A lot of contractors were probably waiting with bated breath to hear the latest news from the IR35 Forum. However, they were in for a disappointment when HMRC postponed the meeting scheduled for the 18th of January, saying there was more work to be done.

Umbrella company contractors will no doubt be interested to learn that an unprecedented verdict was recently passed down in an IR35 case.

Umbrella company contractors might be interested to learn that HMRC is considering changing the way it thinks about IR35.

Some limited company contractors have been hoping that the government’s proposal to align income tax and National Insurance would be the final nail in the coffin for IR35.

Contractors, including those working through an umbrella company, may be interested to learn that the IR35 Forum is starting to make real progress.

Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that HMRC only yielded slightly over £200,000 last year from their enquiries into the IR35 status of self-employed workers.

Contractors may be interested to learn that MPs from all the UK’s main political parties have pledged to address the false perceptions that exist around freelance contracting.

APSCo, a group that represents many of the recruiters that umbrella company contractors work with, has become the latest organisation invited by the Revenue to join the IR35 Forum.

HMRC should focus on detecting genuine cases of disguised employment rather than jumping to the conclusion that all freelancers are subject to IR35 rules, according to the REC.

Contractors who had hoped to see the demise of IR35 may be interested to learn that the PCG is to be part of the new IR35 Forum.

Directors said the OTS should have prioritised the design of a clear business test to distinguish between employees and the self-employed.

Member companies of the REC met with the Office of Tax Simplification last week to discuss IR35. The REC was recently appointed to the OTS’ small business consultative committee. The head of public policy at the REC, Gillian Econopouly, said she was delighted that members had the opportunity to discuss IR35 directly with the OTS.