Construction braced for freelance tax disruption

Grant Prior 4 years ago
Share

Major contractors are trying to shift freelance construction professionals back on the books as new tax rules loom.

The Enquirer has been contacted by worried white collar workers as major contractors carry-out audits of their freelancers.

HMRC rules are changing next Aprl making contractors liable for determining the tax status of off-payroll professionals

One worker said: “I’m on a major civils site and the main contractor is telling professional freelancers that they will have to go PAYE.”

Current rules allow workers to be employed via a personal service company (PSC) which determines whether IR35 tax rules should apply.

That responsibility will shift from April to contractors who will determine employment status.

One major construction company said: “We want to get ahead of the curve with this so we are talking to all our freelancers now to see what their future tax status should be.

“We are one of the first having a proper look at this but it will effect all major contractors.”

Freelance workers fear they will lose out through higher tax payments while contractors will also face bigger bills from direct employment.

But taxation experts say contractors shouldn’t panic.

Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract said: “With nearly six months to go before the IR35 changes come into force, there is no need for employers to rush into a ‘one size fits all’ PAYE solution, there is plenty of time to carry out genuine status determinations and get this right.

“We are helping a number of firms go through the process to determine which limited company freelancers need to be ‘encouraged more strongly to take permanent positions’ and which can remain as they are if they wish.

“Negotiations can be tough with those perceived caught because they have enjoyed the flexibility and cost efficiency of self-employment for many years, becoming an employee will be a culture shock.

“So rather than jumping the gun, firms need to understand that the majority of technical level freelancers are not caught by the current IR35 rules and will not be in April 2020, the shift in where the status risk lies will not change how status is determined.

“Like any other business risk, IR35 can be managed or eliminated and needs to be balanced against other risks such as losing the services of some of the best people in the industry – who will fiercely defend their right to be self-employed.

“The worst of all worlds is that these people are pressured into umbrella schemes under which they carry all the costs and downsides of employment with none of the benefits – no doubt the most valuable freelancers will vote with their feet if this happens.”

An HMRC guide to the changes can be found here.

Latest news

Police ban mobile cranes from roads over Easter

Plant hire bosses livid as forces across the country extend abnormal load embargoes
18 hours ago

Director jailed for exposing workers to asbestos

Ten tonnes of asbestos insulating board stripped out by unqualified workers
22 hours ago

Site labour rates start rising again

Industry's biggest payroll firm says "it feels like things could be turning round"
1 day ago

Council finds extra £33m for Buckinghamshire link road

South East Aylesbury Link Road costs soar by nearly 30% to £147m
1 day ago

Quartet win £490m North West & Central railway works deal

Skanska, Kier, Octavius Infrastructure and Story Contracting bag major projects deal
1 day ago

Unite Students plans first major mixed-use scheme

Developer's first mixed BTR and PBSA project to be built in Edinburgh
2 days ago

Galliford Try names new finance director

Rentokil's Kris Hampson joins contractor to replace Andrew Duxbury
1 day ago

Council boss hits out at bat threat to £274m road job

Natural England could scupper scheme due to be built by Ferrovial
1 day ago

Hydrogen-fuelled diggers to be allowed onto highways

Government to raise barrier to widespread use of hydrogen fuelled plant in construction
2 days ago

Plans in for £118m Government hub in Darlington

Work pencilled to start later this year on new home for 1,450 civil servants
2 days ago

New contractor highlights Henry Construction jobs on website

New firm lists jobs by failed contractor to show its experience
2 days ago

Contractors line up for £2.6bn Anglian Water AMP8 deal

Eight big names land places on pioneering @one Alliance
3 days ago

McAleer & Rushe bags first major later living project

Work to start this month on 167-flat Royal Tunbridge Wells project
2 days ago

Kier starts first all-electric prison houseblock job in Kent

Next-generation fully electric T60 prison houseblock to be built at HMP Elmley
2 days ago

Keepmoat sees better times ahead in housing market

Profits dip in 2023 despite construction of record number of new homes
2 days ago

Vistry signs partnership deals for 1,900 mixed tenure homes

West Sussex former airfield and Newmarket sites to break ground
3 days ago

Turnover at Wates tops £2bn for first time

Construction division exceeds £1bn turnover as average contract value hits record high of £48.3m
3 days ago

L&G looks to sell Cala Homes in exit from house building

Insurance giant reported to be preparing to offload 3,000 homes-a-year developer
4 days ago

Multiplex profit almost trebles as margin hits 5.5%

Revenue jumps 20% to £675m as big London scheme complete
3 days ago

TopHat puts plans to open huge Corby factory on hold

Advanced manufacturing facility was due to employ 1,000 people
3 days ago

Laing O’Rourke lands Calderdale hospital job

Enabling works to start by the end of this year at West Yorkshire site
3 days ago

Go-ahead for £475m Sunderland film and TV studios

Work to start this year on first phase Corwn Work studios
3 days ago

Willmott Dixon set for £20m Stockport Community Hub

Planning decision expected in June on Marple leisure and health clinic project
3 days ago

Police hunt for blundering dumper truck thief

Raider drove into a fence before getting stuck on a bank
3 days ago

Beattie Passive files administration notice

Passivhaus pioneer has been in business for more than ten years
4 days ago

McAlpine set for £50m space and tech centre

Northumbria Uni sign pre-con deal for new satellite research hub
4 days ago

VolkerFitzpatrick seals £34m Kent road viaduct

Work to start next year on Sturry Link Road near Canterbury
4 days ago

Eight win £600m Scottish civil engineering framework

Balfour, Farrans, Graham and Morgan Sindall win major works lot
4 days ago

Site engineer crushed to death by excavator

22-year-old victim died just months after graduating from university
6 days ago

NG Bailey fined £135,000 after hospital site death

Worker died after striking overhead beam while navigating a mobile elevating work platform
7 days ago

Contractor services