The CIPR, which represents freelancers and contractors (as well as other types of workers in the PR industry) working in public relations (PR), will hold the evening in Maidstone on Wednesday 25 February.

The event will be a showcase of some of the county’s hottest PR talent, in the form of winners and finalists from the CIPR’s recent regional awards for the best campaigns and teams.

The PR delegates, a mixture of members and non-members, will have the opportunity to network with PRs from across their region as well as chat to CIPR representatives.

Lee Cahill of Kingston UK said: “Kingston UK provides services for freelancers and contractors from any sector, which includes public relations.

This event will be a great opportunity for delegates to find out about how an umbrella company like ours can take the hassle out of freelancing or contracting by offering a huge selection of employee benefits plus tax and admin management services.”

The event will take place from 6.30pm in the business suite at MuMu Lounge in Maidstone – click here for details.

What have we been up to? Well, as you’ll see from our latest news section, we’re supporting the Chartered Institute of Public Relations at an event being held in Maidstone on February 25.

This is part of our aim to work alongside those organisations that support the UK’s freelancers and contractors as we do. If you know of any other contractor or freelancer-friendly organisations we should be partnering with or supporting, post your comments for us here!

We spent Friday being interviewed for CNN Business Traveller channel, for a feature about business travel during the recession. Apparently, business budgets are being slashed left, right and centre, with companies shunning four-star hotels for budget-friendly options. It will air on Wednesday 11 February at 0930 and 1830 but you’ll also be able to click here to watch it online).

The budget hotel industry is realising this and upping its game, offering special deals to appeal to the corporate traveller’s wallet, such as rooms from as little as £1 per night.

At Kingston UK, we’re trying to cut back on costs but without cutting back on travel itself. Why? In these uncertain economic times, we think it’s more important than ever to put yourself firmly in the mind – and sight – of your clients. Yes, talk is cheap and email is quick, but don’t underestimate the importance of ‘face-time’. It might seem like an expense you could cut back on, but it could be one you can’t do without…

Research from the Federation of Small Businesses found that its members were not reducing their corporate travel as they felt it was important for expanding their businesses and networking. They are instead looking for alternative ways to be green and to save money.

Plus, Kingston UK contractors and freelancers can claim back the cost of business travel, which includes mileage (without receipts) and rail/air fares and accommodation. Car sharing, choosing a friend’s sofa over a hotel room and opting for sandwiches over treating your clients to slap-up meals will keep your costs lower still, whilst ensuring you are nurturing your client relationships at a time when they matter most.

Don’t forget, you can still claim for all of these (including staying on your mate’s sofa) if they are expenses incurred in the performance of business activity.

A fake link is being emailed to people in ‘reminder messages’ from seemingly plausible email addresses in the hope that they will visit the fraudulent site and reveal personal and credit card details that could lead to identity theft.

The HMRC logo and graphical designs are used too in the emails, which either claim there is a rebate for the recipient to claim or reminding them to file their self-assessment online.

According to Freelance UK, tax officials have said they never email customers to tell them about a rebate or prompt them to complete online forms to submit credit card details in order to claim the rebate.

Self-assessors are being warned to be extra vigilant when completing their tax return this spring.

They may be unaware of any fraud until several weeks later.

In an online security alert, HMRC said it never emails from the addresses used, including ‘info@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk,’ ‘claims@hmrc.direct.gov.uk,’ and ‘admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.’

Story originally published at Freelance UK.com. Click here for more on this story

The Group has just published a new edition of its Guide to IR35, the tax legislation that governs whether contractors, freelancers and other small business owners are taxed as “employees” due to the way they work.

“Dragonfly” IR35 Case

The new publication comes at a key time following the Dragonfly case in which one contractor unsuccessfully contested a £99,000 tax bill from HMRC.

Dragonfly Consulting was hit with the massive tax bill after its director was found to have been “within” the IR35 rules during an IT Contract with the Automobile Association (AA). Rather than being viewed as “self employed” for tax purposes, the director was found to be “employed”, despite running his business via a limited company.

Take Sound Advice

MD of the PCG, John Brazier, said: “It’s still entirely possible to work outside IR35, despite the shock of the Dragonfly case earlier this year. What that case showed is that the traditional advice remains sound, but must be followed thoroughly and carefully.”

The new version of the IR35 Guide clarifies issues such as the importance of the “upper” (agency-client) contract matching the “lower” (limited company-agency) contract which the freelancer actually signs, and the need to be able to demonstrate through “real arrangements” letters or other documentation that the reality of what happens tallies with what the contract says.

It also emphasises that the “big three” indicators of whether you might be caught by IR35 or not are: personal service (or “substitution”), direction and control, and mutuality of obligation. You can read more about these indicators in our guide to IR35 and employment status.