I do understand that, but please also remember that limited company owners pay corporation tax as well, the payments made by each entity are significant. Unless they lie about costs .... I know someone who did this in a big way.
My views are based on the honest people who have several customers, a true business, with risks. We can be envious of a plumber, landscaper or one man band accountant who’s ended up doing ok, but they could and do lose it all tomorrow, 100,000’s lose their businesses each year.
I actually agree with you about those who run a limited company, but with just one ultimate engager. From my experience, earning between £300 and £900 a day. You and I know that they’re a de facto employee, it’s a tax ruse. But they’re not the instigator in any shape or form. The ultimate engager is doing it to save 13.8% in employers NIC, plus they don’t get lumbered with employment rights. The ultimate engagers include the BBC and NHS, I know people making fortunes that way.
I guess that you and I can agree that those arrangements must be once and for all obliterated?
The BBC are beginning to comply with IR 35. Many clients of mine are engaged by the BBC and 90% of them are taxed under PAYE now. By the end of next year. Only the genuine freelancers will be treated as such. That said they have had to be dragged kicking and screaming by HMRC to do so