Our extremely popular Contractor Guardian Plus service gives you 12 month’s access to unlimited IR35 contract and working practices reviews and some excellent additional benefits, including contract negotiation, assistance with client IR35 disputes and HMRC defence. This service is fantastic value if you undertake more than one contract in a year, potentially saving you £100s on your IR35 due diligence.
Unless you have ample time to delve into extensive HMRC guidance and decades of IR35 case law, you may not feel confident and risk-free in making your own robust IR35 status decisions. Our Contractor Guardian Plus service eases this burden, giving you peace of mind and leaving you to get on with running your business.
Whether you need assurance that your client has accurately assessed your IR35 status under the off-payroll rules and are not exposed to any contractual tax liabilities, or you’re contracting with exempt clients, making you responsible and liable for your own IR35 status, this service has you fully protected.
Did you know? Independent contract & working practices reviews are excellent evidence in demonstrating you’ve met your ‘reasonable care’ obligations and therefore mitigating penalties in the event of an HMRC investigation. The Contractor Guardian Plus service provides excellent protection by building your complete compliance history.
My agency says my contract is “IR35 friendly”, do I still need a review?
Be very careful with this statement! Firstly, a recruitment consultant’s view of what an ‘IR35 friendly’ contract looks like quite often differs to ours. Secondly, and most importantly, your IR35 status will ultimately be decided on the reality of your working practices despite what the contract says (agencies will typically provide boiler-plate terms that can have no correlation to your working arrangements). This is why a review that only considers the written contract in isolation is of no benefit, and our reviews cover comprehensive consideration of all aspects.
My contract is under the new IR35 (off-payroll) rules applicable to public sector and medium/large private sector engagers, so my client is responsible for deciding my status. Can I still benefit from a review?
Absolutely! Our review will ensure that the correct party has accurately assessed your status and provided all of the required documentation, ensure that your contract fully supports your determination and we will advise you if your terms expose you to any contractual tax and NI risk through indemnity clauses.
It is also possible for the client to change their determination at any time during the currency of your contract. An independent review at the outset will better equip you to deal with this situation.
Why don’t you provide IR35 insurance?
For the simple reason we have never needed to! IR35 insurance typically covers financial liabilities related to IR35 investigations and tax disputes. However, our approach is to proactively prevent such issues through robust and accurate assessments and compliance strategies, thereby minimising the risks that IR35 insurance would typically cover. We have won every case we have defended without ever reaching tribunal stage.
IR35 insurance is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We prefer to work closely with each client to understand their unique circumstances and provide tailored recommendations that address their specific compliance needs, and by not offering IR35 insurance, we avoid potential conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of our assessments and advice.
Need to discuss your situation first? No problem – get in touch
Or speak to a member of our dedicated team today 01525 406622
As a Contractor Guardian client, you will be covered for HMRC IR35 investigation defence by Bauer & Cottrell up to the tax tribunal* stage, for engagements we have reviewed the entire duration of and concluded with an outside IR35 opinion, and where you are the liable party by statute.
*This does not include the costs associated with a tax tribunal hearing. We have won (not settled) every case we have ever defended without reaching tribunal stage. As the factors that decide IR35 status have not changed, our approach has not changed and our Contractor Guardian Plus clients are in the best possible position with all relevant contracts and working practices properly considered.