Tories deny IR35 policy switch

Tories deny IR35 policy switch

Conservative Party central office has denied reports that the Tories would abolish IR35 if they won the next general election.

The BBC this morning reported that junior shadow trade spokesman Alan Duncan pledged the Conservatives would do away with the controversial IR35 measures.

Speaking at this week’s Tory conference in Bournemouth, Duncan described IR35 as a ‘pernicious tax on IT consultants that has created a brain drain’.

He went on to say: ‘While at the same time the government is planning to ease immigration regulations to attract more IT workers into Britain. It is a policy not for the internet, but of inter-nuts.’

But a Conservative Party spokesperson told AccountancyAge.com that there had been no change in policy and that Duncan had not pledged to scrap IR35. Last week trade and industry spokesman David Heathcoat-Amory promised to review the operation of the controversial measure.

IR35 was announced by the government in April 1999, after the Inland Revenue claimed many full-time employees were avoiding tax and National Insurance by setting up onr-person businesses. It stripped many freelancers working through their own companies of these previously held tax advantages.

Links

Tories avoid giving IR35 answers

Security officers called for IR35 debate

Walker to face the music in IR35 debate

Hague commits to reforming IR35

Portillo makes tax pledges for businessIR35 resource centre

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