Freelancers echo calls for tax clampdown on big businesses
17th November 2017
Ninety-five per cent of UK freelancers and contractors believe more must be done by the Government to clampdown on suspected tax avoidance from large corporations.
The revelation from Qdos Contractor has come in the wake of Vince Cable's calls for Government to tackle tax avoidance by big businesses, and the recent Paradise Papers.
In Parliament this week Lib-Dem leader Mr Cable said: "At present, a big crackdown is taking place on what are called IR35 companies. These are contractors for the health service, and they are often software specialists.
"There is undoubtedly a certain amount of tax avoidance in relation to national insurance, but these companies are being pursued in a highly aggressive way that the Government do not use in pursuing much bigger fish."
As the Government pushes on with plans to stamp out what it believes to be widespread tax avoidance from the UK's 4.8million self-employed workers, almost all freelancers and contractors believe that big businesses must also face similar scrutiny.
92% of freelancers and contractors believe they are seen as a 'soft target' by the Government, who recently introduced controversial changes to IR35 and the tax system, with more changes predicted.
New Qdos Contractor research into 650 UK freelancers and contractors also revealed that 95% believe greater action must be taken to clampdown on suspected tax avoidance by big business.
Previous Qdos Contractor research into 771 independent workers highlighted freelancers' lack of confidence in Government and concerns over the tax system:
- 65% are not confident that UK has the most 'pro freelancing or contracting' Party in power
- 95% believe changes to IR35 and the tax system are reducing the benefits of self-employment
- 32% state the complicated tax system as the most difficult aspect of self-employment
Seb Maley, CEO of Qdos Contractor, said: "We are in total agreement with Vince Cable here. The Government must do more to stop big businesses from suspected tax avoidance. Promises to do so have not been carried out, and unsurprisingly the self-employed are feeling unfairly targeted."
Picture credit: Pixabay
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