“TV presenter wins 10-year IR35 battle against HMRC”

Jan 30, 2024 | Tax

The infamous ‘IR35’ dates from the Gordon Brown (kids etc.) era. It was intended to stop contractors effectively working for companies as if self-employed and avoiding many of the costs, NI for one, of being employed; for both the non-employee and employer. It has been notoriously difficult to enforce, and has done little or nothing to stop the Deliveroos of this world using armies of piece-work self-employees. It’s only, in reality, government departments which have followed its letter, and in trying to make it work, HMRC has pursued, rather than big companies with armies of lawyers, individuals, often high profile media stars. They’ve argued that, if they have a regular slot on a TV programme, for instance, they can’t claim to be contractors. Kaye Adams dogged refusal to give in has won the day, and HMRC have, it seems given up. You may remember that Liz and Kwai’s equally infamous budget briefly abolished IR35. Which may not have been such a bad thing after all.

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“We’ll have to increase taxes, says Reeves”

“We’ll have to increase taxes, says Reeves”

You heard it here last, and you’ve already heard plenty of it here already in recent weeks, alas. Of course some taxes will have to go up, but none that will affect working people. So it’s likely to be those layabout rich fat cats paying high rate tax, with investments, savings and decent pensions.