Tax: don’t panic!

Some members may have been alarmed by headlines such as "Freelancers might be taxed as employees after High Court ruling - IT contractor hit with £99,000 bill" (that one from www.theregister.co.uk on 10 September). Almost all can stop fretting. That ruling concerned a computer contractor, Jon Bessell, who had formed a company - which for three years sold his services to the Automobile Association and (practically) no-one else. If, like him, you have only one client, you'll have provided for income tax, either by being taxed at source or by putting money aside. If you have lots of clients, control your own work, etc, the ruling doesn't apply: www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/GeShiTxt.html has details.