HMRC workshops to help contractors and small businesses

The workshops will deal with a number of issues including a demonstration on filing self assessment tax returns and dealing with sick pay.

The Revenue's business advice team manager, Janet Timmins, said that although we are living in challenging times, the Revenue's attitude is to help companies during good and bad times. These workshops allow us to get out into local business communities and offer practical help to people who find tax matters daunting.

More and more people are considering taking the plunge and becoming self employed according to the FSB. The current unemployment rate obviously makes the prospect more attractive but the UK tax regime can cause confusion for people just starting off on their own.

John Walker, the national chairman of the FSB said that self employed people must be mindful of their employment status when they supply services to other businesses. HMRC has been penalising self employed people who work for other companies, changing their legal status to employed and effectively forcing them back into the PAYE system.

Freelancers and enterprises with specific tax problems should consider consulting a specialist accountant if they need help to get their finances in order.

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