Issue 2; 27 March 1999

Since 17th March the web site has delivered 581MB of information (this email in text format is 3KB) and received over 180,000 hits.

1.0) MORE INFO FROM INLAND REVENUE
We sent a letter to the Inland Revenue on 19/3/99 and on 26/3/99 received fax response (after the last newsletter!). They would appear to confirm the conversation with Tim Warr in that
"the nature of the relationship is the issue" as opposed to length of contract or place of contract.

I will be carrying out further analysis of this issue later.
I also note that the the Inland Revenue refer only to the BCS as a representitive body for the IT sector. As their fax was dated after the launch of Forum 2000 they presumably are waiting for their first meeting (announced for 21st of April) before accepting them as representative. You may wish to do the same.(see next segment) see exchange of letters?...go here.

2.0)FORUM 2000, FACT or FICTION?
From their web site 25th March referring to the planned mtg:"As well as senior figures from the top 25 agencies and the contracting media the chairman of FRES will be attending"
Their web site 27th March:- "representatives from........FRES"
What, no Chairman!
Read this, clipped from a press article provided by Kevin Miller of Giant, sent to the Freelance Informer:-
"We recommend that existing contractors leave the worrying to others. They should continue to take advantage of the benefits contracting brings whether commercial, fiscal and in terms of empowerment. And those who are considering going the contracting company route should press ahead in the knowledge that under the current arrangements they cannot lose."
I would be interested to know if that is a view shared by the Agencies. Some independent Accountants would argue, in face of the likely guidelines, that advice such as this gives credence to the Tax avoidance argument presented by the Inland Revenue. As such is this the most effective route for presenting a case against these proposals.? Wait and see would be my advice. I have asked for an invitation to the meeting on the 21st so will keep you posted.

3.0)PRESS COVERAGE (or the lack of it!)
I have just got the latest Agents weekly magazine "Interviewer". I gave them an interview last week in plenty of time for this issue, asking that they informed the Agencies about this web site and that they should let their Contractors know.
(most Contractors have picked this up word of mouth at present, not thru their agents)...... Nothing.
Some Agents are letting their Contractors know about this information resource ( Thanks to Steve Searle at MPL, Paul Raine at Matchtech, Bernie Wilcox at NES and Howard Longstaff at Hub Resources)
The others?
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Best Regards
Andy White | [email protected]