February 2010

Here’s what’s been hitting the headlines over recent weeks:

FEATURE ARTICLE

Tories may address unfair business taxes and IR35: Recent press reports have suggested that the Conservatives could be prepared to take a look at the taxation system with a view to making it fairer for the self-employed, if they win the next General Election. MORE...

NEWS ROUND-UP

HMRC to tackle rogue tax advice: HMRC has said that it intends to stamp out rogue tax advisers who offer fraudulent advice to contractors. MORE...

Concern over retrospective taxes: The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has spoken out about its opposition to retrospective taxation and it claims that it is not alone in its stand. MORE...

Construction project start-ups down: The unusual weather conditions at the start of the year have delayed works on site, particularly in the non-residential sector. MORE...

Umbrella company failures cause for concern: A specialist in recruitment law has warned recruitment agencies that they should ensure that they have adequate protection in case the umbrella companies that they use fail. MORE...

Companies fined for 2005 fatality: Two UK demolition firms have been fined a total of £115,000 after an accident that killed a worker. MORE...

Crossrail advertise third tunnelling package: Crossrail has invited expressions of interest for its third and final tunnelling package, called C310. MORE...

HMRC to release details of tax coding issues: Contractors are still waiting for clarification from HMRC of potential issues over tax codes which could result in them overpaying hundreds of pounds in tax. MORE...

BA to build biofuel plant: British Airways (BA) has announced that it intends to build a carbon neutral waste-to-energy jet fuel plant. MORE...

Olympic news: A report by the London Assembly has claimed that East London is in danger of missing out on a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympics. MORE...

VAT returns online: HMRC has issued a reminder to companies that VAT returns must now be filed online. Paper based filing will soon be a thing of the past. MORE...

National campaign for workplace safety net: The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that it will set up a consultation to consider the creation of an Employers Liability Bureau (ELIB). MORE...

Two firms in running for Pinnacle concrete job: Only two firms are left in the competition for the concrete core package for the Pinnacle project. MORE...

Civil Engineers ignorant of Euro Codes: Consultant McBains Cooper has warned that unless civil engineers are able to understand and use the new structural Eurocodes British construction companies could suffer. MORE...

ICE proposes radical funding changes: The Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) has said that the government needs to think again about how to unlock funding for essential infrastructure projects. MORE...

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