HMRC – Fraud Warning

HMRC has warned of new fraudulent models emerging in the market, claiming to reduce employment costs through ‘tax credits’ offset through acquired third-party businesses. Disguised as payroll providers, intermediaries, umbrella solutions, or back-office providers, they assert to use tax credits to offset employment taxes such as PAYE and National Insurance by operating the payroll thereby, […]

TUPE and Chapter 11: the hidden liability nobody’s talking about

An employment contract under a shadow cast by a bear trap

The industry’s been rightly focused on the joint and several liability risks under Chapter 11 of the Finance Bill, but there’s another serious consequence baked into this legislation, and it’s flying under the radar. We’re talking about TUPE transfers. At first glance, it may not look like much. But for agencies who’ve historically used umbrella […]

Perception risk from the new umbrella legislation: why agencies shouldn’t assume they’re safe

Three people sat casually around a flip-board planning something

Proposed changes to umbrella legislation, particularly the Joint and Several Liability (JSL) rules under Chapter 11, set for April 2026, are already reshaping behaviour across the recruitment supply chain. But while most conversations focus on PAYE and NICs liability, a quieter, more powerful risk is emerging: perception. Perception influences decisions long before legislation does, and […]

Statutory Sick Pay Changes: April 2026

A laptop surrounded by snotty tissues, cough syrups and other cold & flu related drugs, a mug of tea and an orange

SSP Is Changing in 2026, And It’s Going to Hit Agencies Harder Than They Expect Most recruiters think of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) as background admin — inconvenient, yes, but predictable.April 2026 will challenge that assumption. Under the Employment Rights Bill, SSP rules are changing in ways that will affect every employer, including employment businesses […]

IR35 and Outsourcing Services: Some Ideas

Since the introduction of the Chapter 10 tax rules (IR35) agencies and hirers have faced tax risks when engaging limited company contractors (PSCs) except where the client is a small company (as defined). Many shifted to working with umbrella companies as a result. However, the environment is once again set to become tougher. Where you […]

Recruiters: Stop Worrying About Sending Your Terms of Business

A british-asian recruiter in his mid 20s sat at a modern desk looking at at his computer screen, his hand on the mouse; he is looking concerned with beads of sweat on his brow

The 30-second fix You’ve sourced a brilliant candidate. The client’s warm. You’re on the brink of a placement. And then…You hesitate to send your terms of business. Sound familiar? It’s a common fear in recruitment. “What if the client walks?” “What if I kill the vibe?” The result? Delayed terms, risky conversations, and worst-case scenario: […]

Is joint liability the future of umbrella compliance?

A modern office with tall glass windows, white desks and black chairs

Why the proposed scheme could be a disaster HMRC’s latest proposal on umbrella companies still misses the mark As pressure mounts around tax avoidance and payroll compliance in the umbrella company sector, HMRC has proposed a new plan that could have wide-reaching consequences for recruitment agencies. While the initial idea of making agencies run PAYE […]

Latest news: Umbrella Company Reform and the Employment Rights Bill

A green umbrella representing the protection that Lawspeed offers

Agencies may no longer be required to run PAYE, but they could still be on the hook for unpaid tax. The recruitment rumourmill reports that HMRC appears to be shifting its stance on the tax treatment of contractors employed via umbrella companies, despite new legislation expected to be published in July. Instead of treating recruitment […]

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