Freelance update

The government seems intent on making life as difficult as possible for the self-employed, what with IR35 and the recent crackdown on many of the ‘umbrella’ companies and the possible effects of this on the small army of freelancers working in PR. 2007 saw a small victory for the forces of resistance in the seemingly interminable Arctic Systems case where HMRC failed in its bid to stop husband and wife limited companies from sharing dividends to maximise tax savings. However celebrations are likely to be short-lived. Exchequer Secretary, Angela Eagle, has now stated that she is looking to “bring forward proposals for changes to legislation”, which will take away this right. The campaign to push freelancers onto permanent payrolls goes on.