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What is IR35 and who does it affect?

We can help you navigate the IR35 maze with our range of articles, an IR35 calculator tool to help you see if you're at risk, detailed IR35 reviews from an expert accountant, and a jargon-free guide that explains IR35. Our payroll and accountancy solutions can help contractors whether their assignments are inside or outside of IR35.

Crunch offers the UK's first and only end to end solution for IR35. Call us now on 0333 920 4791 or book a callback with the button below to find out more.

Free IR35 Guide for contractors

Check the IR35 status of a contract assignment

If you’re a contractor working through a Personal Service Company, the off-payroll working rules (known as ‘IR35’) could have a big impact on how you get paid and how much tax and National Insurance you have to pay. Each assignment you work on needs to be assessed to see whether it's inside or outside IR35, our free IR35 tool for contractors, below, can help you make or check an assessment. Recruiters, whether in-house or at an agency, also need to be aware of the changes the government introduced for the private sector in April 2021.

Whether you’re a contractor, a recruiter placing contractors on assignments, or an employer looking to assess the IR35 status of your contractor assignments, we’ve got a tool that can help you.

Free contractor IR35 calculator tool

  • Free online IR35 calculator tool for contractors
  • Quickly and easily see your IR35 risk
  • Purchase a report with detailed conclusions and recommendations for a fixed fee
  • Option to purchase an in-depth contract review by an expert accountant to establish your employment status
Free IR35 Calculator for contractors

IR35 Navigator tool for recruitment agencies

  • Quickly and easily see the IR35 status for all your contractor assignments
  • Subscription service for multiple assignment reviews, including role-based appraisals
  • Assessments, downloadable reports and recommendations for each assignment
  • Try for free (seven-day trial)
IR35 Calculator for recruiters

IR35 Navigator tool for employers

  • Quickly and easily see the IR35 status for your contractor assignments
  • Subscription service for multiple assignment reviews - try for free (seven-day trial)
  • Assessments, downloadable reports and recommendations for each assignment
  • Status Determination Statement service
IR35 Calculator for employers

IR35 expertise for recruitment agencies or employers

If you’re a recruiter, an agency, or an employer with multiple contracts and assignments that you’d like to assess for their employment status, Crunch can help. Our IR35 Navigator tool lets you quickly generate online IR35 status assessments for all your assignments, as well as calculating your financial risk. It also offers recommendations on mitigating action you could take to ensure the employment status of your contractor assignments are correct. Our free guide for recruiters focuses on the changes implemented by the government in April 2021.

Get our free IR35 guide for recruiters

Prove your IR35 status with an expert review

If you want the ultimate peace of mind about your IR35 status, you can get an IR35 Accountant Contract Review by one of our expert accountants. As well as a detailed report based on your answers to our online questionnaire, we’ll go through your contract and look at your actual working practices to assess whether the assignment is ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ IR35. We also offer an express service if you need an answer in the shortest possible time:

  • Online IR35 status assessment - free
  • IR35 detailed online report and recommendations - £49.50 +VAT
  • IR35 Accountant Contract Review - from £139.50 +VAT
  • Express IR35 Accountant Contract Review - from £239.50 +VAT

We can help you whatever your IR35 status

Our unique approach allows you to work on multiple contracts and assignments whatever your IR35 status.

Our limited company accountancy service is ideal where your assignment is ‘outside IR35’. You get the maximum tax-efficiency and control over your business.

We also offer an Umbrella service and work with a range of employment agencies to provide the payroll services you need for ‘inside IR35’ assignments.

All of these services are available separately, or in a comprehensive, single package for a fixed price. You may need to purchase additional services depending on your individual circumstances. Our specialist advisors will guide you, to ensure your service is as flexible as you need.

Switchable IR35 solutions

Premium package for limited companies

Fixed fee from
£ 109 .50
+VAT per month
Get started

Great for your peace of mind and perfect if you’re worried about IR35. Switch between services depending on the IR35 status of your assignment. We’ll take care of HMRC and Companies House, with easy-to-use software and expert advice.

Umbrella payroll package

from
£ 25 .00
per week
Get started

We'll ensure you're paid promptly for your work with all the tax and admin taken care of, leaving you to do what you do best. You'll get expert help and support whenever you need it.

Insurance for limited companies

from
£ 74 .50
per year
Get a quote

Our insurance partner Kingsbridge specialise in Small Business Insurance which helps protect you, your business, and your clients should the unexpected happen. Kingsbridge can cover you for employers' liability, public liability, professional indemnity, and more. Their Legal Expenses policy also offers cover against the costs of IR35 investigations and a 24-hour legal advice helpline if you want complete peace of mind.

What is IR35?

IR35 is a tax law introduced to combat tax avoidance by workers supplying their services to clients via an 'intermediary' (such as a limited company) who would otherwise be an employee. If an assignment is ‘inside IR35' then HMRC expects the correct employment taxes and National Insurance to be paid. We have IR35 solutions that can help contractors with this.

  • Why is IR35 important?

    It’s important you establish whether your assignments are inside or outside IR35. HMRC can investigate your Personal Service Company at any time, and this can be time-consuming, costly and highly stressful. The financial impact of IR35 can be significant. You may find your future earnings are reduced and you may have to pay Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) HMRC calculates you should have paid. HMRC can also apply financial penalties.

  • How does IR35 affect me?

    If IR35 rules apply to your assignment, you need to pay Income Tax and NIC as though you were employed directly, rather than contracted to work through your Personal Service Company. HMRC can go back up to six years and evaluate past assignments to see if the legislation should have applied. The rules changed in April 2021 for assignments with private sector companies.

  • Who determines your IR35 status?

    The responsibility for determining your IR35 status, and which entity pays Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to HMRC is, largely, the same for both the private and public sectors. Unless you're working for a smaller end client, or an overseas business it's the end-clients responsibility to make an IR35 status. But you should still make sure they've done it correctly. Find out more about who determines your status and pays the tax.

  • How can Crunch help?

    To assess your assignment for IR35, try the Crunch IR35 calculator for Contractors. If you receive an inside IR35 or borderline assessment, we strongly advise you to take action as soon as possible. This could include getting a more detailed review of your contract and working practices. Speak to us to see how we can help, with our range of products including limited company accounting, IR35 payroll, IR35 Tax accounting or working through a compliant Umbrella company.

  • Get an IR35 Review

    Crunch offer a range of IR35 contract and assignment review services. An expert will review your contract, accurately determine your IR35 status, and will assist in helping you to comply with the government's regulations in this area. We also offer advice on recommended changes to your contract or working practices to ensure you aren't incorrectly classified.

  • IR35 Guide

    We've pulled together all the information you need to know into our IR35 Business Guide. Our jargon-free business guides explain key topics for freelancers, contractors, and small businesses. You can download our guides by joining Crunch Chorus - our free community for the self-employed.

    Get your free IR35 Business Guide

IR35 explained in two minutes

Watch our two-minute video to learn the basics of IR35, who it affects and what to do if you’re concerned about it.

IR35 webinar for contractors

Crunch’s Head of Accounting, Robert Grant, explains the upcoming IR35 rules and how they’ll affect contractors working through limited companies.

IR35 webinar for recruitment agencies

Crunch and Professional Passport explain what IR35 means for recruiters and what action they need to take ahead of the rule changes planned for April 2021.

Related articles

Supervision, Direction, or Control

If you work through a Personal Service Company, you may not be able to claim tax relief on travel and subsistence expenses. For those still unsure whether they’re affected, you can use the Supervision, Direction, and Control (SDC) test to get a clearer picture.

Read this article →

Interested in our IR35 service?

If you’re a Crunch client please speak with your client managers. If not, please call us on 0333 920 4791 or book a callback with the button below to find out more.