On 17 March 2020, the Government announced that IR35 tax reforms would be pushed back by one year. This was part of a broad package of measures the Treasury had announced to protect the economy from the coronavirus outbreak.

This was also targeted at cushioning the effect the coronavirus outbreak would have on PSC Contractors who have not been included in any of the welfare packages announced by the Government.

PSC Contractors who have now been moved to PAYE and Umbrella contracts do not have any cushion if they fall ill. They are not treated as permanent employees and have no recourse to off-sick days or holidays. They are paid according to the number of days worked.

To date, a number of employers are refusing to adhere to the Government directives to delay the IR35 roll-out. They insist on retaining their PSC Contractors as PAYE employees thereby flaunting the Government directives and impoverishing this group of people. It defies logic that whilst the Government has taken a sensible decision to delay these changes so as to help businesses and individuals deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19, companies are bent on imposing the changes on contractors

PSC Contractors working in the UK pay their taxes like everyone else. Are they not entitled to the relief packages that have been put in place for all UK residents in the light of this deadly virus?

Mr Rishi Sunak, Mr Boris Johnson, we call on you to enforce the delay of IR35 to alleviate the undue stress, poverty and mental torture employers are imposing on Contractors. Thank you