Legislative Update: Recruitment agencies are now liable for unpaid umbrella company taxes
New UK rules make recruitment agencies jointly liable for unpaid umbrella company taxes. Here is what you need to know before April 2026.
Spring Statement 2026
Tax, compliance and workforce changes affecting contractors, recruiters and end hirers The Chancellor delivered the Spring Statement 2026 on 3rd March 2026, framing it as an official update on the state of the economy rather than a major fiscal reset. The government has committed to reserving significant tax and spending changes for the Autumn Budget, with the […]
Autumn Statement 2025: A High-Level Overview
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a heavily anticipated Autumn Statement today, framed around “fair and necessary choices” to stabilise the UK’s finances. Rather than opting for headline tax rises, the government’s strategy centred on freezes, delayed increases, and structural changes that will gradually widen the tax net. A Budget of Stealth Measures The Chancellor abandoned plans for a major income […]
How to Explain the 2026 Umbrella Reforms to Your Clients
Helping End-Clients Understand What Joint and Several Liability Really Means What’s happening in April 2026? The UK Government is introducing new tax rules for umbrella companies – and crucially, it introduces joint and several liability for the entire supply chain. That means if an umbrella company fails to pay the correct PAYE or NICs, recruitment […]
Is the Real Aim of the Umbrella Legislation to Level the Playing Field for Recruiters?
Recruiters have long been seen as the gatekeepers in talent engagement, advising clients on the most appropriate engagement models, suggesting market-aligned pay rates, and benchmarking benefits to attract top-tier candidates. But when not everyone plays by the same rules, fairness becomes an issue. Some recruiters have been able to gain a commercial edge by partnering […]
Understanding UK Stamp Duty And Changes From 1st April 2025
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax levied on property and land purchases in England and Northern Ireland. Buyers pay SDLT as a lump sum upon completion of the transaction. The amount depends on the property’s price and the buyer’s circumstances, such as whether they are home movers, first-time buyers, or purchasing additional properties. […]
Spring Statement – 2025
The Chancellor today presented her first Spring Statement, together with a report by the Office of Budget Responsibilities. As noted previously, the Chancellor confirmed that there will be only one fiscal event in the year, and as such, there were no further income tax and National Insurance increases today beyond those already announced in the […]
Autumn Budget 2024
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced her much anticipated Budget which contained £40 billion of tax rises. These tax rises will be used to fill an apparent “£22 billion black hole” in the country’s finances and drive growth in the UK economy. Looking at the positives, we expect to see significant Government investment in building […]
The Offset Rule: What Recruiters And Contractors Need To Know
How Will the Offset Rule Affect Recruiters and Contractors? Starting April 2024, a significant change to the off-payroll working rules (IR35) will be introduced. This new offset mechanism aims to prevent double taxation and make working with independent contractors more attractive for recruiters. What Is IR35? Since the IR35 rules were updated in 2017 and […]
Spring Budget 2024
The Chancellor announced a “budget for long term growth”, however, with fiscal projections remaining flat and recognising a limited amount of wiggle room, significant tax cuts were not on the table. How will it affect you? The elephant in the room is the continued theme concerning personal finances with the extended freezing of various allowances (namely income tax and inheritance tax) beyond […]