Umbrella Company Articles

New IR35 rules due to take effect in the private sector from April 2021 could force thousands of limited company contractors to shutter their limited company and start using an umbrella company for the first time.

Joining an umbrella company is a tax efficient way to ensure IR35 compliance while also enjoying some for the benefits that come along with being an employee, such as holiday and sick pay.

Unfortunately some non-PAYE payment vehicles also describe themselves as ‘umbrellas’ and these schemes are often illegitimate.

Many contractors are likely to close their limited companies this year and subscribe to an umbrella company to try and avoid punitive new IR35 rules.

For the most part, limited company contractors love the tax advantages and the autonomy that comes with running their own personal service company (PSC). But a major shift in the way that IR35 legislation is applied in the private sector could lock thousands of contractors into high-tax, low-benefit arrangements.

If you tend to work very closely with your private sector clients and are at risk of being trapped in an ‘inside IR35’ contract, then switching to an umbrella company model of working could be the best move you make in 2021.

Umbrella companies allow contractors to achieve IR35 compliance. If a limited company contract is deemed ‘inside IR35’, contracting through an umbrella company is usually preferable.

This will become more important as an upcoming rule change will mean that many more contractors are caught out by IR35 legislation.

New HMRC research has revealed that some of the most attractive ‘umbrella’ deals on comparison and broker websites aren’t tax-compliant, meaning they could land you with a big bill further down the line.

The companies that come out on top of these comparison listings usually boast unbelievable take home pay figures, together with other ‘too good to be true’ advantages. In reality, the only way umbrella companies can achieve these ‘enhanced’ or ‘advanced’ rates is through tax avoidance.

Remember, YOU are responsible for paying the right amount of tax. The tax man will come after YOU if you try and cheat the system. And if a deal sounds too good to be true, YOU know that it probably is.

At Umbrella.co.uk, we’re proud of our track record of protecting clients through compliance. We’re accredited by the FCSA and APSCo, two of the largest and most prestigious staffing and employment bodies. We have also been approved as business partners by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).