NEWS

Govt review of IR35 rule changes

The government has launched a four week review into the changes to the off payroll working rules, known as IR35, that are due to come into force on 6 April 2020.

From that date the rules for employees contracted via personal service companies are being extended from the public sector to the private sector.

The reforms to IR35, announced in the 2018 Budget, are designed to tackle non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules and make organisations responsibile for assessing whether a contractor should be treated as a full-time employee.

Following mounting criticism about the way the IR35 rules operate, the Chancellor promised the review in the run up to last December's General Election. Due to be completed within six weeks, the review will gather information from affected individuals and organisations.

According to the Treasury: 'the purpose of this consultation is to make sure that the implementation of these changes in April is as smooth as possible'.

However, contractors groups and others have commented that the review has been carried out too hastily and simple does not provide enough time to consider the complex range of issues the off-payroll legistation incur. With its completion due by mid-Feburary, the review leaves less than two months before 6 April for its findings to be put into effect.

 

09/01/2020