It’s time to rally the troops and make some noise.

By Dave Chaplin CEO ContractorCalculator.co.uk

For those that follow my personal profile, you will have seen ContractorCalculator’s campaign efforts to shine a light on the chaotic and damaging effects of the legislative changes to IR35 in the public sector. We have also been fervently lobbying against HMRC’s intentions to roll out the reforms to the private sector as soon as they can. 

It’s important to remember though that MP's make the decisions. Not HMRC. They are busy preparing their one-sided arguments so they can convince MPs to go ahead, and they certainly won't be airing their dirty laundry and providing balanced arguments. This is why we need you to engage with your MP. Without your help MPs will only be presented with one side of the argument.

Lobbying - your chance to make a noise.

We can share the arguments and inform you. But if you don't lobby and make noise, nothing will change. Campaigning isn't about standing at the sidelines cheering us all on, you need to be part of the team on the pitch, shouting out loud. If you do not get involved, then the campaign will not have an affect.

We have a huge advantage as the facts are in our favour. The ill-thought out legislation; the consequential damage; imminent tax tribunals; blanket assessments; NHS; the appalling digital tool (CEST); lack of transparency and accountability at HMRC, and so on.

Our five month long investigation into HMRC's IR35 digital tool, CEST, has left them very exposed - they have a tool that does not give the right answers, does not align with the law, and they have no detailed proof that it is accurate. They have not only misled the market with their tool, but are unable to provide the certainty required by MPs to move forward with rolling out the legislation to the private sector. This message needs to get to your local parliamentary representative. And if it does, we should be in slam-dunk territory!

We need your voice.

It is important that the voices from as wide a community as possible are heard. Accountants, recruiters, contractors, freelancers, locum doctors and nurses, all need to be aware of how this legislative change will impact them and what they can do to try and stop it.

Use our free templates.

There are free letter templates provided on our campaign page for you to download and send off to your MP. These will be regularly updated as events change.

Here’s how you can lobby:

1. Start with one letter, and expect a stock response.
2. Write again, challenging the responses. 
3. Book a time to go and visit your MP. 
4. Keep them regularly informed.

The next few months leading up to the November Budget will be crucial for your campaigning. More evidence and arguments will be published by us as soon as it comes to light and we will continue to ask for your help. 

Where can you find further information?

In the meantime, if you have not done so already then please create a free account on ContractorCalculator so you are subscribed to our bulletins. You can also connect or join me on LinkedIn.

Also, if you are a contractor, recruiter, accountant, service provider, or are in HR could I ask that you share this article amongst your colleagues and ask them to get involved?

If you have any further questions please contact me via my LinkedIn page. Here’s to getting the right result!

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About ContractorCalculator - your expert guide to contracting. We’ve been online and independent since 1999. Owned by founder and former IT contractor Dave Chaplin, the website receives over 200,000 monthly visitors.