help umbrella contracts!!!!!!!!!!!!

InsideInsurance

Possibly better to use slightly different wording (though I know Paystream call it such on their site) as you are on PAYE as your using an umbrella company.

Yes, you are earning more than you would as an employee but they are obviously trying to sell it to you a little. What it doesnt factor in is you get no holiday pay, no sick pay, no bonuses, no pension or any other benefits that most employees get at least a few of if not all of them.

That said, as long as you ignore sickness, you are generally in a possition to "buy" the additional benefits and still be up in cash compared to an employee

SteProud

I work for an umbrella so I'm not impartial but the true umbrella companies do offer sick pay etc as they are legally your employer and should behave as such. This is the basis for legally being able to claim expenses to offset your tax liability.

I've pasted two independent links to guides on umbrella companies below. They also include a list of questions you should ask any umbrella company before you sign up.

Avoid any umbrella company that claims to have a dispensation with HMRC so you can claim what you like for travel and subsistence expenses and you don't need receipts. This is rubbish. The dispensation only means that the umbrella doesn't have to present receipts to HMRC for a certain amount of expense. Only ever claim for the cost you have incurred and always keep your receipts.

http://www.contracteye.co.uk/umbrella-company.shtml

http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/Umbrellas.aspx

Hope this helps