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The government has released its consultation on off-payroll working in the private sector. HMRC has launched its consultation into ‘Off-Payroll working in the private sector' immediately raising questions on the timing and suitability of the implementation. The event brought together many of the leading Trade Associations, Representative Bodies and Experts including ACCA, APSCo, CBI, CIPD, CIPP, CIOT, ICAEW, IOD, IFS, Law Society, LITRG and University of Oxford. Representatives from key Government departments involved in the response to the Matthew Taylor Report also attended including BEIS, HMRC, HM Treasury, and the OTS. PRISM, a trade association that represents third-party payment intermediaries such as payroll companies and umbrella providers, has been at the forefront of the arguments surrounding Modern Employment and creating a tax framework to support the new emerging trends. PRISM has been encouraged that the Chancellor did not, as many had predicted, make any further announcements on the extension of the off-payroll rules to the private sector in his Spring Statement. PRISM has launched a resource centre for its provider members. PRISM's summary of the latest news both political and media. PRISM's summary of the latest news both political and media. PRISM's summary of the latest news both political and media. Following the release of the government's ‘Good Work' plan (as its response to the Taylor Review) PRISM, the trade association for payment intermediaries, is encouraged that the government has finally acknowledged that the issues of employment and tax are intrinsically linked: ‘The consultation will consider employment status for both employment rights and tax, including considering the review's recommendation for greater alignment between the two, in order to tackle this issue holistically.' PRISM, the trade association for payment intermediaries, is urging the government to consider all the options before releasing its consultation on extending the off-payroll rules to the private sector. PRISM is urging the government to consider all the options before releasing its consultation on extending the off-payroll rules to the private sector. Crawford Temple, COO, Professional Passport on how and why the industry should act on compliance now. PRISM and The Low Income Tax Reform Group (LITRG) have sought to bring transparency to workers in umbrella companies with the publication of a guidance factsheet. PRISM's CEO Crawford Temple has attended a Tory Workers event in Manchester at which, alongside a senior Conservative MP and industry representatives, he called on the government to get on with the job of improving the lives of ordinary people through radical reform of employment law and tax reform. This week on 1624 we look at zero hour contracts and the gig economy, with interviews from Daniel Tomlinson at the Resolution Foundation, Professor of Labour Economics Stanley Siebert, Lawyer and member of the Taylor Review Diane Nicol as well as CEO of Prism and COO of Professional Passport Crawford Temple. We focused on the rise of zero hour contracts, their advantages and disadvantages, the 'Taylor Review on Modern Working Practices', Uber's licence, productivity, employment and tax law; specifically how they possibly don't encourage positive employment practices. As part of our role within a wider educational charity, for some time now LITRG has wanted to do more to support temporary workers who are having to grapple with working through an umbrella company. A panel discussion at the Houses of Parliament, organised and hosted by PRISM, has further explored the future of the gig economy. The panel brought together PRISM’s CEO, Crawford Temple, Robert Halfon MP, a former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Nick Denys, Employment Policy Officer at the Law Society and Nigel Keohane, the Head of Research at the Social Market Foundation. Leading figures within the modern employment sector recently met in Parliament to debate the future of the gig economy. The event, which was organised and hosted by PRISM, was attended by a range of different industry representatives. The panel included PRISM’s CEO, Crawford Temple, Robert Halfon MP, a former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Nick Denys, Employment Policy Officer at the Law Society and Nigel Keohane, the Head of Research at the Social Market Foundation. Commenting on the event Crawford Temple said, “This event in Parliament was an important opportunity to make the case to politicians about the long term, structural changes that are needed to address the problems in the gig economy”. “All of us on the panel agreed that the complexity of the tax system, a failure to comply and a lack of enforcement are all problems that need addressing. We have set out our proposed solutions and we look forward to collaborating with others in the future.” PRISM, a not for profit professional trade association, recently set out it’s proposals in a review entitled “The Case for Structural Reform”. The three guiding principles, they wrote, were a simplification and better understanding of the rules, better compliance with those rules and greater enforcement in the event of non compliance. “With the tax and employment system struggling to cope with the challenges of the modern labor market, this document pulls together many of the comments and recommendations from other Government papers,“ added Temple “and we will be submitting our plans to the Chancellor before this Autumn’s budget.” With the party conferences set to begin in just a few weeks’ time, PRISM will be hoping that they can make the case to other leading politicians. “The event that PRISM is sponsoring at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester will be another chance to talk to MPs and industry representatives and I look forward to seeing how we can work together to fix our broken gig economy.” Employment experts and politicians should come together to get worker categorisations right and create uniformity for employers, speakers at a House of Commons panel event have advised. With the Taylor Review now published and many others such as Social Market Foundation [SMF], Law Society, and TUC, to name a few, also publishing their views what could all this mean for the recruitment sector. The work that PRISM now carries out, and the relationships we have developed across stakeholder groups, extends beyond the interests of just payment intermediaries operating in the market and in many cases, will be informing and influencing direction of the sector as a whole. The prospect of the IR35 rules being extended into the private sector is contractors’ top concern, research has revealed. PRISM is hosting an event on Tuesday 5th September in the House of Commons where a panel will debate their views on modern employment, looking at ideas from The Taylor Report, The Law Society, The TUC Report and the PRISM sponsored report published by The Social Market Foundation – Rules of Engagement. “Gig economy” companies should disclose the average hourly pay received by people working via their platforms, a new report says today. An SMF report entitled ‘Rules of engagement: Reviewing self-employment and employment in the UK’, released today, has called on government to force all companies to estimate and publish the average hourly equivalent payment to their staff. A report from the Social Market Foundation (SMF), entitled Rules of engagement: Reviewing self-employment and employment in the UK, has suggested that companies must disclose gig workers' hourly earnings. The report is part of a broader programme of work supported by PRISM, which the SMF is undertaking, to look into the position of self-employed workers in the labour market. Public sector contractors seeking IR35 advice from HMRC received incorrect information from the tax office’s call centre, according to an organisation representing Britain’s contracted workers. In a report published on 1 May the Work and Pensions Committee said the government must work to close the loopholes that are currently allowing ‘bogus’ self-employment practices. Government will have no choice but to remodel legal and tax frameworks for UK workers once Matthew Taylor completes his Review into Modern Employment due to “widespread” dissatisfaction with the government’s current approach to employment legislation, PRISM has predicted. The gig economy has been under massive scrutiny in the media for years and, more recently, self-employment and atypical working have climbed the political agenda too. The Taylor Review has the best chance of solving Britain’s chaotic employment practices for a generation after unwittingly becoming the epicentre of a wave of initiatives by politicians, industry and think tanks, according to a trade body. A Westminster think-tank is launching two new surveys to shed light on the issue of employment status and to explore the changing nature of work in the UK. The government has announced that it is to introduce IR35 tax changes, which will result in Personal Service Company contractors in the public sector losing their right to determine their tax status The Financial Times reports on the initial findings from the Social Market Foundation survey, supported by PRISM. The story featured as the lead story on the FT UK Politics briefing on 17th November 2016. Subscribers to FT.com will be able to click the link to read the full article. PRISM has welcomed the Government’s decision to launch a review of employment legislation after campaigning for one for the past year. PRISM has been pressing for a review to end the sticking plaster approach to legislative changes which have been impacting the temporary workers market. The idea of the review received broad support from MP’s across all the major political parties as well as many of the large representative groups and informed commentators. An independent review of flexible working from the ‘gig’ economy to 'Uberisation' and contracting has been launched by the Social Market Foundation (SMF). The SMF will look closely at whether a tax system that still only recognises workers as either ‘employed’ or ‘self-employed’ is fit for purpose amid concerns employment legislation has failed to keep up with the world of work. The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has recommended that a review be carried out on the tax regime for flexible workers. The OTS, part of the Treasury and offering independent advice to the government on simplifying the UK tax system, called for the review in its response to Prime Minister Theresa May’s government ‘Off-Payroll Working’ consultation. PRISM is to publish a monthly bulletin which will provide updates on political developments regarding laws affecting employment intermediaries and contractors. It is hoped the free PRISM ‘Pulse’ will create greater understanding among those working in the sector of the challenges employment intermediaries and contractors currently face. Whitehalls’ working group on employment status offers “little hope of badly needed reform” according to Crawford Temple at tradebody PRISM. A cross-government committee has been set up to look at employment status but its membership is made up of those departments who have already failed to bring employment rules up to date. A senior politician has accused the Government of misunderstanding how the world of work has changed as Parliament heard calls for a strategic review of the legislation affecting contractors. MPs pressed the case for a review of all types of employment, including flexible working, at the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill this week. Exploited' Supply Teachers get a kicking from taxman Fears that supply staff will quit in droves after tax throwback robs them of thousands of pounds a year Osborne’s Changes to Contractors’ T&S Relief Attacked by MPs in Parliament MPs opposed to George Osborne’s changes to travel and subsistence relief have attacked the policy in Parliament. SNP calls for strategic review of income tax for contractors SNP Treasury spokesman Roger Mullin MP has called for a strategic review of the tax status of contractors especially with in light of plans to remove travel and subsistence relief and is calling on the Chancellor George Osborne to report back within six months. HMRC admits contractor tax change legislation needs a rewrite HMRC has admitted getting the wording wrong in new travel and subsistence legislation and will have to rewrite it. The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has become the latest to declare support for a wide ranging strategic review that could end the raw deal for contractors. A cross-party group of UK Members of Parliament has written to Chancellor George Osborne to call for the improved tax treatment of flexible workers, or contractors. Cross-party alliance of 55 MPs calls on Govt to end the raw deal for contractors. A CROSS-PARTY alliance made up of dozens of MPs have called on the Chancellor to end the raw deal for flexible workers known as contractors Review bid gets crucial boost from influential and campaigning politician A TRADE body’s call for a strategic review of the tax regime has received another boost - this time from a key shadow Treasury spokesman. The SNP’s Roger Mullin hailed the plan as “modest and reasonable” after meeting PRISM chief executive Crawford Temple. PRISM is calling for a review of the tax system affecting contractors in the hope it results in them being properly recognised by UK tax rules for the first time. Shadow Treasury Minister backs PRISM’s call for tax regime review PRISM’s calls for a strategic review of the tax regime have been backed by a shadow Treasury minister. Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Rob Marris, wrote to the Chancellor, George Osborne, supporting the idea after discussions with chief executive, Crawford Temple. Teachers and nurses to lose 20% of income as tax changes hit ‘freelance’ workers ORDINARY workers such as teachers and nurses are set to lose as much as 20% of their income under tax changes due to take effect within weeks. AEMC stops trading and gets behind PRISM Association of Employment Management Companies (AEMC), a trade body for the umbrella industry, is to cease operations and throw its weight behind fellow industry trade body PRISM. AEMC, which has been operating for seven years, had five members at the end of last year, three of which were also members of PRISM. Early Day Motion tabled by Labour MP against Osborne tax move A labour MP has highlighted the threat posed to public services by cuts to contractor expenses to members of the House of Commons. Labour MP Sir Alan Meale described the attack on travel and subsistence expenses as ‘short-sighted’ in an Early Day Motion (EDM). He was one of a raft of MPs contacted by constituents as part of trade body PRISM’S Yes2T&S campaign, devised to defeat the Chancellor’s proposals. Threat to public services posed by T&S changes highlighted by MPs THE threat posed to public services by cuts to contractor expenses has been highlighted in the House of Commons. Labour MP Sir Alan Meale described the attack on travel and subsistence expenses as “short-sighted” in an Early Day Motion (EDM). He was one of a raft of MPs contacted by constituents as part of trade body PRISM’S Yes2T&S campaign, devised to defeat the Chancellor’s proposals. Sir Alan, MP for Mansfield, tabled a motion calling for the consequences of the policy to be properly recognised by fellow MPs. It stated: "That this House [...] understands the importance of workers in this sector who currently fill the skills shortages around the country and in industries as hospitals, schools and colleges and local authorities as well as many major public civil engineering projects; and believes that if the Government persists in such a short-sighted fiscal strategy it will result in undoubted delays and huge failures to essential services provided to citizens.” The EDM was supported by Tory Sir Peter Bottomley. EDMs are a mechanism by which MPs can officially voice concerns about Government policy in the highest court in the land. Crawford Temple, CEO of PRISM, thanked Sir Alan for his intervention. He said: “It is extremely important that an important issue like this with such huge ramifications gets recognised officially in Parliament so I thank him sincerely for that. “George Osborne has decided to press ahead with removing this vital relief which we expect to have huge consequences for public and private sector wage bills as employers are forced to make up for the shortfall. "However, there is a huge amount of lobbying still to do as we continue to take our concerns to our elected representatives whose job it is to scrutinise government policy and hold the Chancellor to account.” PRISM’s Yes2T&S campaign is ongoing - go to www.prism.contractors/yes2tands and get your MP to take the fight to the Chancellor. Contractors call for review of T&S tax relief changes Freelance workers and contractors are calling on George Osborne to review planned changes to the rules covering tax relief for claims for travel and subsistence (T&S) expenses in this week’s autumn statement, saying estimates suggest this could cost contractors an average £200 a week and will increase the burden for employers AGENCY STAFF MAY LOSE MONEY UNDER NEW TAX RULES Some agency nurses could be around £90 a week worse off from April if they lose the right to claim for travel and meal expenses in their tax returns. AS 2015: IR35 unchanged. Expenses restrictions for contractors go ahead IR35 remains unchanged as a result of the Autumn Statement 2015. However, umbrella company contractors and limited company contractors using personal service companies and who are caught by IR35 will have travel and subsistence tax relief restricted. Osborne to slash support for industry About 400,000 contractors could lose out by about £400 a year from measures to clamp down on tax avoidance. The Treasury is expected to announce that those who work on short-term contracts, such as nurses, will no longer be able to claim tax relief on travel to a temporary place of work. PRISM: Whitehall departments have appalling complacency over contractors WHITEHALL has been accused of “appalling complacency” after it emerged a string of vital departments have failed to study the potential impact of threatened tax changes on their budgets. Education bosses yet to assess impact of T&S proposals Education chiefs have admitted they do not know what impact Chancellor George Osborne’s new travel and subsistence (T&S) law changes will have on supply teachers amid a growing retention crisis in schools. New research from trade body PRISM has revealed that supply teachers engaged as contractors are set to suffer a real terms pay cut of more than £3,250 a year, equivalent to £62.56 each week. The contractor clampdown could be devastating for schools, the trade body warns, as they will be forced to face up to “an unmanageable burden with huge cost implications” Education chiefs in the dark over threat of expense changes to supply teachers EDUCATION chiefs have been forced to admit they have no idea what impact swingeing tax changes will have on supply teachers next year amid huge retention problems in schools. This is despite research showing supply teachers engaged as contractors will on average lose £62.56 per week – an overnight real terms pay cut of £3,253 a year. The Devastating True Cost of George Osborne's Tax Raid on Britain's Workers The devastating true cost of George Osborne's tax raid on contractors will see construction workers more than £6,000 a year worse off, research shows. Contractors in the construction sector will lose an average of £117 per week, equivalent to massive £6,084 a year, once changes to travel allowances take effect in April. Teachers and nurses are also going to be hit hard 'Last chance' to affect T&S outcome says industry body PRISM has launched a ‘Yes2T&S' campaign in an attempt to force George Osborne to think again before letting the proposed changes to Travel & Subsistence (T&S) rules come in next April. The proposals which could affect Britain's 1.6 million contractors will introduce what PRISM is describing as a ‘devastating stealth tax' on these workers. Tax grab threatens contractors with 20% pay cut and could cost UK employers £7bn Ministers are mounting a tax grab which threatens 1.6m temporary workers with a 20 per cent pay cut, a trade body warned today. The Government was urged to think again after being accused of "going to war" on the most vulnerable by slashing contractors' take home pay.Government releases consultation on off-payroll working in the private sector - May 2018
PRISM's Response to the Consultation on Off-Payroll Working in the Private Sector
On 8th May 2018 PRISM hosted a Round Table discussion on Modern Employment at The Law Society in London
Does the employer NIC threshold drive the use of zero-hour contracts?
PRISM View of Statement - Cautious welcome on IR35 from industry body - March 2018
PRISM launches provider resource centre - March 2018
PRISM Pulse - 27th February 2018
PRISM Pulse - 20th February 2018
PRISM Pulse - 12th February 2018
Opportunity for true reform PRISM's response to government - February 2018
PRISM URGES ACTION, INDUSTRY MUST MAKE NOISE ABOUT IR35. - JANUARY 2018
PRISM URGES GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS BEFORE EXTENDING OFF-PAYROLL RULES TO PRIVATE SECTOR - JANUARY 2018
CRAWFORD TEMPLE CEO OF PRISM ON HOW AND WHY THE INDUSTRY SHOULD ACT ON COMPLIANCE NOW - DECEMBER 2017
PRISM AND LITRG PRODUCE GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS - OCTOBER 2017
PRISM CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN WORKING LIVES - OCTOBER 2017
ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS & THE GIG ECONOMY - OCTOBER 2017
PRESS RELEASE: LITRG LAUNCH PRACTICAL HELP FOR UMBRELLA COMPANY WORKERS - SEPTEMBER 2017
GIG ECONOMY DISCUSSED AT HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT - SEPTEMBER 2017
TRADE BODY CALLS ON MPS AND UNIONS TO COME TOGETHER TO FIX BROKEN GIG ECONOMY - SEPTEMBER 2017
‘STICKING PLASTER’ APPROACH TO EMPLOYMENT STATUS NOT WORKING - SEPTEMBER 2017
MODERN EMPLOYMENT - SEPTEMBER 2017
PRISM EXTENDS MEMBERSHIP INVITE TO RECRUITERS AND END CLIENTS - AUGUST 2017
PROSPECT OF IR35 EXTENSION TO PRIVATE SECTOR TOPS CONTRACTORS’ CONCERNS - AUGUST 2017
PRISM TO HOST MODERN EMPLOYMENT DEBATE - AUGUST 2017
NEW THINK TANK REPORT SAYS COMPANIES MUST DISCLOSE GIG WORKERS’ HOURLY EARNINGS - JUNE 2017
THINK-TANK CALLS ON GIG EMPLOYERS TO DISCLOSE WORKERS’ HOURLY EARNINGS - JUNE 2017
HOW TO ENGAGE - PRISM SUPPORTED REPORT INTO EMPLOYMENT RELEASED - JUNE 2017
HMRC GIVING WRONG EXPENSES ADVICE, SAYS INTERMEDIARY TRADE BODY - MAY 2017
COVERAGE OF THE WORK AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE REPORT – BOGUS CLAIM: WORK AND PENSIONS REPORT SLAMS ASPECTS OF 'GIG' ECONOMY - MAY 2017
CALLS FOR CLARITY AND TAYLOR REVIEW 'TO FORCE TAX RETHINK’, SAYS PRISM - APRIL 2017
THE GIG ECONOMY: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE 9 TO 5? - APRIL 2017
THERE ARE NOW SEVEN SEPARATE REVIEWS INTO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES - DECEMBER 2016
NEW STUDY LAUNCHED TO ASSESS HOW BUSINESSES USE CONTRACT WORKERS - DECEMBER 2016
AUTUMN STATEMENT REACTION: INDUSTRY BODIES RESPOND - NOVEMBER 2016
SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS MAY BE GETTING WORST OF BOTH WORLDS, SAYS NEW THINK-TANK REPORT - NOVEMBER 2016
PRISM WELCOMES GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION - OCTOBER 2016
THINK TANK TO TACKLE FLEXIBLE WORKING - SEPTEMBER 2016
OTS PRESSES FOR TAX REGIME REVIEW FOR FLEXIBLE WORKERS - SEPTEMBER 2016
FREE MONTHLY LEGAL UPDATES BULLETIN LAUNCHED BY PRISM - AUGUST 2016
'SAME PEOPLE' WILL PRODUCE SAME ANSWERS SAYS TRADE BODY. - JULY 2016
PARLIAMENT HEARS BATTLE CRY FOR STRATEGIC REVIEW OF CONTRACTING SECTOR, REVEALS PRISM - JUNE 2016
TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT - MAY 2016
RECRUITMENT BUZZ - APRIL 2016
CCH DAILY - APRIL 2016
SHOUT99 - APRIL 2016
APSCO BACKS PRISM’S CALL FOR STRATEGIC REVIEW - MARCH 2016
GROUP OF MPS CALLS FOR REFORMED TAXATION OF CONTRACTORS - MARCH 2016
PRISM - MARCH 2016
IT CONTRACTORS UK - MARCH 2016
RECRUITMENT INTERNATIONAL - FEBRUARY 2016
SUNDAY POST - JANUARY 2016
RECRUITER - JANUARY 2016
GLOBAL RECRUITER - DECEMBER 2015
T&S CHANGES HIGHLIGHTED - DECEMBER 2015
ACCOUNTANCY LIVE - DECEMBER 2015
NURSING STANDARD - DECEMBER 2015
CONTRACTOR CALCULATOR - NOVEMBER 2015
SUNDAY TIMES - NOVEMBER 2015
RECRUITMENT INTERNATIONAL - NOVEMBER 2015
CRYSTAL UMBRELLA - NOVEMBER 2015
QA EDUCATION - NOVEMBER 2015
RECRUITMENT BUZZ - NOVEMBER 2015
GLOBAL RECRUITER - NOVEMBER 2015
RECRUITMENT INTERNATIONAL - NOVEMBER 2015
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