Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the validity of the concerns of the CEO of Contract Calculator on the extension of the IR35 off-payroll tax rules to the private sector.

The Government is currently consulting on non-compliance with the off-payroll working rules (known as IR35). As part of the consultation, officials are meeting a wide range of business leaders, representative bodies and other stakeholders.

Once the consultation finishes on 10 August 2018, the Government will consider responses received, including comments raised at meetings with stakeholders, and will issue its response in due course.

The Government is fully aware of the links between the off-payroll working rules and the Taylor review of modern working practices. It has recently consulted on whether and how employment status rules might be reformed in the longer-term.

Any potential impact on businesses will depend on the outcome of the ongoing consultation.