SMARTER FREELANCING SEMINARS

Are you interested in learning more about marketing yourself, developing your skills, becoming a trusted adviser and better understanding key tax and accountancy issues? Register for one of PCG's "Smarter Freelancing" seminars, being held in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Swindon, Croydon and Southampton, from 24 February 2004.

At a competitive cost of only £40 plus VAT for PCG members, and just £65 plus VAT for non-members, the seminars offer excellent value for money. Non-member delegates who join PCG on the day will receive a £25 refund.

As a bonus, PCG's team of experts will prepare a post-Budget analysis and guide to changes that are expected to be announced, and this will be available to all delegates at no extra cost, after the Budget.

See www.pcg.org.uk/seminars2004 for more details and online booking. Numbers are limited, so please register as early as possible.

REMINDER ABOUT EARLY DAY MOTION ON IR591

If you have not already contacted your MP about adding his or her support to the early day motion being proposed by Shadow Paymaster General, Mark Prisk MP, please note that this needs to be done before 17 March.

Former freelancer Mark Prisk wants all MPs to support his call to ask the Chancellor to consult small business groups about the measures outlined in paragraph 5.91 of the Pre-Budget Report, being widely dubbed as "IR591". Details of the proposal to ensure that small business owners "pay the right amount of tax" are not yet known.

He is asking MPs to sign up to the following: "This House notes the Government's plans to reverse its tax treatment of owner managed businesses; is deeply concerned that this could result in severe financial hardship for thousands of family businesses and thus damage enterprise; asks the Chancellor to explain why his tax incentives went wrong; and urges him to meet with and consult small business representatives prior to the Budget."

You can check whether your MP has already signed EDM 501 online. Write to your MP at the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, or send a fax through www.faxyourmp.com; typing your postcode will identify your constituency MP.

Top-Consultant.com is covering PCG's support for the early day motion in its lead article this week.

IR35: MULTIPLE CONCURRENT CLIENTS

It has come to our attention that a few freelancers are relying on the fact that they have multiple concurrent clients to say that they are outside IR35. While this is perfectly understandable, it is also incorrect, given the comments of Justice Burton in the Judicial Review judgment. Having multiple concurrent clients is a good pointer in the right direction, but it is by no means conclusive. The Synaptek (Gordon Stutchbury) case, for example, featured multiple concurrent clients and was still found to be inside IR35.

For full details on what is and is not relevant to your status, consult the Guide to IR35, which also contains full details of how to document your status and draw up an action plan if you need to change your status.

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Gloucestershire/Wiltshire - Wednesday 18 February 2004 20:00
The Golden Heart, Nettleton, Gloucestershire (not Wiltshire). See forum discussion.
Contact: Haigh

Farnborough and environs - 23 February 2004 19:00
The Prince of Wales, 19:00 moving to the nearby Ancient Raj at 21:00 for a curry (table booked for 21:30). See forum discussion.
Contact: wasADB (Andrew Banks)

West Midlands
There used to be a regular monthly meeting at the Rose and Crown, J3 of M42. Does anyone still go or has it moved to elsewhere? See forum discussion.
Contact: CJF

Edinburgh - Bert's Snug Bar - Tuesday 2 March 2004 18:00
The Snug Bar is booked. Please bring a friend to introduce them to the idea that the PCG is a valuable resource. See forum discussion.
Contact: john_ferguson

London - "Designing your Website" with AICS - 11 March 2004, 19:00
National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1. The Association of Independent Computer Specialists presents "Designing your Website". Guest speakers - David Penfold and Conrad Taylor of the British Computer Society Electronic Publishing Specialist Group. For further information about the AICS please visit www.aics.org.uk. See forum discussion.
Contact: ashmele (John Ashmele)

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