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Understanding Your Umbrella Contract: A Complete Guide for Contractors Understanding Your Umbrella Contract When working through an umbrella company, your umbrella contract is one of the most important documents you’ll encounter. It sets out your relationship with the umbrella company, clarifies your employment status, and outlines your rights and responsibilities. […]

How Umbrella Companies Handle Tax and Compliance Working as a contractor through an umbrella company comes with significant advantages, especially when it comes to handling tax and ensuring compliance with UK employment and tax laws. Many contractors choose umbrella companies for the simplicity and security they provide, leaving the complexities

iConsult Umbrella Enters Liquidation: What Contractors Need to Know On 21 August 2025, iConsult Umbrella (iConsult Payment Solutions Limited) officially entered liquidation. The company’s website now carries a notice confirming it is no longer trading, leaving many contractors and agencies uncertain about unpaid wages, employment continuity, and compliance matters. A

Learn About IR35 and Umbrella Companies: A Guide for Contractors Introduction What is IR35? IR35, or the off‑payroll working rules, is UK tax legislation designed to distinguish between genuine self‑employment and working like an employee through a limited company. If your contract is “inside IR35,” you’re considered an employee for

Why notice periods matter to contractors When taking on a contract through an agency or directly with a client, you’ll normally check the rate, hours, and project details first. But there’s another important point that can be overlooked — the notice period. Your notice period sets out how much time

Making Tax Digital Self Assessment: What’s Changing from April 2026 The way millions of people file their Self-Assessment tax returns is about to change. From 6 April 2026, HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) rules will begin to take effect, starting with those who earn

How New Legislation Will Benefit FCSA Umbrella Companies Reform is Coming — and It Could Be a Positive Shift New legislation to regulate the umbrella company sector is fast approaching. While many providers will see this as a disruptive challenge, the outlook is far brighter for FCSA umbrella companies. Years

National Minimum Wage April 2026: Forecasted Rise and What It Could Mean for Contractors Background to the Forecast The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has been asked by the UK Government to recommend the rates for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) from April 2026.A central aim

What Is the FCSA and Why Does It Matter? Understanding the FCSA If you’re a contractor or an agency involved with umbrella companies, the question “What is the FCSA?” is more important than ever. The FCSA, or Freelancer & Contractor Services Association, is the UK’s leading independent trade body for

HMRC July 2025 Update: Five More Umbrella Companies Named for Suspected Tax Avoidance HMRC has added another five businesses to its list of named tax avoidance schemes, promoters, enablers and suppliers, bringing the total named in 2025 to over 25. The July 2025 update, published on 31 July, includes several

CIS Contractors: How to Complete Your 2024/25 Self-Assessment Return If you’re a self-employed worker in the construction industry and paid under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), then you’re probably familiar with the CIS self-assessment process. But with the 2024/25 tax year now behind us (ending on 5 April 2025), it’s

Umbrella-Agency Relationships: What Contractors Need to Know Contractors who work through umbrella companies often assume that the recruitment agency and umbrella provider are operating with their best interests in mind. In many cases, they are. However, there are times when the relationship between a recruitment agency and an umbrella company

Finance Bill 2025: Government to Crack Down on Umbrella Company Non-Compliance The Government has today published draft legislation that marks a major shift in how non-compliance in the umbrella company sector is tackled. The proposed changes — set out in the Finance Bill 2025–26 — are designed to ensure all

How Does Holiday Pay Work? A Contractor’s Guide to Summer Freedom With the summer holidays in full swing, contractors across the UK are starting to eye up their next break — whether it’s a long weekend in Devon, a week in Spain, or just a few BBQs in the garden.