Welcome to Umbrella Companies
Over 10 years ago, we made it our mission to help contractors and freelancers in the UK. Ever since IR35 legislation was introduced (2000), there has been a real increase in the number of umbrella companies. In fact, there’s now well over 500. Choose a compliant umbrella company for your payroll – you have nothing to worry about. Choose a non-compliant umbrella company – you could find yourself in serious trouble with HMRC.
Our website is dedicated to helping contractors and freelancers make well-informed decisions about their payroll. We’ve done what we can to offer reliable and impartial advice, and we cover all-things umbrella, including IR35, how umbrellas work, the importance of compliance, how to identify evil tax avoidance schemes, and more!
We hope you find the site useful. Please feel free to comment on our blogs and to share any information you find helpful.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out our top 10 umbrella companies!
Thank you for visiting!
The FCSA’s CEO explains recent amendments to Section A10 of Codes of Compliance
The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has recently updated its Codes of Compliance to clarify the confusion surrounding umbrella companies and holiday pay and to strengthen compliance by its members. However, the recent updates have been scrutinised by industry stakeholders. Contractor UK said the “FCSA rubbed out words proposed …
Umbrella companies and holiday pay – what is going on in the industry?
The FCSA has recently updated its Codes of Compliance in response to industry-wide frustration surrounding a few umbrella companies retaining their workers’ holiday pay. Such practice is providing a handful of umbrellas with significant boosts in profits, but the practice is unethical and has rightfully been heavily reported on. In …
Umbrella companies and holiday pay – what is going on in the industry? » Read the full story
The FCSA Updates Codes Of Compliance – July 2022
In a recent article (July 2022) by Chris Bryce on the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association’s (FCSA) website, it’s been unveiled that the FCSA has updated its Codes of Compliance. With the primary objective of the FCSA to “champion compliance across the sector and protect the interests of members, workers …
The FCSA Updates Codes Of Compliance – July 2022 » Read the full story
Contractor UK brings ‘sham’ umbrella company accreditation body to light in alarming article
As if choosing a compliant umbrella company isn’t difficult enough! There are over 500 umbrellas in the UK, and while most are compliant, some are tax avoidance schemes preying on vulnerable contractors and freelancers. In an article by Contractor UK, a ‘sham’ accreditation body has been identified. If you’re a …
First-Tier Tribunal rules in favour of HMRC leaving umbrella company Exchequer Solutions facing £11 million tax bill
An FCSA accredited umbrella company, Exchequer Solutions, has lost a First-Tier Tribunal against HMRC relating to an £11 million tax bill due to errors processing historical contractor expenses. In this article, we summarise the case between HMRC and Exchequer Solutions and share the FCSA’s official response to the First-Tier Tribunal …
Contractors should never feel forced to use an umbrella company
Using an umbrella company is a popular payroll choice for tens of thousands of contractors and freelancers working on temporary assignments. However, not everyone is keen to use an umbrella. There have been reports of recruitment agencies forcing temporary workers to use specific umbrella companies if they want to keep …
Contractors should never feel forced to use an umbrella company » Read the full story