Why Contractor Take-Home Pay Isn’t What You Expect (And What To Check)
18 June 2026
When a contractor accepts a new assignment, the first thing they often focus on is the advertised day rate. £250 a day. £400 a day. £600 a day. But the reality is that the amount that lands in their bank account can be very different from the headline figure. For both contractors and recruitment agencies, […]
Read MoreUmbrella vs PAYE vs Limited Company: The Straightforward Guide Contractors Actually Need
14 May 2026
For contractors entering the market in 2026, there’s no shortage of information about how to get paid. The problem is, much of it is confusing, contradictory, or oversimplified. Umbrella company.PAYE.Limited company. Most contractors have heard the terms. But many are still unsure which option is right for them, how IR35 affects the decision, or why […]
Read MoreThe Future of Contractor Payroll in the UK: What Contractors & Agencies Should Prepare For (2026 Update)
24 March 2026
The world of contractor payroll in the UK has changed significantly over the past decade. From IR35 reforms to increased compliance requirements across recruitment supply chains, both contractors and agencies now face a more complex landscape than ever before. And the changes are far from over. From April 2026, new regulatory developments linked to Making […]
Read MoreCIS + MTD: The Double Compliance Burden Hitting Your Contractors in 2026.
5 February 2026
By Paul Gatenby, February 2025 If you’re a recruitment agency running a CIS desk, your contractors are about to get hit with a “Compliance Double-Whammy.” HMRC is layering Making Tax Digital (MTD) right on top of existing CIS requirements. If your subcontractors aren’t prepared, your supply chain is at risk. Here’s the honest truth […]
Read MoreMTD 2026: The 60-Day Countdown. Stop Panicking, Start Prepping.
5 February 2026
By Paul Gatenby, February 2025 The “once-a-year” tax return is officially on its deathbed. From April 6, 2026, HMRC is changing the rules of the game for high-earning contractors. If you aren’t digital, you aren’t compliant. No more shoeboxes of receipts; no more “dealing with it in January.” If you earned over £50,000 in […]
Read MoreThe Honest Contractor’s Guide: 5 Non-Negotiable Questions Before You Contract Abroad
11 December 2025
By Paul Gatenby, Global Account Director, Honest Payroll The call of an international contract is powerful: better rates, exciting projects, and a new city. It’s a dream move. But the reality is, landing a contract abroad involves more than just booking a flight—it involves navigating a complex web of international tax laws, residency rules, […]
Read MoreCase Study: Navigating Norwegian Withholding Tax (Kildeskatt) for Offshore Energy
19 November 2025
Client: Tech Professionals. Services Industry: Offshore Energy & Marine Service: Norwegian Withholding Tax (kildeskatt) Compliance & Reporting Date: Q3 2025 The Challenge: Urgent Norwegian Tax Compliance. Tech Professionals Services required immediate support to pay their self-employed contractors working in Norwegian waters. Critically, they lacked the in-house expertise and infrastructure to manage the […]
Read MoreNew Rules. New Risks. Is Your Agency Payroll-Ready?
12 November 2025
What’s Changing? From April 2026, the UK government is introducing stricter regulations for payroll compliance, particularly affecting agencies working with umbrella companies and contractors. The changes are designed to: Increase transparency in pay rates and deductions Crack down on non-compliant umbrella models Hold recruitment agencies jointly liable for tax avoidance or incorrect PAYE handling Require clearer Key Information […]
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