[EpicQuest_246]

> Contracting made a bit more difficult, freelancing totally unaffected.

That isn't true. It has made contracting a lot more difficult. I am in a number of freelancer groups and it has affected them. I have heard the same from recruiters, from freelancers, from people that run job boards.

> Every contractor I have ever met seems to know about umbrella companies

Most contractors run their own private LTD (like I did). They don't use umbrella companies because you are put on PAYE and you end up paying through the nose in tax.

Typically you get a third party to check a contract for you to see whether it falls under IR-35. I could do it myself, but I would rather pay someone to check it for me.

Many contracts will require you to have IR-35 "insurance" which feels like a scam, but it is required a lot of the time by the contract. This is in addition to PL and PI insurances.

[jimnotgym]

Stop conflating freelancers and contractors! Totally different rules.

[EpicQuest_246]

I am not. There is no official government distinction between contracting/freelancing/consultant, see here:

https://www.gov.uk/contract-types-and-employer-responsibilit...

[jimnotgym]

There is a distinction in the English language though

[EpicQuest_246]

I am sorry but you were pretending through the whole conversation as if they were treated differently by HMRC when they aren't.