Umbrella Services
Why would I need to use an umbrella?
The government has introduced several reforms to the way PSC (Personal Service Companies) operate through the IR35 legislation. The IR35 legislation is designed to combat tax avoidance by workers, and the firms hiring them, who are supplying their services to clients via PSC, but who would be an employee if the PSC were not used.
Previously, the IR35 status of a PSC would be determined by the PSC itself. The PSC would have to determine whether the contract was more akin to an employment contract rather than a contract for services. Then in 2017 HMRC changed which entity is responsible for determining IR35 contract status in the public sector to the end client.
In 2021 this was extended to the private sector. These changes mean that contractors may need an umbrella service to work alongside and in conjunction with their accountant
Changes introduced in April 2021
Understanding IR35 and the ramifications it will have on your business can be daunting, we are here to help you understand this better. Currently, an individual working through their own limited company is responsible for determining their IR35 status on each contract they undertake.
As we know, the government in April 2021 changed the way IR35 status is determined. The determination of IR35 status is now the responsibility of the end client/hirer and should be passed down through the supply chain (if a fee payer is in place – generally a recruitment agency) to the contractor. Tax liability will sit with the “fee payer” who must deduct tax and national insurance contributions and report using Real Time Information (RTI).
The fee payer passes on the responsibility to an umbrella company who then invoices the fee payer, collects the funds on behalf of the contractor and then deducts tax and national insurance and pays the contractor whilst simultaneously reporting this using Real Time Information (RTI) to HMRC.
What this means is that your client would have to issue you with a 'Status Determination Statement' (SDS). A SDS is a comprehensive statement from the client which: declares a contractor's deemed employment status following an IR35 assessment and provides reasons for reaching this conclusion.
If you have SDS which has determined that you are inside of IR35 then you do have 45 days in which to challenge the fact that you have been determined to be inside of IR35. Some of our clients have used Optimus Shield to help with the challenge against the inside of IR35 determination.
Why Banner & Associate’s Umbrella?
There is a plethora of Umbrella service providers out there but with Banner’s umbrella service you will get reliable, trustworthy, efficient service from a well-established firm. Most importantly though you will have someone who will look at your remuneration holistically and be able to advise you accordingly. You will also have the flexibility to switch between your PSC and umbrella and the peace of mind that the umbrella contract is run professionally, HMRC compliant and there is a team behind it all that care.
Also we have a transparent pricing policy. Quite simply we charge £96 per timesheet for our monthly service and £25 per timesheet for our weekly service.
What will be my take-home pay?
Take-home pay calculators give you an indication or an illustration of take-home pay, however, they are not completely accurate. This is because they don’t consider your income in the tax year from your limited company or other sources.
Online calculators alone should not be used to compare Umbrella services.
The calculation of tax and National Insurance will be the same regardless of which umbrella you choose. You may see different results on different calculators, this is because of the parameters used – one calculator might default to a 40-hour week, another 37.5 hours, some include their fees, others do not.
Our team will be able to give you an accurate take-home pay figure. Simply give them a call on 03333 449 633.
If you want an indication of your take-home pay, you can use the Umbrella calculator by clicking the button below:
But my agency says you need a certification…
We hear this one often – a recruitment agency dictating that a contractor must use an umbrella who can demonstrate that they are certified.
There are a couple of umbrella “accreditations” in the marketplace that have gained some traction over recent years. These entities have made it extremely difficult (but not impossible) for small umbrellas to gain momentum, as they have portrayed themselves to be benchmark standard in the eyes of multiple recruitment agencies.
The truth is, there is no single body charged with regulation of umbrella companies. These large certification bodies market themselves as a compliance measure, when in reality they hold very little integrity beyond their shiny icons.
Legally, it is a contractor’s right to choose their employer/umbrella company. It is a service that they personally fund and, as such they have freedom of choice – it’s important that you understand this.
Remember, we have a wealth of experience in the umbrella world, and we have faced the accreditation/certification argument many times. We assure you that delivering a comprehensive explanation, along with some facts about legislation and law, can sway an agency’s perception as to what umbrellas they are able to engage.
But, you don’t need to have that conversation – let us do it for you. We have tried and tested scripts that give us the best possible chance of an agency partnership, regardless of their certification stipulations.
Remind your contractors that they do have freedom of choice, and if they’re told otherwise we would be happy to address their agency to reinforce their rights.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding accreditation or certification please do not hesitate to contact us.