PCG newsletter 17/02: May 15, 2002: PCG's
Success with C/C++ off Visa List
In this issue:
- PCG's New Success with Fast Track Visas
- Changes to Inland Revenue IR35 Guidance
- Tax Investigation Insurance Policy Renewal
- Successful Outcome of Inland Revenue Visit
- Deadline for Return of P35 - 19th May
- Real Life Meetings
This week the Professional Contractors Group has witnessed
movement on two key areas where it has been actively lobbying
on behalf of its members. First, the Government agreed to
remove some of the IT disciplines from the fast track visa
list after the PCG had demonstrated they were not in short
supply; and, a few days later, the Inland Revenue made changes
to the status manuals following a series of meetings with
the PCG to discuss how they could be clarified.
1. PCG's New Success with Fast Track Visas
The Professional Contractors Group campaign over the issuing
of fast track visas is continuing to bear fruit. The PCG
has now demonstrated to the Government that there is no
skill shortage in IT skills, C/C++ and Javascript and, as
a result, these skills have been removed from the fast track
visa list.
This follows on from the PCG's success in March when Oracle
Database Administrator was removed from the list and last
year when other IT skills, including programming languages,
Java, Perl and Visual Basic were also removed from the list.
The PCG became a member of the Government's Skills Sector
Panel for IT in autumn last year. The panel advises what
skills in the IT sector are in short supply and would be
eligible for the issuing of fast track visas to overseas
workers to meet a perceived need in the market-place.
The PCG is continuing to run two surveys about fast track
visas:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/ftv/index.html
on possible abuses of the system, and
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/ftv/skillssurvey.html
on specific skills on the skill shortage list.
We will use the evidence collected to support the removal
of skills from the shortage list and report specific episodes
of abuse.
You can find more information on the campaign at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/press_pn0902.html?nl150502
2. Changes to Inland Revenue IR35 Guidance
The Professional Contractors Group has recognised the positive
move on the part of the Inland Revenue in amending the official
guidance on status assessment to take account of changes
recommended by the PCG.
The manuals are the guidebooks for the Inland Revenue's
own staff as to the criteria which are taken into account
when determining whether a contractor is caught by IR35.
The PCG had proposed a series of changes to the Inland Revenue's
status manuals, which the contractors' Group considered
would result in more balanced guidance.
In response to these suggestions, the Revenue has clarified
some of the details in the manuals, including the issue
of duration of contract, provisions of equipment and the
relevance of indicators of 'Being in Business on Your Own
Account'.
The PCG's Kevin Miller has looked at the changes in detail,
and you can read his report in full on the Legal and Accounting
Forum at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=legalandaccount-42&p=0&v=c&s=5?nl150502
(You will need to be fully logged in to the Discussion
Forums before making this link. See
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html
for further details)
3. Tax Investigation Insurance Policy Renewal
You may have noticed that your Certificate of Tax Investigation
Insurance shows the expiry of the policy as 30 April 2002.
This is because the PCG Tax Investigation Insurance policy
is a group policy taken out by the PCG on behalf of its
members. The group policy runs from 1 May to 30 April annually.
Details of the policy are available at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/taxinvest_main.html
Please note that the PCG group policy with the insurers
HAS been renewed for the year 2002 - 2003, and the updated
Summary of Cover, which details your Tax Investigation cover
from 1 May 2002 until your PCG membership renewal date,
will shortly be available on the PCG website in a printable
version.
A link to the Summary of Cover will be included in a PCG
newsletter, and will also feature on the Quick Links on
the PCG homepage at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/index.html
4. Successful Outcome of Inland Revenue Visit
Another PCG member has recently enjoyed a successful outcome
from an Inland Revenue PAYE inspection, with the IR having
decided that the contracts in question were outside IR35.
You can read the whole history of the Inland Revenue visit
and the subsequent status decision on the Legal and Accounting
Forum at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=legal-46861&p=0&v=c&s=5?nl150502
(You will need to be fully logged in to the Discussion Forums
before making this link. See
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html
for further details)
5. Deadline for Return of P35 - 19th May
A reminder for PCG members who haven't yet completed their
Form P35; the deadline for the returning Form P35 to the
Revenue is Sunday 19th May.
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.
Yorkshire
**********
Date: Friday 17th May
Time: 7.00 pm onwards
Venue: Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield (off M1 J39)
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4861&p=0&v=c&s=5
Newcastle Upon Tyne
**********
Date: Tuesday 21 May
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Carriage pub (Archbold Terrace - 2 minutes from Jesmond
Metro station)
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4868&p=0&v=c&s=5
Peterborough
**********
Date: Wednesday 22 May
Time: 8.00pm onwards
Venue: Paul Pry, Lincoln Rd, Peterborough
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4832&p=0&v=c&s=5
Herts
**********
Date: Thursday 30 May
Time & Venue TBA
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4867&p=0&v=c&s=5
Guildford
**********
Date: Tuesday 4 June
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Weatherspoon, Guildford
West Midlands
**********
Date: Wednesday 12 June
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Rose and Crown at Junction 3 of the M42
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4890&p=0&v=c&s=5
Yorkshire
**********
Date: Friday 14 June
Venue: Jarvis Hotel, Wetherby (just off the A1) - TBC
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4861&p=0&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 following the links?? have you read this?...
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html)
Alison Edwards
(PCG Executive Team)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors
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