self-storage unit

If the job opportunity is temporary, or if you don’t have enough time to move, it might be cheaper to rent a self-storage space to hold all of your biggest furniture in the meantime. You can always come back for the heavy items later if the opportunity becomes permanent, but there’s no sense in hauling a two-hundred pound dresser across state lines for a six-month contract. 

Wrap Up

Relocating represents a fresh start and a rich new opportunity. Happy moving, and don’t forget the bubble wrap.

Contractors’ Questions: Can my limited company meet its suppliers in Paris while I’m a tourist?

If he’s jabbed, it’s ‘bon voyage’ for a contractor who wants to see the sights when he’s not meeting and greeting.

The LITRG’s welcome call won’t change loan charge legislation, at least not immediately

Autumn Budget is unfortunately too soon for an overhaul of the complex, erosive HMRC policy.

Review Loan Charge at Autumn Budget 2021, chancellor told

Rishi Sunak called to unblock the HMRC-contractor ‘impasse’ on disguised remuneration.

IT contractor jobs market 'fiercely competitive' in September

Despite strong demand potentially levelling off, starting pay is at a 24-year high, even before ‘one-off financial incentives’.

Umbrella company cloning: how to spot and stop the contractor sector’s big new fraud

Two scams are seeking to victimse agencies, workers, and umbrellas. Unfortunately, contractors are at risk from both.

HMRC starting IR35 compliance checks? National Rail U-turning? Neither is a surprise

The taxman will spread his wings beyond Oil, Gas and Finance, despite the ‘soft landing.’ All the more reason for client IR35 assessments to fly.

CEST: Unable to determine result 'requires human intervention'

Neither inside nor outside means it’s time to consult a non-tool, to head off ‘horribly costly’ outcomes.

Just saying ‘CEST doesn’t work’ helps nobody, given hirers are using the HMRC tool this much

Why we should all recognise Check Employment Status for Tax as only one of many means to an end.

Can my limited company loan money to another limited company?

Guide for contractors wanting to lend between two businesses which they are the sole shareholder director of.

A torrid 18 months for contractors just got worse, but not even Giant staff should suffer in silence

The silver lining of the still dark cloud over UK contracting is that umbrella regulation-resisters will finally have to fold.

HMRC tax gap figures may trigger anti-small company measures at Autumn Budget 2021

Ominous for October? Careless, interpreting SMEs and income tax-NICs have both been depriving the exchequer the most.

Urgently review loan charge now suicide helpline is shut, Treasury's Lucy Frazer urged

Back your boss not your two predecessors upon whose watch seven people died, LCAG advises new minister.

A short-lived IR35 victory is usually for contractors, but so far in ‘PGMOL,’ it’s for HMRC

Even if the footy refs are winning on aggregate, the last fixture went the taxman’s way -- not that he can next play the same on MoO.