Representatives from the government, ARC, FCSA, IPSE and Lawspeed, will gather at this key ‘think tank’ on 23rd September in London to discuss government proposals for change to the travel and subsistence rules for employment intermediaries and the company tax rules known as IR35. This is to be followed by a seminar at which BIS will discuss agency regulations.
Last month the government issued a consultation on scrapping tax reliefs on travel and other expenses for agency workers and a separate discussion document on IR35. If the ideas are acted upon the result would appear to maximise the tax and NI take for the Treasury and cut its administration overhead. “But at what cost to the recruitment industry?” asked Adrian Marlowe, Chairman of the event host and organiser, ARC.
“This is a very big question and the best way to address it is to provide an opportunity for everyone interested in this area to meet, listen to government representatives and trade association views, and have their say.”
The FCSA represents umbrella companies and service providers and IPSE represents freelancers and contractors. Both of these organisation’s members will be directly affected by changes in this area. Marlowe continued “At the same time there will be some knock on effect on recruitment businesses and therefore employers, but what could that knock on effect look like? Is the price for change too high, or are the measures justified on balance? Are there any alternative ideas?”
ARC represents recruitment consultancies across a broad range of sectors and pay levels, and Lawspeed is a specialist adviser to the recruitment sector and an expert on IR35.
“The subject of the debate is whether the proposals are likely to damage the recruitment supply industry and therefore the flexibility of the UK workforce. Every recruitment business that employs its own agency workers or uses self-employed or company contractors will be interested in this area, as will umbrella companies and accountants. All are invited to attend and contribute to the discussion.”
The event is to be followed by a seminar hosted by Lawspeed at which a representative of the Department of BIS will discuss agency regulations and the government’s plans in that area, and Lawspeed will present various compliance related topics.
“This will be an interesting and informative day for everyone”, concluded Marlowe.
To register for this all day event please call 01273 236236. Price per person is £280 including lunch, with discounts for ARC members.
