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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only assist Commonwealth Contractors?
Can you help with Tier 1 (HSMP) visas and Work Permits?
Do you provide Umbrella Company Solutions?
Can you help me go into business with a Contractor Limited Company?
What is a dedicated Account Manager?
How long does it take for a Work Permit to be approved?
How long are Work Permits approved for?
Are your Umbrella Solutions IR35 and MSC compliant?
Do your solutions include Professional Insurance Cover?
Can I claim business expenses with an Umbrella Solution?
Do you provide letters for Tier 1 visas, Mortgages and Bank Loans?
How quickly will you raise an Invoice?
Do I still need to send a Timesheet if I use a Self Billing system?
Can I claim expenses if I am only going to undertake one contract?
What types of contractor do you help?
Will you find me a contract?
Do you offer Referral Rewards?
How can I arrange a meeting?

Do you only assist Commonwealth Contractors?

No, we can help contractors from all over the world. However, we focus on UK nationals and expat contractors from the Commonwealth.
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Can you help with Tier 1 (HSMP) visas and Work Permits?

Yes, via our OISC registered partners, we can help you if you’re a Contractor, Agent or Employer looking for help with a UK work visa such as a Tier 1(HSMP) or Work Permit.

We are a great port of call if you are:

Looking to make a Tier 1 visa or Work Permit application but want suitable OISC registered professional assistance
Considering outsourcing work to a 3rd party consultancy as a Managed Project
Seeking to find out more about a UK work visa such as a work permit, Tier 1 visa, ancestry visa, working holidaymaker visa, student visa etc

To discuss your situation call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you.
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Do you provide Umbrella Company Solutions?

We offer two umbrella company solutions, Expat Advantage and Payroll Umbrella. With an umbrella company solution there’s no need to worry about IR35, the MSC legislation or the mountain of paperwork that goes with running your own contractor limited company (Personal Service Company). Simply send us timesheets and expenses, we do the rest.

Expat Advantage
As the name suggests, Expat Advantage has been specifically designed for expat contractors working in the UK. If you qualify you may be able to claim a number of business expenses for which UK nationals are not normally eligible, such as relocation expenses, flights home etc. On top of greater expenses you also benefit from a dedicated Account Manager who looks after you every step of the way. Want to discuss an Invoice or Payment? Need help gaining a National Insurance Number? Unsure of whether to move to a Work Permit or Tier 1 visa? Need income proof to support a Tier 1 visa or mortgage application.. No problem, just ask your Account Manager!

Payroll Umbrella
Payroll Umbrella is for those who do not qualify for Expat Advantage, and are contractors Inside IR35, or not interested in going into business with a contractor limited company. With Payroll Umbrella life is simple. A dedicated Account Manager will look after you every step of the way thereby allowing you to concentrate fully on your career.

To find out more about our umbrella company solutions call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you.
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Can you help me go into business with a Contractor Limited Company?

Going into business with a Limited Company is a big step. You need to be fully aware of your directors duties and responsibilities (including taking care of VAT returns, company accounts etc) before you go into business and understand fully the effect IR35 has on contract income.

At Commonwealth Contractors we can advise you on all of your options whether you’re inside or outside IR35. You may think you’re better suited to an umbrella company solution when in actual fact going into business with a limited company makes more sense, or vice versa.

Our experienced Account Managers can discuss your options, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages and ensure the solution you use is best for you. To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you.
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What is a dedicated Account Manager?

From the moment you first contact Commonwealth Contractors to the moment you leave a dedicated Account Manager will look after you every step of the way.

An Account Manager acts as your primary point of contact meaning you never have to worry about being passed from department to department in order to get a question answered. If you need to discuss a timesheet, invoice or payment just ask your Account Manager!

Account Managers can:

Advise you on the best contracting structure to use e.g. Umbrella Company or Limited Company
Arrange advice on future UK work visas such as the work permit and Tier 1 (HSMP) visa
Check and edit a Client/Agency contract
Write letters for Mortgages, Loans, Tier 1 visa applications / extensions, etc
Help you gain a National Insurance Number, Bank Account etc if a non UK National

To speak to an Account Manager about your contracting options call now on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you. If you’re based in Greater London it may be possible to arrange a meeting at a convenient location to discuss options face to face.
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How long does it take for a Work Permit to be approved?

The Home Office are normally pretty quick at making a decision on a Work Permit (processing times slipped in 2007 but seem to be returning to form). From submission to approval it normally takes around 1-3 weeks. However, this is not guaranteed. To find out more about making a Work Permit application call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388 and our OISC registered immigration partners can help you.
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How long are Work Permits approved for?

The length of time a Work Permit is approved for depends upon many factors including, the type of work permit application made, how long the employer has been established for, the length of service contract (if the worker is assigned to a client site), how the employer has faired on a pre approval compliance check etc.

A work permit can be approved for a maximum term of 60 months. After 60 months in the UK on a UK work permit, the holder can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. If a work permit is approved for less than 60 months the employer can normally submit a work permit extension application without any real issues.
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Are your Umbrella Company Solutions IR35 and MSC compliant?

Both of our Umbrella Company Solutions (Expat Advantage and Payroll Umbrella) are 100% IR35 and MSC compliant. All contract income is paid through the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) scheme and at no time do you receive any form of dividend or profit payment.

You receive regular payslips to prove income and if employed at the end of the tax year (April) you receive a P60 end of year statement, and P11D. These documents prove that all contract income was paid through the PAYE scheme and is therefore outside the scope of IR35 and the Managed Service Company Legislation.
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Do your solutions include Professional Insurance Cover?

All of our Umbrella and managed project solutions include Professional Insurance Cover. If you are considering going into business with your own contractor limited company you should consider taking out your own Professional Insurance policies.

Out Professional Insurance Cover Includes:

Professional Indemnity Cover of £2,000,000
Employers Liability Cover of £10,000,000
Public and Products Liability Cover of £5,000,000

Client and Agency contracts generally require the company to have in place suitable Professional Insurance Cover. If you’re going into business with a Limited Company you should budget for this additional cost.
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Can I claim business expenses with an Umbrella Company Solution?

Yes, you can claim business expenses with Expat Advantage and Payroll Umbrella as long as the expenses are incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of your duties. It is not possible under any circumstances to claim a personal expense. Suitable receipts must be provided to prove that the expense was actually incurred.

The level of expense you are allowed to claim depends upon the solution that you use, and is in any event capped at the level actually incurred for business purposes. To discuss business expenses claimable with Expat Advantage and Payroll Umbrella call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388.
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Do you provide letters for Tier 1 visas, Mortgages and Bank Loans?

If you join Expat Advantage or Payroll Umbrella your Account Manager will be happy to write you a letter to prove your income for a mortgage, loan or Tier 1 visa application. Many contractors with their won limited company find getting a mortgage more difficult as many providers look for workers to be permanently employed. The good news is that those using our Expat Advantage or Payroll Umbrella solutions become PAYE employees so their credit rating is likely to be enhanced.

If you’re considering taking out a loan or mortgage call you Account Manager in advance of contacting the provider to discuss the situation.
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How quickly will you raise an Invoice?

Invoices are raised within 1 working day of a properly completed timesheet being received from a contractor. Normally however invoices are raised as soon as timesheets are received.

If you do not send timesheets your Account Manager will chase you to request properly completed timesheets.
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Do I still need to send a Timesheet if I use a Self Billing system?

Yes! You always need to send timesheets to us in order for an Invoice to be created on the system. If the client uses a self billing system the client or agent will pay funds without the need for an Invoice, but, for funds to be allocated once received there must be an invoice on the system. If you do not send in timesheets there could be delays to any payments.
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Can I claim expenses if I am only going to undertake one contract?

You can only claim temporary site based business expenses if you intend to undertake multiple contracts in the UK. Where you only undertake a single contract and claim site based expenses (such as travel to the site, and subsistence) you will be breaking site based rules. For those undertaking a single contract, almost all contract income must be subject to PAYE deductions; the only exceptions being minor items such as subscriptions to professional journals / organisations (eg the British Computer Society), business telecoms, etc.
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What types of contractor do you help?

We can help a number of different types of freelance contractor. Give us a call on 0800 294 4388 to find out how we can help if you work in the areas of IT, Healthcare, Engineering or Education.
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Will you find me a contract?

We can’t find you a contract but we can advise you on how to market yourself and provide moral support and help during the contract finding process.

If you’re new to the UK you may require help tailoring your CV to the UK contract market (See Finding a UK Contract). Your Account Manager will be pleased to provide advice and suggestions either at a face to face meeting or by making some track changes and seeing what you think.

If you have niche skills we may be able to put you in touch with Agents or Clients that have requirements.
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Do you offer Referral Rewards?

Yes, if you refer a fellow contractor to us we will send you a cheque for up to £300!! In order to qualify you need to refer a contractor to us with a 3 month + contract. If they do not have a 3 month + contract you can still receive the referral reward but only once the contract has been extended past the 3 month stage.

To refer a contractor to us call now on 0800 294 4388 or submit contractor details via our refer a friend form!
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How can I arrange a meeting?

To arrange a meeting with an Account Manager to discuss your options call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you.

If you live in Greater London it’s possible for one of our Account Managers to come out to see you at a convenient location. If you live outside London it may be a good idea to arrange a meeting at a hotel business centre at one of London’s central stations. E.g. If you live in Reading meet us in a business lounge at the Paddington Hilton Hotel.

Before the meeting you should send a copy of your CV and other documents where requested by an Account Manager e.g. Work Permit, Passport, Professional References etc
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For More Information call Commonwealth Contractors now
on 0800 294 4388 or submit your details and we will get right back to you

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