IR35 guides
Everything a UK contractor needs to know about IR35, written plainly and kept current with the rules as they actually stand in 2026/27. No sales pitch, and every figure traced back to HMRC.
Inside vs outside IR35
What inside and outside IR35 actually mean, who decides which one applies, what each is worth in take-home pay, and what you give up either way.
7 min readupdated 1 August 2026
How IR35 status is decided
Who decides your IR35 status, the tests that settle it, what a status determination statement must contain, and how to challenge one you think is wrong.
8 min readupdated 1 August 2026
Umbrella or limited company
How the two ways of getting paid compare on take-home, admin, employment rights and risk, and when running a limited company stops being worth it.
7 min readupdated 1 August 2026
The April 2026 umbrella rules
From 6 April 2026 agencies are jointly liable for unpaid PAYE in umbrella supply chains. What it means for contractors, and what is coming in 2027.
6 min readupdated 1 August 2026
Tools
- IR35 calculator, 2026/27Take-home inside and outside IR35 on any day rate, and the rate an inside contract needs to pay to match.
- Umbrella companies comparedMargins, accreditation and referral schemes, with the compliance checks worth doing first.
- Contractor day ratesWhat each skill is paying right now, taken from live roles on the board.
General information for UK contractors, not tax or legal advice. IR35 turns on the facts of a particular engagement, so take advice on your own contract before acting.