Follow-up inquiry into off-payroll working launched

Following the recent controversy surrounding the new Ir35 rules the House of Lords have announced a call for enquiry for a follow up - this is a follow up enquiry to the Sub-Commitee's April 2020 report, we are asking our clients if they could complete this short survey and provide us with your thoughts on the matter.

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* 1. Has the recent extension of the off-payroll working rules to the private sector that made it more difficult for engagers (the business the contractor ultimately works for) to hire people with the right skills and expertise? To what extent has its introduction contributed to job vacancies?

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* 2. For those engagers (and their advisers) who use the CEST (Check Employment for Tax Status) tool to assess employment status, how effective do you consider it to be? Do you have confidence in its results? If not, what further improvements need to be made to it?

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* 3. What changes have engagers had to make to apply to the off-payroll rules to contractors, in terms of systems, personnel and training? By reference to your own experience, to what extent (if any) do you consider that compliance costs have increased because of the changes?

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* 4. How well has HMRC supported engagers, contractors, and their advisers with the implementation of the new rules and is any further or different type of assistance needed

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* 5. To what extent has the introduction of the new rules generated disputes between engagers and contractors concerning the status of contractors vis-à-vis the rules and how successfully or otherwise have these been resolved?

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* 6. What behavioral effects have resulted from the introduction of the new rules in the private sector in terms of the arrangements adopted in hiring contractors?

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* 7. The Government is proposing a new employment body with powers to enforce employment rights, including for those engaged by agencies and umbrella companies. How effective do you think such a body will be in ensuring workers, particularly the lower paid, are treated fairly?

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* 8. How successful will the draft Finance Bill proposals for earlier publication of information about promoters and avoidance schemes be in protecting individuals from being drawn into such schemes?