Contractor tax abuse checks carried out across 29 venues
The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, and the HMRC have carried out inspections across 29 venues in London, Bradford and Glasgow to ensure that security staff were employed legitimately and treated fairly.
Teams attended a number of venues and spoke to security operatives to check the correct taxes were being paid and to ensure they were not victims of any labour abuse, the SIA has reported.
At the 29 venues, 55 checks on operatives were carried out across the three cities. Further enquiries will be made to check on payments made in cash and any further taxes due.
“By working together our two organisations will educate businesses and through concerted action, we will focus on those who fail to comply or manipulate the law. We want a level playing field for those legitimate businesses who play by the rules,” said Paul Fullwood, Director of Inspections and Enforcement, SIA.
The SIA has been working with HMRC to educate security companies about which security staff they need to operate PAYE for. Some 2,500 more operatives are now being paid through PAYE who were previously self-employed.
In 2018 the SIA and HMRC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and agreed to share information about businesses and individuals working within the security sector to clamp down on those taking part in illegal working practices and tax fraud.
How to become an SIA approved contractor – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)