“Mr Speaker, we can also simplify the IR35 rules – and we will. In practice, reforms to off-payroll working have added unnecessary complexity and cost for many businesses. So, as promised by My RHF the Prime Minister, we will repeal the 2017 and 2021 reforms. Of course, we will continue to keep compliance closely under review.”
The official document covering the aforementioned Growth Plan revealed the return to the old IR35 rules would apply from April 6th 2023. The UK Government also argued the change would “free up time and money for businesses that engage contractors, that could be put towards other priorities.”
#breaking – IR35 changes abandoned by new chancellor – this very much of interest to UK hauliers – lorry drivers and coach firms @RHANews pic.twitter.com/prce14eJg2
— Rod McKenzie (@RHARodMcKenzie) October 17, 2022
However, Kwasi Kwarteng’s replacement as Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has today binned the IR35 repeal plan.
In today’s UK Government statement concerning the repeal of IR35 among other fiscal measures, it is stated: “The reforms will now remain in place. This will cut the cost of the government’s Growth Plan by around £2 billion a year.”
Commenting on the news, the RHA said in a statement:
“If the proposals had been introduced, it would have no longer been the responsibility of the haulage company to determine if a driver engaged is caught by IR35. In that situation, it would have been an issue for the driver to determine themselves and if IR35 applies for them. They would then have to declare this on their self-assessment return and pay over the increased tax/National Insurance. The move would have passed the associated administration and risks from a haulage contractor to the drivers themselves.”
Photo: Timo Newton-Syms / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0