News
We're sponsoring REC2020 again
Recruitment has been one of the hardest-hit sectors in the pandemic. The Bank of England has estimated...
Job Retention Bonus Policy Paper Released
A little while ago, Rishi Sunak announced the Job Retention Bonus: a £1000 bonus for employers per employee ...
Flexible Furlough: What it Means for Contractors
At the time of writing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has supported over 1 million employers...
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: The cost of getting it wrong
Since the launch of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) in March it is estimated to have cost...
Contribute to This Year’s Contractor Attitude Survey
Life can move quickly for the self-employed, this is probably something you know all too well. That’s w...
Summer Statement: The ‘Plan For Jobs’
Earlier today, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his summer economic update in which he outlined his ‘Plan f...
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme opens for claims
As a contractor working through your own limited company, sick pay is something you need...
House of Lords Release Report following Off-Payroll Inquiry
The House of Lords launched their inquiry into the off-payroll working rules in early February, the review...
Financial Support for the Self-Employed Announced
Earlier tonight, we saw the Chancellor announce a much anticipated financial aid package for the ...
COVID-19 Support Available to Personal Service Companies
The government has unveiled a £330 billion support package to help businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. ...
The Effect of the IR35 Delay on Contractors
The shock announcement on Wednesday that the off-payroll reforms will be delayed by twelve months to...
Delay to Off-Payroll Reforms Announced
The surprise announcement on Wednesday that the off-payroll reforms will be deferred to 6th April 2021...
Trading inside IR35: The Options
It may be the case that you have been informed by your end hirer or agency that your assignment, which...
April 2020 IR35 Reforms
As a limited company contractor, you’ll probably be familiar with the IR35 legislation. Whilst IR35 h...
Updated IR35 Guidance for Contractors
Up to now, a lot of the guidance published around the upcoming IR35 reforms have been focused on businesses...
GSK Contractors Receive Letters from HMRC
Almost 1500 contractors whose Personal Service Companies (PSC) were engaged in contracts with the pharmaceutical...
First Freelance continues to drive new frontiers with new CEO appointment
We’re pleased to announce the appointment of First Freelance’s new chief executive officer, Doug Cra...
First Freelance is a finalist for Best Contractor Accountant in the inaugural Contracting Awards 2019
The Contracting Awards will be holding its inaugural event to showcase and recognise top service providers...
Contractor Community: How can the First Freelance Contractor Survey help you connect and learn?
If you’ve already filled out our Contractor Survey , you may be wondering what exactly is ‘in it for...
First Freelance 2019 Contractor Survey: What is it all about?
You might have seen the Contractor Survey being promoted, but what exactly is it all about?
While...
IR35 2020 Reform – Key Points for Contractors
Thursday 11 th July 2019 saw the announcement of draft IR35 legislation reforms; the finalised legislative...
Payslip Policy 2019
HMRC Details Statutory Changes to Payslip Policy Legislation
April 2019 saw the introduction of new...
First Freelance awarded Customer Service Excellence Standard for the fourth year
First Freelance has been awarded the prestigious Customer Service Excellence Standard for a fourth consecutive...
Spring Statement 2019: An Overview
At this time of year, a few things are certain in Britain; grassy verges will begin turning to yellow...
IR35 Consultation Round-up
Last week, contractors’ eyes were fixed on the government website, awaiting the arrival of the IR35 c...
Making Tax Digital: What's Changing?
In today’s digital world, it only seems fitting that tax should follow suit. Making Tax Digital is t...
First Freelance Becomes FCSA Accredited Member
Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) is delighted to announce First Freelance has once...
2018 Budget Summary
Yesterday Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the 2018 Autumn Budget. The extension of the public sector ...
First Freelance Achieves CSE for Third Year Running
For a third consecutive year, First Freelance has achieved the Government’s prestigious Customer Service E...
Act Now - or Face the Consequences
Julia Kermode, chief executive of the FCSA on why recruitment agencies need to act to avoid criminal...
FCSA Restructure - Accreditation required for all members
The FCSA have announced a restructuring to bring more clarity to the recruitment industry. As from September...
Autumn Budget 2017: 25 Key Announcements
1. There are over 32 million people in work – near a record high
The rise in employment over the p...
HMRC collect £4bn through APNs
HMRC says it has now issued APNs on all the schemes that were already under investigation when the new...
NHS Improvement revises guidance on 'IR35 rules'
NHS Improvement yesterday published revised guidance on the rules relating to IR35, removing the blanket...
HMRC reveal new tax avoidance scheme
HMRC have revealed details of a new disguised remuneration tax avoidance scheme that attempts to avoid...
Budget 2017: tax avoidance enablers rules to raise £100m in fines
Fines against enablers of tax avoidance schemes are set to generate an extra £100m for the Exchequer, ...
Spring Budget 2017: 21 point overview
Here's a summary of what was announced today in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget to Parliament:
1. The e...
Supreme Court rules that holiday pay must be based on basic pay and commission
In October 2016, the Court of Appeal ruled, in the British Gas v Lock case, that results-based pay...
OTS Review of VAT and Call for Evidence
Having completed the first phase of their review on the simplification of VAT, the Office of Tax Simplification...
Small Business Commissioner: Process for Handling Complaints
The government has published the planned process and draft regulations for the Small Business Commissioner...
Government shelves Companies House six-year data wipe plan
Controversial plans for Companies House to delete records of dissolved companies after six years rather...
Flat Rate VAT Scheme Guidance Issued
HMRC has issued guidance on changes to the flat rate VAT scheme which comes into effect from April 2017. ...
HMRC’s Employment Status Service (ESS) Launched
No doubt you will already be aware that HMRC’s long awaited digital tool for determining IR35 status, n...
HMRC slams door on two remuneration schemes used to avoid tax
HMRC has added two disguised remuneration structures which used annuities to avoid income tax and national...
VAT flat rate rise will not reduce abuse of system
Plans to crackdown on abuse of the VAT Flat Rate Scheme (FRS) may be ineffective and have unwelcome consequences...
First Freelance announced as ‘Overall Provider of the Year’ at top industry awards
Contractor Accountancy firm, First Freelance, has been selected as the winner of the ‘Overall Provider o...
First Freelance MD, Mark Beal-Preston, elected to new FCSA Board
First Freelance is pleased to announce that its Managing Director, Mark Beal-Preston, has been elected...
DBEIS issues payment reporting guidance
Ahead of measures coming into force in April 2017, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial...
FCSA responds to off-payroll / IR35 draft legislation
FCSA submitted a written response to the draft legislation for the off-payroll / IR35 changes that are...
Making Tax Digital reporting to start in April 2018
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital reporting plans are to go ahead as planned with an April 2018 launch f...
Public sector employers to report on gender pay gap
The government has issued the draft regulations requiring specified public sector employers with at least...
Government starts review of 'gig' economy
A team of four experts is preparing to tour the UK to explore how the "gig" economy is affecting workers'...
OTS rejects lookthrough taxation system for small business
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has rejected the viability of introducing lookthrough taxation...
Holiday pay and commission; latest Court of Appeal ruling re Lock v British Gas
This month, the Court of Appeal has concluded that holiday pay should reflect the normal remuneration...
Pensions auto enrolment – are self-employed left behind?
It is now 4 years since pensions auto enrolment was introduced and current data from National Employment...
Review of non-standard employment practices
Prime Minister, Theresa May has announced that employment law and practices in the UK will be reviewed,...
BBC presenters under investigation regarding IR35 status
More than 100 BBC presenters are under investigation for IR35 status and whether they should pay tax...
Making Tax Digital - The Dawn of a New Era
L ast year’s Budget set out the government’s bold vision to transform the tax system and bring an end...
National Minimum Wage increases 1 October: What you need to know.
National minimum wage (NMW) rates will increase on 1 October by between 3% and 4.7% for workers under...
HMRC reviews the success of their Intermediaries Reporting Requirements regime
In order to understand how the sector has responded to the Intermediaries Reporting Requirements, HMRC...
HMRC sets out proposals to tackle the hidden economy
On 26 August, HMRC published proposals to tackle the hidden economy, promote tax compliance and create...
HMRC’s IR35 tool won’t stand up in court, claims leading tax expert
Contractors could find themselves burdened with tax hikes and diminishing opportunities thanks to the...
FCSA refutes Telegraph’s claims that personal service companies are inappropriate
Following a Telegraph report (22nd July 2016) that suggested the BBC has acted inappropriately by allowing...
FCSA set to meet with the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS)
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) had issued two consultations that impact on freelancers operating...
FCSA submits response to HMRC’s off-payroll IR35 consultation
FCSA submitted our joint response to the HMRC off-payroll/IR35 public sector consultation one week ahead...
IR35 Costs: Public sector employers say changes to tax system will cost them.
A survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has revealed the belief among public sector...
HMRC issues six digital tax accounts consultations for business, self-employed and landlords
HMRC’s long-awaited consultations into how its flagship Making Tax Digital (MTD) strategy will work i...
First Freelance receives prestigious Customer Service Accreditation for two years running.
For a second year, First Freelance has received the Cabinet Award for Customer Service Excellence, with...
Government proposes IR35 reforms in public sector
HMRC has released their consultation on reform to the off-payroll IR35 rules for personal service companies...
FCSA visits Number 10
Recently, Julia Kermode, CEO of the FCSA had the honour of being invited to meet with David Cameron’s se...
OTS recommendations to simplify tax for small companies
The OTS have published their recommendations for simplifying tax for small companies:
Aligning filing...
New HMRC Expenses and Benefits guide issued
HMRC have issued their latest Booklet 480 “Expenses and benefits: A tax guide” which has been updated for...
Research reveals UK plc. confused about T&S regulations
Research has revealed that only 35% of UK hirers are fully conversant with the recent Travel &...
Key announcements impacting contractors in Autumn Statement
Key announcements impacting contractors from today’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review 2015:
Travel a...
FCSA argue the true value of umbrellas for contractors.
Umbrellas have certainly come under some fire over the past year and we’ve all read and heard some b...
UK plc. to pay the price if T&S tax relief goes ahead
Government legislation to deny Travel & Subsistence tax relief for contractors and freelancers...
House of Lords speech comes out in support of FCSA
Lord Palmer of Childs Hill has appealed to the Government to rethink its plans announced in the March...
T&S reform not the end of Umbrella
Travel and subsistence (T&S) reform is not the end of Umbrella Companies says Julia Kermode , CEO...
New Immigration Bill for Autumn 2015: the risks of hiring illegal workers increase
A forthcoming Immigration Bill, which is to be implemented during Autumn 2015 , will affect illegal workers,...
FCSA is 'outraged' by government proposals on councillor tax relief
The Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has expressed outrage at the government’s a...
REC advise their members to only use FCSA compliant contractor accountancy and umbrella providers
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has entered into a new working relationship with the...
FCSA’s CEO to speak on compliancy at Recruitment Agency Expo
FCSA’s Chief Executive Julia Kermode has been invited to speak at this year’s Recruitment Agency Exp...
FCSA pursue amendments to legislation
FCSA is urging MPs to show their support for contractors by remedying the errors made in the Finance...
REC Announce First Freelance as a Business Partner
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is pleased to announce that First Freelance has joined...
First Freelance becomes latest FCSA Member
FCSA has announced that First Freelance has been accepted as a full member of the Association demonstrating...
