Joy for PCG membership as IR35 looks set for the scrapheap!

Statement by Chris Bryce, Freelance Contractor and PCG Chairman

At the top of the list of frustrations for many Freelance businesses is IR35, indeed the inadequacies of this unworkable tax were instrumental to the PCG forming in 1999. 

Over the last few months the PCG team has had a series of meetings with the Conservative shadow front bench team and the Liberal Democrat front bench team. We are delighted our message was heard and action taken.

In the Coalition’s full programme for Government, the Government declares it will:

“Review IR35 as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures that prevent tax avoidance but do not place undue administrative burdens or uncertainty on the self employed, or restrict labour market flexibility.”

The commitment appears as the fourth of 20 priorities for improving the UK’s ability to do business.

This commitment marks a major step forward and is a hugely positive development that demonstrates the value of PCG.  It is not yet, however, the end of IR35 or the end of commercial and legislative challenges for our community.  PCG is a force for change, but to drive this through, we need to stand up as a community and get behind PCG.

PCG is an association with 20,000 members (people like you and me), a powerful voice, a source of independent advice and information and a vital network dedicated to the needs of the freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK - the more members we have, the stronger our voice.

We are all in this together and together we are stronger.  So please, if you haven’t yet joined PCG – consider adding your voice; if you are a member already, please use this positive news to encourage other freelancers to get involved.

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