Contact: 0116 478 3390 info@qdoscommercialservices.com

At Qdos, we believe that compliance comes first, and so whichever IR35 solution you choose, we encourage businesses not to rely solely on CEST. Compare alternative IR35 solutions below.

COMPARE IR35 SOLUTIONS

Whichever IR35 Solution You Choose, Make Sure It’s Not Just CEST

QDOS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MANAGE IR35 CHANGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

CEST is HMRC’s online tool Check Employment Status for Tax. It is an optional online test hosted on the Government website and consists of a number of limited questions regarding a contractor’s IR35 status. It was introduced in 2017 to assist public sector engagers to determine IR35 status, which is one of the obligations under the off-payroll reform. CEST is also in operation for IR35 changes in the private sector, which will be introduced on 6th April 2021.

When we launched the Qdos Status Review facility, which was introduced before CEST, there were no dedicated IR35 services to help recruitment agencies and end-clients successfully navigate IR35 changes. There are now plenty to choose from – even more than we have included in the table below. In our expert opinion, they each offer a more reliable alternative to HMRC’s flawed CEST tool. 

So as we approach IR35 reform in the private sector, we have one simple request: whichever service you choose to manage your IR35 compliance, make sure it’s not just CEST.

A GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE IR35 ASSESSMENT SERVICES

QDOS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MANAGE IR35 CHANGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Comparison Table of IR35 Tools

np = information not provided

https://lp.kingsbridge.co.uk/kingsbridge-status-tool/ [30/09/2020] + Updated on behalf of Kingsbridge representative [24/11/2020]
https://www.brooksonlegal.co.uk/services/ir35-portal/ [12/11/2020]
https://www.brooksonlegal.co.uk/compare-ir35-providers/ [16/11/2020]

Please note the information contained within this table has been obtained from the sources and on the dates referenced and is provided for general information and use only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Whilst we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure, as at the date of drafting, the information contained in the document is up to date and accurate in all material respects, the information may be subject to updating and change in the future and we do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy and completeness or otherwise of the same going forward. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content provided is accurate, complete or up to date. No individual is personally liable in connection with this content. By accessing or using the content or by acting on the basis of the content, you or any third party (as applicable) accepts that no individual is personally liable whether in contract, tort, for breach of statutory duty or otherwise.

WHY IS CEST CONSIDERED UNRELIABLE?

QDOS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MANAGE IR35 CHANGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Despite HMRC’s confidence in CEST and even after several iterations over the years, IR35 experts, along with the House of Lords, remain unconvinced by the tool’s reliability. Following a report into IR35, the House of Lords described CEST as “not fit for purpose” and said it “falls well short of what is required.”

In addition to concerns held by IR35 specialists and the House of Lords, there are many other reasons why the tool is considered unreliable and is said to risk non-compliance:

  • CEST only provides an answer in 80% of cases, leaving users to interpret Government guidance and make an IR35 decision themselves 20% of the time (CEST data 25th November 2019 to 31st January 2020) 
  • Tribunal judges have been highly critical of using a tick-box exercise to determine status
  • The crucial IR35 status test, Mutuality of Obligation (MoO), is barely factored into the tool despite campaigning from specialists to have CEST amended 
  • There are already cases of HMRC not standing by the results
  • Crucial questions upon which IR35 status can hinge, such as the right of substitution, are left open to interpretation, increasing the risk of inaccurate information
  • HMRC deemed CEST ‘irrelevant’ in a recent tribunal hearing

The above points, along with numerous others, mean that relying solely on CEST to assess IR35 leaves users without expert support, guidance and additional services that businesses need to compliantly manage IR35 reform. 

QDOS STATUS REVIEW

QDOS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MANAGE IR35 CHANGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Assess the IR35 status of your off-payroll workers fairly and compliantly with the award-winning Qdos Status Review platform. We assess workers based on two decades’ of experience handling enquiries and completing assessments, and insure the risks involved whilst ensuring your obligations are met under the off-payroll working rules. More than just an IR35 tool, Qdos Status Review is a complete support service from unrivalled IR35 experts, enabling 2,200+ businesses to compliantly place and engage contract workers.

WHO ARE QDOS?

QDOS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO MANAGE IR35 CHANGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Qdos are leading IR35 experts and have been since the legislation was introduced in 2000.

In this time we have pioneered IR35 insurance, reviewed over 150,000 engagements for IR35 status, defended over 1,600 IR35 enquiries, and supported over 2,200 businesses to fairly and compliantly manage IR35 reform in both public and private sectors.

The award-winning Qdos Status Review facility is only one part of what we do for businesses taking on IR35 responsibilities from April – our tailored consultancy services can include audits, policy writing, outsourced service reviews, training, as well as client support and stakeholder engagement.

Our team consist of former HMRC inspectors and dedicated IR35 consultants who are on hand both for you and your contractors throughout the process.

For more information and to hear how Qdos could help your business with IR35 compliance, please contact us on 0116 478 3390 or info@qdoscommercialservices.com

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