I have not read the whole tread, but putting this up here, in case it is of interest to anyone. It is sent by Advertising Producers Association, but I am sure there are freelancers from other fields in the same boat. (I am not Steve - this is copied from the email sent around by APA).
It is quite time sensitive as more people they have emailing them by 5pm today the better!
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This email has gone to the Treasury now. We have the greatest chance of success if everyone freelancer working in commercials emails [email protected] and says that they:
1 Will not receive any money under the freelance scheme (assuming that is true for them of course) and
2 Support the proposals put forward below.
Of course please share with everyone you know and, in particular, all the diary services.
5pm tomorrow Monday 30th March is the deadline for responses to the Treasury on the freelancer proposals announced last week. The fact they have invited responses means there must be a prospect they will listen to what we have to say.
Best Steve
a-p-a.net
0207 434 2651
Dear Sir or Madam
Thank you for your proposals to help freelancers and for the opportunity to make comments/proposals on your steps so far. We make this submission on behalf of the many freelancers in commercials production and jointly with Moore Kingston Smith, accountants, whose clients include many of those freelancers. Our member companies engage many freelancers and our interest reflects our members concern for them.
While the proposals are welcome, our survey of freelancers in commercials production (via a Zoom call with 233 participants on Friday 27th March and emails) is that over 90% of freelancers in commercials production and advertising generally will not be able to participate. We therefore propose the following changes:
1 We propose that the £50,000 cap is removed. We appreciate that is there to focus the assistance on poorer people but it is arbitrary and a household where the sole bread winner on £50,000 or even £80,000 per year, for example, will still likely be in a parlous position without any assistance during this unprecedented time. Of course, there is still an effective cap of £2,500 per month, so, in our view, the second cap of £50,000 should be
removed. This would create parity with the salary grant where no such cap applies.
2 Most freelancers working in our sector work through a limited company through which they provide their services. Generally they are required to do so by the companies who engage them- who among other things want to avoid the possibility of their winning any employment law rights.
So we propose that in circumstances where freelancers provide their individual services through their limited company that their combined salary and dividends be counted as income for the purpose of calculating the grant. Without that, given most of what they are paid is in dividends, your intention to help them will not become a reality.
3 Many people have become freelance less than 3 years ago. It is fairly common to chop and change between employment and freelance work in our sector. We would propose that you allow anyone who is freelance to file their 5 April 2020 tax return by 31 May 2020 and for their 19/20 income to be included for the purpose of calculating the grant. Again, without this, a whole group of people will be arbitrarily left out altogether.
We appreciate your consideration of these proposals and your work to assist people and businesses during this crisis.
Best regard
Steve
Steve Davies
Chief Executive
Advertising Producers Association
a-p-a.net
0207 434 2651