PCG Newsletter 08/05 - 5 May 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

• After Arctic - what next?

• PCG elections

• Annual membership survey

• PCG collates election candidates' views

• Barclays package for PCG members launched

• Feedback on consultations invited

• Software patents

• Agencies and ID requests - PCG guidance

• Wins versus losses

• Regional coordinators required

• Contract opportunities for members

• Regional meetings

• Other events

• Advertisement

AFTER ARCTIC - WHAT NEXT?

S660 seminar

Following the news last Wednesday that Geoff and Diana Jones of Arctic Systems had lost their appeal at the High Court, PCG can confirm the date for its planned evening seminar about S660A as Wednesday 25 May 2005.

The seminar will be for members, freelancers and PCG friends who are concerned about the implications of the judgment for them, and will incorporate the following topics:

• What action you MUST take following the Arctic judgment

• Are you still at RISK following the Arctic judgment?

• How to MAXIMISE tax saving strategies after Arctic

• What all family companies must do NOW

The main speaker at the seminar will be David Smith LLB FTII, founding director of Accountax Consulting and former Inland Revenue inspector. There will be a charge of just £50 plus VAT for PCG members and £75 plus VAT for non-members. Please register your interest online. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and PCG will contact you to confirm your booking and request payment .

Guidance

PCG's legal team is currently examining the legal options available. PCG believes that collective action is the best way of addressing issues that affect the freelance community, and continues to stand up for freelancers by supporting cases such as the Joneses' and also by offering protection, such as through its Professional Expenses Insurance (PEI) policy cover.

PCG's Guide to S660A, available to members, will be updated in due course to reflect the judgment. Members who are concerned about S660A can find out their likely risk using SARA, an online "Self Assessment Risk Analysis" tool developed by PCG and Accountax Consulting.

Press coverage

The outcome of Arctic's High Court appeal has attracted extensive press coverage. Simon Juden appeared on BBC2's Working Lunch television programme shortly after the hearing, and on Radio 5 Live later in the day. Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 also covered the news in their bulletins, and there have been articles in the Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, AccountingWeb, on BBC's website and in other publications, as well as reports and links on the website of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

PCG ELECTIONS

PCG's annual elections for the Consultative Council (CC) are now in full swing and ballots will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 10 May 2005.

Paper ballot forms have been sent to members with a short election statement from each candidate. This year, for the first time, members have the choice of voting online, in the usual way, or by post. A dedicated area of the website has been set up where you may view the election statements of those standing and vote for eligible candidates if you wish to vote online rather than via paper ballot.

Each member may vote only once; if you try to vote online and by post, whichever vote reaches us first will be counted.

Results will be announced by noon on Thursday 12 May 2005.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

PCG's annual membership survey has also be sent to members with the ballot papers. One of PCG's key strengths is that it is very strongly member-led, and the annual survey represents a critical part of this, giving you the valuable opportunity to convey your opinions. PCG strongly urges all members to complete and return this survey, as it will help drive the organisation's activity and set its direction for the next year.

PCG COLLATES ELECTION CANDIDATES' VIEWS

PCG has been collating responses to its policy questionnaire from parliamentary candidates over the course of the general election campaign. The survey was drawn up from the views given by members in an independent survey of what they considered to be the important issues facing freelancers.

The replies give a fair overview of the main parties' attitudes towards freelancers, and all the candidates who took the trouble to respond were encouragingly positive. A summary has been posted on the discussion forums, and requests for more details should be emailed to John Kell.

Freelancers may also find an exercise conducted by TAC Europe of interest. They have asked each of the three main parties for their views on freelance issues and have published the responses on their website.

BARCLAYS PACKAGE FOR PCG MEMBERS LAUNCHED

PCG has worked closely with Barclays Bank to negotiate the provision of a banking package specifically for PCG members. It incorporates the following features and benefits:

• Low cost tariff (with free automated transactions, provided that no more than 20 credits or 20 debits are made per month)

• Free online banking

• Telephone banking service for extended hours of service

• Competitive savings rate

• Free business debit card

• Company charge card (free of fees for the first 12 months)

• Relationship manager who understands the financial needs of contractors and freelancers

Commenting on the launch, chief executive John Thomas said, "Well over 500 members responded to our online banking survey and told us what they wanted from their business bank. We're naturally delighted that Barclays Bank was able to offer our members a package tailored specifically to meet the needs articulated by so many of our members."

Full details of the package and an online application are available to members via PCG's website.

FEEDBACK ON CONSULTATIONS INVITED

As part of the Budget, the Treasury has launched a consultation for small businesses on the new department of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This focuses on the relationship between HMRC and small businesses, and what small businesses would like to see. PCG's political researcher, John Kell, will be drawing up a response to the consultation, and welcomes feedback from members, particularly regarding the questions posed on pages 21 and 22.

Likewise, members are invited to submit their comments about the long-awaited consultation on the powers of HMRC.

Another consultation announced on Budget day is a reform of Company Law. Proposals include restructuring those parts of company law most relevant to small businesses making it easier for them to understand what they need to do; simpler rules for forming a company; and abolition of the need for a company secretary. John Kell will be drafting PCG's response, and welcomes feedback from members about the proposals.

SOFTWARE PATENTS

PCG is campaigning against the so-called "Software Patents" Directive about to go before the European Parliament. In the summary to its policy briefing, PCG states its belief that:

• Software is not patentable and should not be made patentable

• The Council's Common Position would allow the broad patentability of software

• Software patents would harm small businesses

• Software patents would not bring any clear economic benefit in terms of encouraging innovation

PCG is calling for the European Parliament either to scrap the Directive entirely or to reinstate the amendments of its first reading.

The Legal Affairs committee has begun its deliberations and will vote in late June. There will be a plenary vote in early July, after which the Parliament and Commission will thrash out their final joint decision.

AGENCIES AND ID REQUESTS - PCG GUIDANCE

Several members have voiced concern about requests made by agencies for proof of identification. PCG has sought independent legal advice and has produced a brief guidance document which is available to members on the Legal and Accounting forum.

WINS VERSUS LOSSES

PCG's approved suppliers have reported the following win-loss statistics for tax investigation cases completed to date:

• Accountax 153-2

• Bauer and Cottrell 32-0

• Lawspeed 102-0

• QDOS Consulting 517-1

• SJD Accountancy 73-0

Total: 877-3

Full members are reminded that Professional Expenses Insurance (PEI) cover is one of the standard benefits available to them. PCG has taken out a group policy with Abbey Tax Protection Limited, on behalf of its members, which runs from 1 January to 31 December each year. The policy covers all current members and pays up to £75,000 per member per membership year to cover the professional fees of leading experts throughout:

• VAT disputes

• Full enquiries on Self Assessments for Incorporated or Corporate Tax

• Aspect enquiries for Corporation Tax

• PAYE compliance disputes (including P11D problems)

• NIC disputes

• Section 660A cases

• IR35 cases

A summary of cover is available on the website.

REGIONAL COORDINATORS REQUIRED

PCG plans to recruit regional coordinators in three pilot regions across the country, who will be required to spend a few hours a month on PCG regional affairs, including the arrangement of monthly meetings, local press activities, getting to know the local MP and Council Officers, meeting and building relationships with local Affiliate members and potential members and encouraging the formation of local networking groups for PCG members. For further information see the Regional PCG forum or email PCG's operations manager, Mark Wharton.

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

For information about the latest job, project, contract and work opportunities, see PCG's Commercial forum, and Members' Commercial forum. The Commercial forum may be accessed by Affiliate members, and PCG welcomes postings by agencies. If you are willing to have your commercial post published in the weekly newsletter, please include the words "newsletter OK".

Current opportunities include:

Cognos report writer / team leader - Chiswick, London

Java Server Faces/JSP developer - London

REGIONAL MEETINGS

Regional meetings - traditionally known on the forums as "RLMs" - encourage members to socialise, network and discuss PCG issues. These meetings are open to all members, and in many cases non-members are welcome to come along too.

Edinburgh - Monday 9 May 2005 19:30Oxford Bar, Edinborgh. Email enquiries to edinburgh@pcg.org.uk

Thames Valley - Wednesday 18 May 2005 20:00Jonathan's, 11 Bridge Street, Maidenhead. Email enquiries to thamesvalley@pcg.org.uk

London - Saturday 21 May 2005 18:00Green Man, Great Portland Street, London, after the first meeting of the new Consultative Council.

Sheffield - Thursday 23 June 2005 19:30The Old Queen's Head, by the bus station. Email enquiries to sheffield@pcg.org.uk

Various members have also posted in the RLM forum about potential meetings in other areas. If you would like to attend regional meetings in any of these locations, please register your interest by posting to the relevant thread.

OTHER EVENTS

SBS User Group meeting, London - Tuesday 17 May 2005 18:00Club Room, Old Bank of England pub, 194 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2LT

BCS, London: IT's Contracting - For Fortune, Fame or Famine?" Wednesday 18 May 2005 18:15British Computer Society, 1st Floor, 5 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HAPCG is strongly supporting this seminar by fielding the following people to speak on themes related to the present and future of contracting.

• Simon Juden, PCG chairman

• John Thomas, PCG chief executive

• Richard Robson, PCG director

• Derek Wreay, managing director of the Wreay Group (PCG Affiliate) and chairman of ATSCo

• Bernie Potton, managing director of SQ Computer Personnel (PCG Affiliate)

Whether you are a happy IT contractor, a permanent IT professional, and employer or aency, you will be able to quiz the speakers and hear some informative, constructive and candid views about IT contracting in the UK - ups and downs, twists and turns, benefits and limitations. This free event is open to anyone who is interested in contracting, irrespective of whether they are members of PCG or BCS or not. Please find further details and reserve your place via the BCS North London website

AICS (Central London): "Networks - How They Work" - Tuesday 24 May 2005 18:45British Computer Society, Davidson Building, Southampton Street, London (opposite the Savoy Hotel)

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