Contracting & Freelancing News
Following poor customer service performance between April 2014 and March 2015, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced an investment of £45million into raising the standard of customer service on offer. It was recently reported that over the course of the year, 7.2million phone calls to HMRC went through to the much-maligned ‘busy tone’, leaving many
Becoming an independent contractor, freelancer or limited company owner is an exciting adventure, full of challenges and successes. There are, however, some pitfalls – and one of the most common is the habit of spending beyond your means. The reason for this could be to bring your new solo venture up to the same level
As you set up as a contractor, you’ll hear recommendations from various quarters about purchasing professional indemnity insurance. If you’re not sure what that it is, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together details of what the insurance entails and why you need it as a contractor – and believe us, you really do need
Recent research by law firm Pinsent Masons has shown that the number of raids on businesses’ premises by HMRC has trebled since 2010 – a statistic that reflects on a refreshed campaign of zero tolerance for tax evasion. This year alone, around 600 properties have been raided, bringing HMRC over the halfway mark to their target
Here at Gorilla Accounting, we work with a lot of freelancers and contractors. During our time helping out with accounting and taxation, we’ve heard a whole range of questions that apply to most individuals going at it alone. We’ve decided to include a few of the most frequently asked questions we’ve encountered below – with all
One of the most cited benefits of being a freelancer or contractor is the opportunity to work from home. Gone are the days of early starts and commuting – instead it’s hello to lazy mornings filled with coffee and the odd break for daytime TV, right? Wrong. Working from home brings many benefits (no office overhead,
Making the move towards being a contractor is rarely easy, and buckets of stress and late nights are often part and parcel of going independent. It doesn’t have to all be doom and gloom, however – with the right advice to keep your stress levels in check, you can find yourself enjoying the change more than
Britain is experiencing a boom in self-employment and here at Gorilla, we think it’s great. We’re getting to see fantastic start-ups, bold new limited companies and an influx of valuable contractors and freelancers building a better future for themselves by going solo. Sadly, this market increase is helping some accountancy practices see dollar signs and a
Financial Secretary to the Treasurer, David Gauke, has announced plans to expand the Office of Tax Simplification, following through on a promise the Conservative party have consistently made throughout their general election campaigning and manifesto. The Office of Tax Simplification was introduced in 2010 following the last general election under the premise of removing and re-shaping
Whether it’s from the ‘we’re all in‘ advert on television or from friends and family, you’ve probably heard about pension auto-enrolment at some point. But as a contractor or freelancer, you may be wondering if it affects you. We’ve done our research and brought you the facts on auto-enrolment for your convenience – act now to
The Cloud has become synonymous with most things technological these days, but you’d be surprised by the benefits you could enjoy by moving other business processes onto the cloud – not least your bookkeeping. As avid fans of Cloud-based accounting, we took a look at exactly why you should make the move – and how Gorilla
As you grow your limited company and take on staff, you may find yourself entertaining the idea of putting on an event for some team bonding – and as a chance to let down your hair! If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to know that you can legally claim for the cost a party
