What are the benefits of appointing a landlord accountant?
Whether you’re a one-person band with a single buy-to-let property, or you are the director of a limited company with a bustling portfolio of properties, hiring a specialist landlord accountant could help you considerably. In this article, we summarise the benefits of appointing a landlord accountant to help you manage your collection of properties.
Umbrella companies and visa FAQs
The Churchill Knight Umbrella team has recently received several queries from contractors who have moved to the UK but are unsure whether they can use an umbrella company for assignments (both inside and outside the UK). This article will answer some of the questions we have been asked about different types of visas and their restrictions concerning umbrella companies. We hope you find it helpful.
The government has unveiled a health and social care plan that’ll see a 1.25% rise in National Insurance and dividend tax
To help the country bounce back from the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a 1.25% rise in National Insurance to help fund health and social care. Estimated to raise up to £12 billion a year, the National Insurance rise has gone against the Conservative Party's manifesto pledge and has been greeted with mixed feedback. However, it's not the only pledge that will impact the country. Limited companies will also be subjected to increased share dividend tax. This article will summarise the government's health and social care plan and how it'll impact workers in the UK.
How does holiday pay work with an umbrella company?
Umbrella company employees have access to holiday pay, but it can be an area of confusion. This article will explain how holiday pay works through an umbrella company, including how it’s calculated and how it will be paid to employees.
Banning umbrella companies would make outsourced workers “more vulnerable” says the FCSA
In a recent report in the Guardian, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called upon the government to ban all umbrella companies. The Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has described the request as a "knee jerk reaction" and has jumped to the defence of compliance-driven umbrella companies. Keep reading to discover why the FCSA believe that banning umbrella companies would leave outsourced workers “more vulnerable”.
The government introduce new measures to clamp down on promoters of tax avoidance schemes
To clamp down further on promoters of tax avoidance, the government is consulting on new draft legislation. Following on from the Promoter Strategy (unveiled in Spring Budget 2020) and existing steps in the Finance Act 2021, a new series of measures will aim to protect public finances by targetting offshore promoters, UK entities and non-compliant umbrella companies. Keep reading to find out more.
Pensions with an umbrella company – a quick guide for contractors
When you join an umbrella company, the umbrella becomes your employer, and you become an employee. Therefore, it is a legal requirement for umbrella companies to auto-enrol their employees into a workplace pension scheme. Keep reading, and we’ll explain how pensions with an umbrella company work and what your best options are.
The FCSA updates Codes of Compliance to make them “tougher” and “more transparent”
To further safeguard the temporary staffing sector, the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has amended its Codes of Compliance. After five months of engaging with stakeholders to ensure the updated Codes are up to scratch, the FCSA confirm "no one else in the sector can give contractors or the supply chain this level of assurance". Keep reading and find out more about the FCSA's updated Codes of Compliance.
Using an umbrella company for the first time: 10 useful tips for contractors
Demand for umbrella companies has risen considerably since the government changed off-payroll working rules into the private sector earlier in the year. Many temporary workers have been faced with the prospect of using an umbrella company for the first time, and naturally, many questions have arisen. This article will provide first-time umbrella company users with helpful information so that you can go ahead and engage with an umbrella company with confidence.
The government to launch a new single enforcement body to protect the rights of employees
The government has announced it will be launching a new, single enforcement body for employment rights. Having released a consultation paper in 2019 outlining a plan to consolidate three existing employment welfare bodies into one, the overall reception from over 110 industry stakeholders was positive. Please keep reading and find out more about the new enforcement body and why the government believe it’s a great solution to protect the rights of employees in the UK.