GLA sets sights on unlawful travel and subsistence schemes

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has received a significant boost in the ongoing battle to tackle umbrella companies that attempt to exploit workers and evade tax through unlawful "travel and subsistence schemes‟.

The GLA had refused to issue a licence to FS Commercial Ltd (FSC) on the grounds that its „pay day by pay day‟ tax relief model was not supported by any legislation and would take workers‟ pay below the National Minimum Wage.

The FSC appeal against this decision was dismissed in November and the company threatened to challenge that decision at a Judicial Review. But the deadline to apply has now passed and FS Commercial stated on its company website this week that it has dropped the case.

GLA Chief Executive Paul Broadbent said: “These circumstances should send a strong signal to any other businesses in our sector considering a similar travel and subsistence scheme, or perhaps operating one already, to have a serious and immediate rethink.

“This is not an isolated example. There are more „umbrella company‟ schemes in our sights like the one FSC proposed.

“We are already looking into a number of operators we suspect are seeking to gain an unfair advantage over competitors through illegal „tax relief‟ schemes. The GLA aims to provide a level playing field for all businesses so those that choose not to conduct themselves legitimately should expect to come under our spotlight.”

In the FSC case, the company applied for a GLA licence indicating that it proposed to act as an umbrella company - a "middle man‟ that would employ temporary workers before they were supplied to the end client. FSC would then give tax relief on a proportion of the worker's pay for expenses incurred travelling to and from their temporary workplace.

In doing this, FSC not only intended to base the employee‟s tax and NI contributions on the net salary total (after expenses were deducted) but would also use the same reduced amount to calculate their employer‟s National Insurance contribution for each worker. The resulting saving for the company would have been significant.

Giving tax relief at source in this manner for travel expenses is not supported by any legislation and so breached one of the GLA‟s critical licensing standards. FSC also intended using another company, FSEV Ltd, to offer „help‟ for workers on reducing tax and NI payments. Each of FSC‟s employees would pay a weekly fee to FSEV for the service. Both businesses are owned by Peter Hudson.

The Judge in FSC‟s appeal agreed with the GLA that this fee would take worker‟s pay below the National Minimum Wage, which breached a second critical licensing condition and so the licence application was refused.

Added Mr Broadbent: “The FS Commercial case sets an important benchmark for subsequent investigations, licensing decisions and court hearings on similar schemes. “We will continue to work closely with HMRC and other agencies to ensure a level playing field is maintained and that we do our part to promote national economic growth.”

An HMRC spokesman said: “HMRC has clearly set out in two Statements published on its website , its view that businesses which apply tax relief and National Insurance „relief‟ at source are not compliant with tax and National Insurance legislation. HMRC is continuing to work closely with the GLA to ensure a common aim of a compliant labour provision sector.”

ENDS

For further information contact GLA Communications and Information Officer Paul Fearn on 0115 959 7069 or email communications@gla.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was set up to curb the exploitation of workers in the agricultural, horticultural, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packing industries.

2. The Act establishing it was passed in 2004 and licences first came into force in 2006.

3. The GLA is a Non Departmental Public Body.

4. The GLA‟s three key priorities are: preventing worker exploitation, protecting vulnerable people and tackling unlicensed and criminal activity.

5. Nearly 1,200 labour providers are now licensed by the GLA.

www.gla.defra.gov.uk