Category: Tax

DMS Posts, Tax

An essential IR35 briefing for contractors

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IR35 legislation allows HMRC to collect additional payment from contractors in certain circumstances. The way in which IR35 operates in the private sector is set to change and this could have a significant impact on many contractors across the UK. This guide provides an overview of IR35 legislation and what it means for all contractors, along with an explanation of the anticipated changes in the private sector.

What is IR35?

IR35 is a piece of legislation designed to seek additional payment from contractors who HMRC believes are working in “disguised employment”. This is when a contractor’s working arrangements and contract are similar to those of an employee but, unlike an employee, the contractor enjoys the tax benefits of working through an intermediary, such as a company or partnership. When a contractor meets the criteria of disguised employment, they are deemed to be “inside IR35” and are required to make additional payments to HMRC.

When is a contractor deemed to be “inside IR35”?

The question of whether a contractor is deemed to be inside IR35 depends on a variety of factors relating to both the contract itself and the contractor’s working practices. There are three employment tests designed to help contractors and engaging organisations make this assessment, along with a number of additional factors that HMRC takes into consideration.

The employment tests

The “direction, supervision and control” test

This test focuses on the level of autonomy given to the worker. HMRC considers contractors to have more autonomy when it comes to choosing what work they do, while employees are more likely to be assigned tasks by their employer. This does depend on the individual’s skill and expertise, however, as a highly skilled employee is likely to enjoy a greater degree of autonomy than a less experienced contractor. The “direction, supervision and control” test asks the following questions of a contractor’s working practices and the wording of the contract itself:

• Direction: is the worker told how to do the job at hand?

• Supervision: is the worker supervised while they carry out their work?

• Control: does the engaging organisation have control over aspects of the worker’s working practices, such as their work schedule?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then there’s a chance that the contractor might be inside IR35.

The “substitution” test

The test of substitution considers whether the engaging organisation would be prepared to accept someone else to do the contractor’s work in the event of them being unavailable. If the engaging organisation would not be prepared to do this and would only accept the personal service of that particular contractor, it would suggest that a traditional employment relationship exists and that the contract could therefore be inside IR35.

The “mutuality of obligation” test

Mutuality of obligation (MOO) means that one party – the employer – is obliged to provide work and the other party – the employee – is obliged to accept it. Unlike employees, contractors have no obligation to accept work and unlike employers, the companies that contract them have no obligation to provide it. As MOO is a feature of an employment relationship, if it is present in a contract it suggests that the contract might be inside IR35. When assessing a contractor’s working practices and contract, there are certain factors that would indicate that MOO isn’t present and that an employment relationship, therefore, doesn’t exist. These include:

• the use of specific projects with set end dates

• the ability for either party to stop the work with very little notice

The ‘CEST’ checking tool

HMRC developed the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool to help contractors and the companies who engage them to check whether a contract and the contractor’s working practices fall inside or outside IR35. However, some questions were raised relating to the initial version of this tool and its exclusion of the mutuality of obligation test. An updated version of the CEST tool was released in November 2019.

Additional factors that might affect a contractor’s IR35 status

HMRC doesn’t just consider the outcome of the three employment tests when assessing a contractor’s IR35 status. It looks at a wide range of factors that might indicate that the contractor is “part and parcel of the organisation” and that a traditional employment relationship might, therefore, be in place. These factors include:

• the contractor having an email address at the engaging organisation

• the contractor having permission to use company equipment

• the contractor receiving the same company ‘perks’ as their employed colleagues

• the contractor being line managed in the same way as their employed colleagues

What are the consequences of being inside IR35?

Contractors who are inside IR35 and work through an intermediary in the private sector are currently required to declare this to HMRC. If the intermediary is a limited company, the company would add a deemed payment in the contractor’s salary and deduct tax and National Insurance accordingly. If the intermediary is a partnership, the partnership would work out the deemed payment and deduct tax and National Insurance in the same way. The partner would then report this amount on their individual Self Assessment tax return as if it were income from employment.

If a contractor fails to declare their IR35 status and HMRC challenges this in an investigation, the contractor may face a penalty. Penalties are levied as a percentage of the additional tax that the contractor is liable to pay and are determined by HMRC’s perception of the contractor’s intent and the degree to which they “failed to take reasonable care” to declare their IR35 status. If a contractor knows that they are inside IR35 but chooses not to take action, they are likely to be fined more than if they had simply made a mistake in failing to declare their IR35 status. In the public sector, the onus is on the engaging organisation to assess the IR35 status of its contractors. Anyone who the engaging organisation deems to be inside IR35 is usually brought on to the organisation’s payroll as an employee and is then taxed accordingly.

Whose responsibility is it to determine if a contractor is inside IR35?

IR35 was first introduced to all contractors in 2000. At first, it was the contractor’s responsibility to determine whether they were inside IR35 but in 2017, the government rolled out changes to IR35 rules in the public sector which put the onus on public authorities to decide whether their contractors are inside or outside IR35. In the private sector, it’s currently the contractor’s responsibility to determine if they are inside IR35. However, anticipated reforms to IR35 in the private sector mean that for large or medium-sized companies, the onus will soon be on the engaging organisation to make this assessment. It’s expected that the new rules – currently sitting in draft form in the Finance Bill 2019/2020 – will be introduced in April 2020.

Who will the new rules affect?

The new IR35 rules affect contractors who provide services to large or medium-sized companies in the private sector (defined in the draft legislation as having a turnover of more than £10.2 million and more than 50 staff) and who operate through an intermediary, such as a company or partnership.

What impact will the new rules have?

Once the new rules are introduced, if a large or medium-sized private sector company deems a contractor who is working through an intermediary to be inside IR35, the company will have a decision to make. It could either change the contractor’s working arrangements in such a way that the contractor is no longer inside IR35 or it could terminate the contract. If the company wants to continue engaging the services of the contractor, it could pay them through its payroll instead. In this scenario, the contractor would become an employee of the engaging company and would have to make the same tax and National Insurance contributions as other employees. When similar reforms were introduced to the public sector in 2017 The Register reported a “mass exodus” of IT contractors from the public sector, while other news sites claimed that IR35 had made it extremely hard for the public sector to hire for contract roles. However, a report commissioned by HMRC contradicts the news reports, claiming that the change was not substantial and that IR35 had not affected the public sector’s ability to fill contract vacancies.

DMS Posts, PAYE, Tax

Latest guidance for employers

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HMRC has issued the latest version of the Employer Bulletin. This April edition has articles on a number of issues including:

  • Cash Allowances, Flexible Benefits Packages and Salary Sacrifice
  • Unpaid work trials and the National Minimum Wage
  • Diesel Supplement Company Car Tax Changes to meet Euro standard 6d
  • Student Loans
  • Construction Industry Scheme – helpful reminders for contractors and subcontractors
  • Welsh rate of income tax and Scottish Income Tax.

If you have any queries on payroll matters please contact us.

Internet link: Employer Bulletin April 2019

DMS Posts, PAYE, Tax

Reporting Benefits in Kind – Forms P11D

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The forms P11D which report details of benefits and some expenses provided to employees and directors for the year ended 5 April 2019, are due for submission to HMRC by 6 July 2019. The process of gathering the necessary information can take some time, so it is important that this process is not left to the last minute.

Employees pay tax on benefits provided as shown on the P11D, generally via a PAYE coding notice adjustment or through the self assessment system. Some employers ‘payroll’ benefits and in this case the benefits do not need to be reported on forms P11D but employers should advise employees of the amount of benefits payrolled.

In addition, regardless of whether the benefits are being reported via P11D or payrolled the employer has to pay Class 1A National Insurance Contributions at 13.8% on the provision of most benefits. The calculation of this liability is detailed on the P11D(b) form. The deadline for payment of the Class 1A NIC is 19th July 2019 (or 22nd for cleared electronic payment).

HMRC has produced an expenses and benefits toolkit. The toolkit consists of a checklist which may be used by advisers or employers to check they are completing the forms correctly.

DMS Posts, Tax

Autumn Budget 2018 – Capital Taxes

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Capital gains tax (CGT) rates

The current rates of CGT are 10%, to the extent that any income tax basic rate band is available, and 20% thereafter. Higher rates of 18% and 28% apply for certain gains; mainly chargeable gains on residential properties with the exception of any element that qualifies for private residence relief.

There are two specific types of disposal which potentially qualify for a 10% rate, both of which have a lifetime limit of £10 million for each individual:

  • Entrepreneurs’ Relief. This is targeted at working directors and employees of companies who own at least 5% of the ordinary share capital in the company and the owners of unincorporated businesses
  • Investors’ Relief. The main beneficiaries of this relief are external investors in unquoted trading companies who have newly-subscribed shares

CGT annual exemption

The CGT annual exemption is £11,700 for 2018/19 and will be increased to £12,000 for 2019/20.

Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER)

Tackling misuse

With immediate effect for disposals on or after 29 October 2018, two new tests are to be added to the definition of a ‘personal company’, requiring the claimant to have a 5% interest in both the distributable profits and the net assets of the company. The new tests must be met, in addition to the existing tests, throughout the specified period in order for relief to be due. The existing tests already require a 5% interest in the ordinary share capital and 5% of voting rights.

Minimum qualifying period

The government will legislate in Finance Bill 2018-19 to increase the minimum period throughout which certain conditions must be met to qualify for ER, from one year to two years. The measure will have effect for disposals on or after 6 April 2019 except where a business ceased before 29 October 2018. Where the claimant’s business ceased, or their personal company ceased to be a trading company (or the holding company of a trading group) before 29 October 2018, the existing one year qualifying period will continue to apply.

Dilution of holdings below 5%

Draft legislation has been issued to provide a potential entitlement to ER where an individual’s holding in a company is reduced below the normal 5% qualifying level (meaning 5% of both ordinary share capital and voting power). The relief will only apply where the reduction below 5% occurs as a result of the company raising funds for commercial purposes by means of an issue of new shares, wholly for cash consideration.

Where a disposal of the shareholding prior to the issue would have resulted in a gain which would have qualified for ER, shareholders will be able to make an election treating them as if they had disposed of their shares and immediately reacquired them at market value just before dilution. To avoid an immediate CGT bill on this deemed disposal, a further election can be made to defer the gain until the shares are sold. ER can then be claimed on the deferred gain in the year the shares are sold under the rules in force at that time.

The new rules will apply for share issues which occur on or after 6 April 2019.

Gains for non-residents on UK property

Draft legislation has been issued to charge all non-UK resident persons, whether liable to CGT or corporation tax, on gains on disposals of interests in any type of UK land, whether residential or non-residential. Certain revisions are to be made following a further technical consultation when the full legislation is introduced but the key points are covered here.

All non-UK resident persons will also be taxable on indirect disposals of UK land. The indirect disposal rules will apply where a person makes a disposal of an entity that derives 75% or more of its gross asset value from UK land. There will be an exemption for investors in such entities who hold a less than 25% interest.

All non-UK resident companies will be charged to corporation tax rather than CGT on their gains.

There will be options to calculate the gain or loss on a disposal using the original acquisition cost of the asset or using the value of the asset at commencement of the rules in April 2019.

The CGT charge relating to the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings will be abolished. The legislation will broadly have effect for disposals from 6 April 2019.

Payment on account and 30 day returns

Draft legislation has been issued to change the reporting of gains and the associated CGT liability on disposal of property. The main change is a requirement for UK residents to make a return and a payment on account of CGT within 30 days following the completion of a residential property disposal on a worldwide basis. The new requirements will not apply where the gain on the disposal is not chargeable to CGT, for example where the gains are covered by private residence relief.

For UK residents, the measure will have effect for disposals made on or after 6 April 2020.

CGT private residence relief

It is proposed that from April 2020 the government will make two changes to private residence relief:

  • the final period exemption will be reduced from 18 months to 9 months. There will be no changes to the 36 months that are available to disabled persons or those in a care home
  • Lettings Relief will be reformed so that it only applies in circumstances where the owner of the property is in ‘shared-occupancy’ with a tenant.

The government will consult on the detail of both of these changes and other technical aspects.

Inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate bands

The nil rate band has remained at £325,000 since April 2009 and is set to remain frozen at this amount until April 2021.

IHT residence nil rate band

From 6 April 2017 a new nil rate band, called the ‘residence nil rate band’ (RNRB), has been introduced, meaning that the family home can be passed more easily to direct descendants on death.

The RNRB is being phased in. For deaths in 2018/19 it is £125,000, rising to £150,000 in 2019/20 and £175,000 in 2020/21. Thereafter it will rise in line with the Consumer Price Index.

There are a number of conditions that must be met in order to obtain the RNRB, which may involve redrafting an existing will.

Downsizing

The RNRB may also be available when a person downsizes or ceases to own a home on or after 8 July 2015 where assets of an equivalent value, up to the value of the RNRB, are passed on death to direct descendants.

Changes to IHT RNRB

Amendments are to be introduced to the RNRB relating to downsizing provisions and the definition of ‘inherited’ for RNRB purposes. These amendments clarify the downsizing rules, and provide certainty over when a person is treated as ‘inheriting’ property. This will ensure the policy is working as originally intended. The changes will have effect for deaths on or after 29 October 2018.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)

First time buyers relief

The relief for first time buyers will be extended to purchasers of qualifying shared ownership properties who do not elect to pay SDLT on the market value of the whole property when they purchase their first share. Relief will be applied to the first share purchased, where the market value of the shared ownership property is £500,000 or less.

Higher rates for additional dwellings (HRAD)

A minor amendment will extend the time allowed to claim back HRAD where an individual sells their old home within three years of buying their new one.The measure also clarifies the meaning of `major interest` in land for the general purpose of HRAD.

Consultation on SDLT charge for non-residents

The government will publish a consultation in January 2019 on a SDLT surcharge of 1% for non-residents buying residential property in England and Northern Ireland.

 

DMS Posts, Tax

Autumn Budget 2018 – Employment Taxes

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Off-payroll working in the private sector

The changes to IR35 that came into effect in April 2017 for the public sector will be extended to the private sector from April 2020. Responsibility for operating the off-payroll rules will be transferred from the individual to the organisation, agency or third party engaging the worker. Only medium and large organisations will be subject to this change.

Employment Allowance

The Employment Allowance provides businesses and charities with up to £3,000 off their employer NICs bill. From April 2020, the Employment Allowance will be restricted to those employers whose employers’ NICs bill was below £100,000 in the previous tax year.

Employer provided cars

The scale of charges for working out the taxable benefit for an employee who has use of an employer provided car are normally announced well in advance. Most cars are taxed by reference to bands of CO2emissions multiplied by the original list price of the vehicle. The maximum charge is capped at 37% of the list price of the car.

For this tax year there was generally a 2% increase in the percentage applied by each band. For 2019/20 the rates will increase by a further 3%.

A new development for the current tax year is an increase in the diesel supplement from 3% to 4%. This applies to all diesel cars (unless the car is registered on or after 1 September 2017 and meets the Euro 6d emissions standard) but the maximum is still 37%. There is no change to the current position that the diesel supplement does not apply to hybrid cars.

Charging facilities for electric and hybrid cars

Legislation is proposed to provide a new exemption from a taxable employment benefit where an employer provides charging facilities for employees’ all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles at or near the workplace. The exemption is backdated to have effect from 6 April 2018.

Employer provided cars and vans are already exempt from this benefit.

Exemption for travel expenses

Draft legislation has been issued which removes the requirement for employers to check receipts when making payments to employees for subsistence using benchmark scale rates. This will apply to standard meal allowances paid in respect of qualifying travel and overseas scale rates. Employers will only be asked to ensure that employees are undertaking qualifying travel. This will have effect from April 2019.

The proposed legislation will also allow HMRC to put the existing concessionary accommodation and subsistence overseas scale rates on a statutory basis from 6 April 2019. Like benchmark rates, employers will only be asked to ensure that employees are undertaking qualifying travel.

Self-funded work-related training

The government had previously announced that it would consult on extending the scope of tax relief currently available to employees and the self-employed for work-related training costs. The government has now decided to make no changes to the existing rules. However the National Retraining Scheme is being launched to help those in work, including the self-employed, to develop further skills.