PCG newsletter 18/02: June 6, 2002: PCG Tax Investigation Insurance Policy renewal

In this issue:

• PCG Tax Investigation Insurance Policy renewal
  
• New PCG Q&A Page
  
• PCG Home Office Meeting Rescheduled
  
• Another IR35 Success for a PCG Member
  
• Real Life Meetings

1. PCG Tax Investigation Insurance Policy renewal

The Professional Contractors Group 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, and the certificate of insurance shows the expiry date of the policy as 30 April. The PCG group policy with the insurers has now been renewed to cover the period 1 May 2002 until 30 April 2003, and the Summary of Cover of the policy, which provides Tax Investigation cover from 1 May 2002 until your PCG membership renewal date, can be printed from
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/scripts/tii/summary_of_cover.cgi

In the event of notification from the Inland Revenue, it is imperative that the insurers are notified as soon as possible, before professional expenses are incurred.
You can read about the Tax Investigation Insurance, including how to claim, and the conditions for claiming, at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/taxinvest_main.html

2. New PCG Q&A Page

Since its inception in 1999 to fight IR35, the Professional Contractors Group has come a long way. Evolving into a representative body, mounting a judicial review and successfully getting skills removed from the Fast Track Visa list are just a few of the steps taken.

Three years on the PCG has grown rapidly into an organisation which is still determined to fight IR35 but now also offers contractors a multitude of benefits and makes representations on its members behalf on a number of other important issues. So what else does the PCG do? What are the advantages of joining? And what are they doing to fight IR35 now the Judicial Review is over? Well now you can ask these and any other questions you have because the PCG has launched a new questions and answers site. Simply go to
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/qanda/index.pl?n=10
and register for a username which will allow you to ask your questions and search the those already listed. Registration is open to anyone. Questions are answered by the people that matter the most, the members! There may be several answers to each question ranging from an official response to the personal opinions of the volunteers. Answers are normally given within two working days so check back soon after posting your questions.

So if anyone thinking of joining the PCG wants to know more or you are simply curious about the organisation then come over to our new site and ask us what you want to know.

3. PCG Home Office Meeting Rescheduled

The PCG´s meeting with Lord Rooker at the Home Office is to be rescheduled following a Government re-shuffle. The PCG´s Philip Ross, Policy Advisor, and Gurdial Rai, PCG member and FTV campaigner, were due to meet with Lord Rooker to discuss their submission of evidence of Fast Track Visa abuse. However, just hours before the meeting was due to take place, the re-shuffle moved Lord Rooker to be Minister for Housing.

For more details of the evidence of FTV abuse that the PCG presented to the Home Office, go to
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/press_pn0802.html
The two PCG surveys used to collect evidence on fast track visas are still open, at
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.
For the latest PCG lobbying information, go to
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=lobby&v=c&s=5&p=0

4. Another IR35 Success for a PCG Member

Another PCG member has had their business declared as operating outside IR35. Advice from fellow members on the Forums, attending the PCG IR35 seminar in London, and contacts with PCG suppliers gave this member the tools and the confidence to fight back when a PAYE review turned into an IR35 investigation.

For more details of this individual´s case, look on the IR35 Issues Forum at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=public01-16818&p=0&v=c&s=5

REGIONAL NEWS
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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.

PCG members hold local meetings to socialise, to network and to discuss PCG issues. These meetings are open to everybody, and new members are welcome to come along. If you would like to attend one of these meetings, click on the link below it to get full information. NB - To view the Forum links below, you must be first logged into the Forums before making the link. Further details available at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html

Manchester and District
**********
Date: Friday 7 June
Time: 7.00 pm onwards
Venue: Wetherspoons, opposite Piccadilly Gardens
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4944&p=0&v=c&s=5

Farnborough
**********
Date: Tuesday 11 June
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Prince of Wales, Farnborough
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4942&p=1&v=c&s=5

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

Maidenhead
**********
Date: Wednesday 12 June
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: The Vine, Market Street, Maidenhead
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4768&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

Glos/Wilts/Worcs - summer supper
**********
Date: Wednesday 19 June
Time: TBC
Venue: Golden Heart, Nettleton, near Birdlip on the A419 between Cirencester and Cheltenham
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4934&p=1&v=c&s=5

Herts
**********
Date: Thursday 20th June
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: The Exchange Bar Diner, Stevenage Leisure Park, Kings Way, Stevenage SG1 2UA
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-5030&p=0&v=c&s=5

Peterborough
**********
Date: Monday 3 July
Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Paul Pry, Lincoln Rd, Peterborough
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=meet-4981&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 following the links?? have you read this?...
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html)

Alison Edwards
(PCG Executive Team)

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This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors Group.
Please feel free to circulate the newsletter to other independent contractors who may be interested in joining the PCG. Members are also encouraged to share the latest news and analysis with interested agents, clients and accountants.

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To view the Forum links in this newsletter, you must be first logged into the Forum. Further details available at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/members/discussion_forum.html