According to the results of a new survey by Sage, the UK tax system needs to be radically simplified. This is the view of over 2,000 self employed contractors and small companies who took part in the survey in March 2010.

HMRC is urging sole traders and contractors, as well as employees, to contact them if they believe they have received an incorrect tax code this year.

There have been a number of cases in recent years, the majority of which have been employment tribunal hearings, involving the disgruntled self-employed claiming employment rights against their customer/client and succeeding.

We are aware of HMRC plans to offer medical professionals a disclosure opportunity in respect of unpaid taxes. The Tax Health Plan will allow medical professionals the chance to disclose any arrears and settle them with interest and a ten per cent penalty.

When people receive a PAYE tax coding notice from HMRC, they naturally assume that the information contained therein is correct. However this year, for a large proportion of people, that is not the case.

Probably. The rather circular definition of a Managed Service Company is one that is provided by a Managed Service Provider. Since these were effectively outlawed in 2007, it is important to understand how they are defined.

IR35, more properly known as the Intermediaries Legislation, at its very simplest is a taxation treatment intended to ensure that two workers doing the same job pay the same amount of taxes.

HMRC have just announced a new penalty regime for the late payment of monthly PAYE & NIC, to come into effect from May 2010. This appears to be another attempt to collect more revenue without increasing any tax rates and is likely to affect small employers much more than large employers, who will have a whole payroll department to be able to deal with it.