Knowledgebase
How Should Recruitment Agencies Choose an Umbrella Company
Recruitment agencies work in a high-pressure world where compliance, trust, and speed all matter. Choosing the wrong umbrella company isn’t just an inconvenience. It can…
Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Your Umbrella Payslip
Payslips under an umbrella company look different from a normal payslip. You see employer costs, deductions, and payments that may not make sense at first…
Switching from Limited Company to Umbrella Company — Step by Step
You’ve probably thought about it more than once. The admin work. The accountant emails. The stress over IR35. Running your own limited company used to…
Umbrella Company vs Limited Company – What’s Better for You?
If you're stuck choosing between an umbrella company and a limited company, don't stress. You're not alone. Here's exactly what you need to know to…
Key Contract Terms to Check Before Signing with an Umbrella Company
If you’re about to sign up with an umbrella company, don’t just scroll to the bottom and hit agree. That contract holds all the details…
What Makes an Umbrella Company Compliant in the UK
If you're hunting for a legit umbrella company in the UK, the first thing you want to figure out is this — are they actually…
National Insurance Explained for Umbrella Contractors
You’re seeing two types of National Insurance on your payslip and wondering why so much is being taken. One looks like it’s from your pay,…
Student Loan Deductions Through an Umbrella Company
If you’re working through an umbrella company and still have a student loan to repay, you’re probably wondering when and how the deductions kick in.…
How is Umbrella Take Home Pay Calculated – An Easy Guide
If you're using an umbrella company and wondering where your money goes, you're not alone. It might feel like someone’s nibbling at your payslip before…
UTR Number – Guide for Contractors
If you’re working under an umbrella company, you might think taxes are someone else’s job. But things change fast in contracting. One month, you’re PAYE;…
Getting Paid Twice in the Same Tax Period (Umbrella Contractors Guide)
You checked your account and saw two payments in the same week. Now you’re wondering if you got overpaid, if you’ll be taxed more, or…
Umbrella Company Holiday Pay Explained
You work hard. You take contracts seriously. But when it comes to holiday pay, things get messy. If you're working through an umbrella company, you…
Workplace Pensions for Umbrella Contractors
You’re working through an umbrella payroll employer. That means your pay and taxes are handled differently from a typical job. And yes, pensions are part…
Understanding Apprenticeship Levy
The levy you might see deducted on your payslip by the umbrella company you are contracting for is called the "Apprenticeship Levy." It is confusing…
Umbrella Company Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay & Statutory Sick Pay
As an independent contractor working with an umbrella provider, you enjoy flexibility and independence. However, it's essential to understand the statutory benefits you're entitled to,…
48 Hour Work Week, Opt-in vs Opt-Out
The balance between work and personal, non-work hours is crucial to physical and mental well-being. Under the UK’s Working Time Regulations 1998, an average maximum…
Working Time Regulations in the UK
The Working Time Regulations in the UK constitute important employment laws whose essential role is to ensure fairness and safety at work for all. Whether…
Agency Worker Rights (AWR) – A Layman’s Guide
From day 1 to year 2, this guide will lead you through your essential rights as an agency worker and the appropriate paths you could…
Salary Sacrifice and Your Pension
Salary sacrifice offers umbrella contractors a practical and tax-efficient way to boost pension contributions. What is Salary Sacrifice Pension You agree to give up a…
Understanding P45 and its Importance
A P45 is an official certificate that your employer will hand over to you after terminating your employment with them. In this document, there are…
Sole Trader vs Limited Company
What is a Sole Trader? Definition A sole proprietor is someone who runs their own business independently. It differs from limited liability companies as both…
What is P11D Form
P11D form is a tax document used by HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), that employees fill in every year to report benefits and allowances…
Choosing Between Umbrella Company and Agency PAYE
If you do not operate as a sole trader or hold the position of a limited company director, your main choices typically involve either working…
What is IR35 – Meaning, Inside vs Outside
IR35 is a law that determines whether or not individuals working through intermediaries should be treated as employees for tax purposes. Taxes such as Pay…