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• Confusion reigns ahead of IR35 business test HMRC were due to release details of their IR35 business test, designed to help contractors and freelancers "self-assess" their status, on April 6th. As this date fell on a public holiday the release has been delayed. HMRC and IR35 Forum members have variously said the delays would be "a week or few".
• Contractors left out in the cold in 2012 Budget The "pro-business" 2012 Budget may have provided many boons for large businesses in the form of an extra 1% cut in the Main Rate of Corporation Tax (which will now fall from 26% to 24% in April), increased R&D tax credits, and a 5% income tax cut for their wealthy executives, but there was little meaningful change for contractors, freelancers and small businesses.
• AWR fails to cool demand for contractors The Agency Workers Regulations have been in effect for almost six months now, and despite predications of 500,000 contracts being axed, the temporary work sector - including most contractors and freelancers - has been remarkably undamaged.