The Small Consultancies Guide to IR35 - 3 essential steps to maximise value
How contractors can grow a small consultancy and adhere to IR35 compliance to maximise the sale value.
IR35 Shield
Guides
Reveal any IR35 risk and plan for the future
HMRC are cracking down on IR35 non-compliance. Our expert-led IR35 audit means you can address any risk to your business before it's uncovered by an HMRC investigation.
Get in touch to find out how we can help.
Delivered
000,000
IR35 status
assessments
Over
00
years' IR35
experience
Released in
0000
The UK's first
IR35 status tool
Trusted by thousands of proactive businesses every day
“IR35 Shield's expert consultancy as part of one of our acquisitions gave us total confidence. They directed us throughout the process, ensuring any IR35 risks were assessed and minimised and that we were fully prepared for all required actions.”
Ross Barnard
Chief Talent Officer - Kerv
Get informed, know your risk
With HMRC cracking down on IR35 non-compliance, failing to understand your risk could leave your business exposed to tax bills, penalties and the reputational damage of an investigation.
Arm yourself with knowledge using our experts. We can shore up your past, analyse your present processes and point you to an IR35 compliant future.
Trust the right team for your IR35 Compliance Audit
An IR35 defence team with proven experience successfully defending enquiries from inception to tax tribunal. The team’s forensic fact-finding methods have been developed from comprehensive technical input, analysis and know-how of the status domain, with the primary aim of seeking early closure.
Chris Leslie
Chris Leslie has over 30 years’ legal experience defending clients in disputes with HMRC. His years managing Status Inspectors at HMRC, combined with his specialist qualifications in analytics, give him an in-depth understanding of how to counter the arguments used by HMRC.
Dave Chaplin
Dave Chaplin is the UK's leading IR35 authority. He consults with HMRC and government on IR35 matters, attends tax tribunals to stay current with case law, has authored two definitive IR35 books, and pioneered the first online IR35 status assessment algorithms nearly 20 years ago.
Dave and Chris’ in-depth knowledge of IR35 and Off-payroll combines to provide expert defense and guidance for your business. For help with an IR35 audit or compliance check please get in touch with our team.
What's involved in an IR35 Compliance Audit?
In recent years dealing with IR35 and off-payroll enquiries has become highly specialised work. Robust IR35 compliance now depends on a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant statute, evolving case law and experience of defending HMRC status enquiries all the way to tax tribunal. With our decades of experience, you can be confident you've hired the right team.
Gather
We start by gathering key information in line with how HMRC approach their status enquiries.
We will focus on areas of strength and weakness with drill down into material areas, based on arguments HMRC currently use in tax tribunals.
Evaluate
A detailed evaluation process is conducted, based on the facts and current case law.
This helps identify any determinations that may be subject to challenge, how they might be challenged and if reasonable care has been taken.
Recommend
We will provide you with a detailed report using a risk-based approach, clearly identifying areas of strength and weakness.
Our recommendations will help you strengthen your compliance activity and maximise the chances of early closure of any compliance check.
Have you used HMRC's CEST tool?
Don't put your business at risk.
If you've used HMRC's CEST tool to determine an Outside IR35 status, flaws in the tool may put you at risk of not adhering to reasonable care. Use our simple checker tool to find out if you're affected.
Check your CEST IR35 result freeGet a definitive result every time with our IR35 status tools
We lead the way with technology, introducing the first IR35 status tool in 2009. Our technological innovations make its level of detail unparalleled, and you can trust our tool to accurately determine IR35 status each and every time. We ensure our tools are always up to date by attending all the tribunals and following the latest IR35 cases.
Chat with an expert about our IR35 status toolsOur recent successes
IR35 Case: RALC Consulting v HMRC
The team successfully defended IT Contractor Richard Alcock at First-tier Tribunal, which defeated two barristers representing HMRC Solicitor’s Office. Chris and Dave worked together for 18 months to build the case defence before defending during a four day hearing. They succeeded in countering HMRC’s IR35 Opinion and extended time assessments with the Judge upholding RALC’s appeals.
IR35 Shield Swiftly Closes HMRC IR35 Investigation
When a long-time client of IR35 Shield received notice of an IR35 investigation by HMRC, the company turned to IR35 Shield's compliance experts for representation. Within months, the investigation was closed with no tax bill.
Ongoing enquiries
Dave and Chris are currently managing a range of IR35 enquiries and also offer consulting for businesses to help ensure their procedures and processes achieve defendable positions in light of the new off-payroll working legislation.
Loved by our partners and their teams
Don't just take it from us, listen to some of the reasons our partners recommend IR35 Shield.
“IR35 Shield saves us time, and its robustness leaves us comfortable in the knowledge that our workers have been assessed properly.”
Debbie Chinn
HR Advisor - PGA
“IR35 Shield ensures our assessment process is robust and compliant. The added benefit of Monitoring gives us peace of mind that potential tax risks arising during contracts are easily identified and resolved.”
Drew Horrocks
Head of UK TA Operations - Petrofac
“The assessment being weighted fairly across all factors gives us the confidence to reassure our clients that the outcome is correct.”
Katherine Miller
Head of Legal and Audit - La Fosse
We know the details so you don't have to
We keep our finger on the pulse of IR35. You can trust our advice and guidance is always up to date.
Does IR35 apply to overseas contracts? Explaining the overseas exemptions
The off-payroll rules apply only to contracts where either the client is a UK tax resident or the work is carried out in the UK...
Read moreAs a small company, should you assess your contractors IR35 status?
The IR35 reforms that came into effect in April 2021 do not affect small companies. Nonetheless, some small companies...
Read moreWhy companies large and small trust IR35 Shield
Contact us to speak with an expert000,000
IR35 status assessments delivered to our customers. And counting.
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The average recommendation score from our customers.
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The year we built and released the UK's first IR35 status tool.
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Definitive IR35 status results. Inside or outside IR35, no indeterminates.
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Over 20 years of experience at the cutting-edge of IR35.
£000K
Defence cost cover available with our Tax Investigation Service.
