In the aftermath of the Chancellor’s Summer Budget, many organisations that represent contractors and freelancers have expressed their disappointment at the plans to change the way travel and subsistence expenses are handled. When George Osborne announced his intention to limit the way in which home-to-work travel expenses can be claimed, it caused outrage amongst independent professionals who believed that the Conservative Party were keen to support the flexible workforce.
Amongst those who expressed their dismay at what appeared to be an about-face on the part of the party who had published a ‘small business manifesto’ in the run-up to the election was the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed. They have pledged to do whatever they can to change the Chancellor’s mind and as such, they are holding a consultation to collect thoughts and opinions from those who will be affected.
Specifically, IPSE wants to hear from those who have their own limited company and can provide real examples of how the planned changes will affect them in their day-to-day dealings as well as in the long-term. IPSE is planning to conduct a formal survey amongst its members in the coming month, but are asking for initial submissions now in order to begin to form a picture of how the restrictions will change the way individuals, particularly limited company contractors, will work.
They are keen to hear from people from a variety of sectors and in a selection of different roles and they want to get an idea of how much people are currently claiming as well as what those figures represent as a percentage of their overall turnover. They will be collating data about the number of journeys people take, the different locations that people work at and the amount of notice they get that travel will be required as one of the leading bodies representing freelancers, contractors and small businesses, IPSE have long been campaigning for measures to be taken which level the playing field between those in permanent employment and those who work for themselves. They were heartened when the government announced plans to review the way pensions, mortgages and maternity leave are handled for self-employed workers, although much of this early optimism has been undermined by the recent Budget announcement. Nonetheless, the organisation is determined to maintain a degree of pressure on the government to rethink the way they are treating contractors before the new rules come into play.
Keeping on top of the latest news and how it will affect you can be difficult, especially when you want to be able to focus on your business and how to make a success of it. Having a specialist contractor accountant on hand to offer advice and information about everything you need to know is invaluable and can save you money and time. For details of our specially designed packages and to chat to someone about your needs, call us today on 01253 362062 or email us at contractoradvice@nixonwilliams.com.