PCG Newsletter 13/02, 28 Mar 2002 - PCG
members at Commissioners
In this issue:
- PCG supports two members to the Commissioners
- PCG PI Insurance
- PCG writes to Gordon Brown
- PCG Elections
- IR35 Toolkit Seminar Roadshow - Scotland
- Real Life Meetings
1. PCG supports two members to the Commissioners
PCG members Lisa Fernley and Mark Sheerin are headed for
the Commissioners to contest the Inland Revenue´s
determination of their IR35 status and PCG is supporting
them both.
Although neither Lisa´s nor Mark´s cases are
likely to have much impact on the boundaries of case law,
both cases will be of particular interest to members.
They are arguable passes using existing case
law tests and will serve as reminders to the Inland Revenue
that they cannot lightly ignore existing case law. However,
neither case was inevitable as both Lisa and Mark had approached
the Revenue themselves as they both believed their contracts
would pass.
This is another example of how unclear the law is, as different
experts and the Revenue come to different conclusions, many
of which will be open to challenge.
Lisa and Mark have agreed to be case studies and they will
keep the PCG membership fully informed of as their cases
develop.
Further information about the cases can be found on PCG´s
notice board:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Notice-425&p=0&v=c&s=5?nl280302
2. PCG PI Insurance
PCG has just completed renegotiating the professional indemnity
insurance scheme for PCG members with our insurers Randell
Dorling. The main points emerging from discussions are:
1] Rates will remain the same as for the last two years,
even though the scope of the scheme has been improved
2] The main improvements are that non-IT PCG members will
now be included in the £1 million of professional
indemnity cover that is shared between all PCG members who
take out professional indemnity insurance through the scheme.
This mainly affects the engineering members who have not
benefited in the past from this shared layer.
3] That shared layer of £1m is now subject to one
reinstatement in the policy year in the event that it is
exhausted by claims. This effectively doubles the amount
of cover available to PCG members.
Negotiating these improvements has delayed Randall Dorling
sending out renewal notices but cover will run from the
date the previous policy expired. For new policyholders
Randall Dorling are able to backdate the PI cover as far
as is needed while the PL and EL cover can be backdated
to April 2001. This may be of help to contractors who were
victims of the problems at CFT.
Full details of the amendments to the policy can be found
at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Notice-427&p=0&v=c&s=5?nl280302
3. PCG writes to Gordon Brown
The PCG has written to Gordon Brown in advance of the Budget,
to call for greater certainty for small businesses.
PCG Chairman Jane Akshar wrote: "On behalf of our membership
we would ask you to give consideration to one particular
issue in your forthcoming Budget. Any business, small or
large, wants to operate in an environment of certainty.
It is the Government´s responsibility to provide that
environment. However, the introduction of IR35 has meant
that tens of thousands of small businesses in the knowledge-based
sector cannot plan for the future or make commercial decisions
as they are unsure where the boundaries are".
The PCG pointed out the areas where the confusion existed:
- The lack of relevant case law to determine status is
leading to conflicting decisions;
- Small businesses are operating without certainty and
even the Revenue´s own guidance recognises a situation
where the status is unclear;
- Despite this acknowledged climate of uncertainty, there
is still the threat of penalties if the contractor gets
it wrong;
- Accounting and legal experts are unable to find common
ground;
- IR35 causes confusion as it corrupts the traditional
boundaries between personal and corporate taxation;
- The creation of an artificial person, that of a disguised
employee´ where the contractor is deemed to be an
employee for one purpose (tax and NI) but not for another
(statutory and discretionary benefits).
Letter to the Chancellor:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/Budget_Letter_2002.pdf?nl280302
Press notice:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/press_pn0502.html?nl280302
4. PCG Elections
The PCG Elections for the Consultative Council continue,
with voting closing at 5:00 pm on 18th April, 2002. Once
again, you are urged to vote in these elections. You can
vote at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/members/elections/2002/elections.pl?nl280302
For more background info on the voting process, go to
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/elections/2002/index.html
5. IR35 Toolkit Seminar Roadshow - Scotland
The popular IR35 Toolkit seminar roadshow visits Scotland
in May, giving those working north of the border the opportunity
to attend this helpful seminar. The venues are Aberdeen
on Wednesday 1st May, and Edinburgh on Thursday 2nd May.
Afternoon and evening sessions will be held in both venues.
For further details, or to book online, go to
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/seminar_02_02.html
REGIONAL NEWS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Real Life Meetings
For the latest information and to start a local group see
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=meet
To promote your local meet through the newsletter
email [email protected] with REGIONS in the subject
matter, details of the event and a name and email contact
point/or phone number for further information.
Gibraltar
**********
Any contractors working in Gibraltar, wishing to meet up
and compare notes
re living and working on the Rock, contact Chris on [email protected]
Guildford
**********
Date: Tuesday 2nd April
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Wetherspoon
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4646&p=0&v=c&s=5
West Midlands
**********
Date: Thursday 4th April
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: Rose and Crown at Junction 3 of the M42
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4609&p=0&v=c&s=5
Yorkshire
**********
Date: Friday 5th April
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, Huddersfax (just off
M62 J24)]
There will be a presentation (starting circa 8:00pm) by
Richard Axe, Head of Club UK Online
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4683&p=0&v=c&s=5
Thame, Bucks/Oxon Border
**********
Date: Tuesday 9th April
Time: 8.00 pm onwards
Venue: Swan Hotel, Thame
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4575&p=0&v=c&s=5
East Midlands, Nottingham
**********
Date: Thursday 11th April
Time: 6.00 pm onwards
Venue: The Admiral Rodney, Wollaton
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4638&p=0&v=c&s=5
Manchester
**********
Date: Friday 12th April
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: Waldorf Pub, Gore St (near Piccadilly Station)
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4607&p=0&v=c&s=5
Peterborough
**********
Date: Wednesday 24th April
Time: 8:00 pm onwards
Venue: Paul Pry, Lincoln Rd, Peterborough
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4671&p=1&v=c&s=5
Please follow this link to Real Life meetings to get involved
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=meet
(having problems?? have you read this?...https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html)
Alison Edwards
(PCG Executive Team)
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