Limited or umbrella company – which is best?
Which trading structure should you use when you start our as an IT contractor? We look at how umbrella and limited companies work in practice. Read more
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Can you reclaim the cost of home broadband from your limited company?
In the latest of our series on limited company expenses, we look at tax treatment of broadband installed at home. Read more
Start-Up Guide :: How to become an IT contractor
Once you have decided that IT contracting is something that you would like to do, there are a number of stages you will need to negotiate before starting work on your first contract. Read more
Self-Assessment tips for for limited company owners
As a company director, you’ll almost certainly have to file a personal tax return for yourself before 31st January 2018. Here we look at what you should, and what you shouldn’t include on your self-assessment return. Read more
How do you know if an accountant is ‘qualified’?
Before you appoint a specialist accountancy firm to look after your contracting books, ensure that you check what qualifications the firm holds. Read more
Why don’t IT contractors set up as sole traders?
The most popular way to start up in business in the UK is as a sole trader. So why do IT contractors avoid this route, and work via their own limited companies or umbrella schemes? Read more
The advantages of contracting direct with clients
During your contracting career, you may have the opportunity to work for a client directly, without the involvement of a recruitment agency. Here we look at the benefits of working direct, and address some of the pitfalls. Read more
What are the public sector ‘off payroll’ IR35 rules?
From April 2017, new rules came into force which mean that the responsibility for operating IR35 now lies in the hands of clients rather than contractors themselves. Currently the new legislation applies only to public sector contracts. Read more
Why ‘contractors’ and ‘freelancers’ are not the same
The terms ‘contractor’ and ‘freelancer’ are often used interchangeably, however although both words are used to describe non-traditional professional workers, they represent quite different ways of working when it comes to tax, business structure and regulation. Read more
Can contractors benefit from the ‘Employment Allowance’?
If it is eligible, you company may be able to reclaim up to £3,000 of Employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from HMRC each year, thanks to the Employment Allowance. Read more