The ‘it depends’ answer might not be helpful, unlike knowing the ins and outs of HMRC’s schemes on VAT– which can actually give your company a boost.

The realm of reality with contractor mortgages is only for the informed – and those who slay vanilla brokers while shunning the high street fleece.

This stance as an agency boss on regulating umbrella companies will banish me from the Christmas card list of the big staffing bodies.

Systematic issues plague the contractor umbrella market, making tools an inadequate fix and the devils to beware numerous.

The unfortunate, disorientating, guinea pig-like experience of Richard Alcock is grounds for government to ‘seriously consider other options’ -- IR35 advisers.

Empowerment? Transformation? Both should come as standard if you’re a contractor in the market for a professional and personal 'self' boost.

Receiving a fixed regular fee irrespective of work done is now enough to satisfy the ‘uncomplicated’ MoO test.

The truth is that many factors will contribute to an inside or outside IR35 determination. As a result, notice periods in contracts could well have a bearing on your IR35 status. And with HMRC ramping ...

Buried in the government-speak, the worrying signs are that UK contracting is looking at the sister of CEST, and a new avoidance mission for HMRC.

Two cases concerning notification to HMRC have just been put to judges, and neither went in favour of the avoidance scheme provider.

It’s far past time for forceful action to purge the unscrupulous from the umbrella industry. But this government’s next move is probably to pass the buck.

Hiring fraud is becoming endemic, triggering toolkits, red-flag systems, and digital defences to keep contractors and other job-seekers safe.