Construction sites are dangerous places. Statistics show that, on average, a person is killed every four days and hundreds are injured. More worryingly, if you work in the construction industry for twenty years, you have a one in two chance of being injured. It might not happen of course and even if it it does,… Read More »
IR35 tax legislation has been in force for over ten years yet still remains a mystery to many. The coalition government has announced a commitment to review it and possibly replace it with something simpler. However, as yet, its future is not resolved. The aim of introducing IR35 was to clamp down on individuals who… Read More »
Despite any short-term economic problems, construction is an industry where there will always be demand. Homes and commercial property have to be built, infrastructure projects undertaken and anything that’s already built has to be repaired and renewed. So, although the level of demand changes, it will never go away and there will always be a… Read More »
Working as an Electrician: The Training At the beginning of 2011 the entry requirements to pursue a career as an electrician were altered. Candidates now need to enroll on a Level 3 NVQ Diploma. There are two courses available: the Diploma in Electrotechnical Services (Maintenance) NVQ or the Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Building… Read More »
All operating UK resident contractors who earn an income (regardless of its source) that is not taxed at the time of receipt are legally required to use the self-assessment tax method, which involves submission of details such as the amount of income and capital gains tax. Some individuals find this quite a difficult tax, even… Read More »
The two most common forms of work as a contractor are to operate under the guidance of an Umbrella company or to start a limited company and work for yourself. Unfortunately (but predictably), those that opt to work under an umbrella company are required to pay a regular fee for the services that the company… Read More »
Contractors used to be able to “fly under the radar” so to speak, but with an increasing number of individuals choosing the contractor route, the focus on them has increased. In 1999, HMRC and the Inland Revenue made a statement professing their dedication to changing the way contractors are taxed in order to limit the… Read More »
Contractors, particularly those that operate through their own limited company rather than an umbrella company, will have to deal with a range of legal issues and contracts as part of their work. This may be a cause for concern for many contractors but with a good understanding of what to look out for, can be… Read More »
National Insurance is a form of tax payable to the UK government that is used to pay for certain benefits that you will receive such as the free services of the National Health Service (NHS), the government pension you will receive when you reach retirement age as well as other forms of benefits that are… Read More »
Contracts can be a difficult problem that contractors have to face, especially for those with limited experience in this area. Once a contract has been agreed, neither party can make changes to it without the other persons permission so it’s important that you raise any concerns you have before you sign it. Do Not Work… Read More »