Contractor Umbrella News http://www.payquestgroup.com/PayquestNews Long term joblessness among IT contractors has slumped dramatically over the last six months, as business investment in IT gathers pace, a recent study shows. http://www.payquestgroup.com/Morefindingwork.html Britain's new coalition government yesterday firmed up the Tory pre-election promise to the self-employed, saying a priority for improving the nation's business ability was to review IR35. http://www.payquestgroup.com/IR35reviewed.html The sign-off of budgets for contract and temporary staff looks set to absorb some of the 53,000 people who in the last three months swelled the unemployment pool to 2.5million. http://www.payquestgroup.com/goodnews.htm New research data released by Adecco Group suggests that IT contractors will be more in demand than permanent IT staff throughout 2010. The authors of the report commented: 'It's almost certain that the worst is now behind us and that, after battering down the hatches in 2009, [IT] contractors can look forward to a better 2010 and 2011'. http://www.payquestgroup.com/ITContractorOpportunitiesSettoRise.html To this end, legislation will be made from April 6, 2011, to stop businesses using Employee Benefit Trusts to make 'disguised payments' of remuneration to trustees. Ray McMahon, a tax advisor at consultant365.com, added: "There has been an increase in these schemes, which offer increased take-home pay by various methods, over the recent years. http://www.payquestgroup.com/SpecialBudgetReport.html Ex HM Inspector of Taxes Bob Jones comments regarding the latest move by HMRC concerning the activities of umbrella companies and how they interpret current taxation laws concerning contractors http://www.payquestgroup.com/HMRCannouncetheirintentionsregardingumbrellacompanies.html