PCG: IR35 has been a blight on freelancers for a decade

Date: 28th June 2010

Sole traders working in the UK could be among those to be encouraged by recent calls from one industry body with regard to the country's tax system.

The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has called on the coalition government to make sure that changes made to the system are right and are not rushed.

In particular the PCG is calling for IR35 tax legislation to be abolished, but urged the government to take its time and come up with a workable alternative.

John Brazier, the organisation's managing director, said the tax rule is "cumbersome and ill thought out" and claimed it has been a "blight on freelance workers" for more than a decade.

Commenting on the coalition's review of the controversial tax rule, Mr Brazier added: "We have done a lot of work on IR35 with independent experts and also taking in our members' experiences.

"Our view to everyone involved in this review is; don't rush it - just get it right."

Posted by Thomas Fletcher