About Contractors Recruiters Guidance Referrals Blog Contact LOGIN JOIN NOW SWITCH NOW An established umbrella payroll company with you at the heart of the team We make your work and pay our priority so you can focus on what matters to you. JOIN NOW SWITCH NOW Work smarter with SmartWork We are 100% compliant, reliable, honest, transparent, and deliver best-in-class service. FIND OUT MORE MAXIMISE YOUR TAKE HOME PAY We guarantee same-day payments and maximum savings. EARNING £ EVERY Hour Day PAID Weekly Monthly CALCULATE The easiest choice for contractors We help you with everything you need to focus on building your career and honing your skills. NEW CONTRACTORS AN UMBRELLA COMPANY THAT HELPS YOU GET AHEAD We take care of all your paperwork, income tax, National Insurance contributions, and HMRC payments, enabling you to scale new heights. SWITCH TO A HASSLE-FREE UMBRELLA SOLUTIONS PROVIDER Need more from your umbrella company than what you are currently getting? Switching to SmartWork couldn’t be easier. The process takes less than 24 hours. SWITCH TO SMARTWORK Umbrella vs Limited If you are wondering whether to work through an umbrella company or set up a limited company, our handy comparison tool will help you choose the best option for you. HELP ME DECIDE Innovative, customer-centric approach Dedicated business managers We take the time to understand you and your role to ensure there is always someone to guide you through your freelancing career. Same day payments Get your money the same day we receive it from your agency, at no additional cost. Secure SmartPortal With our SmartPortal, you can view all your payslips, submit timesheets, access all your previous earnings or holiday records, and change any details. 100% compliant & accredited We are accredited by FCSA and APSCo, meeting the highest industry standards, including full compliance with HMRC and IR35. 7 day helpline We know flexible workers need us to be flexible too. You can call any day of the week from 8am to 8pm for guidance. Instant set-up SmartWork can have you set up in 15 minutes. We can process your application over the phone or you can click Join Now. Cost-effective service At just £20 per week or £80 per month, with no set-up or exit fees, and zero hidden charges, SmartWork is one of the most cost effective umbrella companies in the UK. Standard insurance You automatically receive insurance cover including £10m Public Liability, £10m Employer’s Liability, £10m Professional Indemnity and £2m Medical Malpractice. CALL SMARTWORK TODAY ON 0800 434 6446 REQUEST A CALLBACK BLOG Everything you need to navigate the world of contracting What is SDC (supervision, direction, control)? As of 6th April 2016, HMRC introduced new legislation which affects the claiming of tax relief on expenses for umbrella employees. ... READ ARTICLE Do I Need to Submit a Self-Assessment Tax Return if I Use an Umbrella Company? What is Self-Assessment? Self-Assessment is a system HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses to collect Income Tax. Tax is usually... READ ARTICLE Making the Switch from Umbrella Employment to Limited Company Contracting If you are here reading this article, there is a good chance you already know about the benefits of umbrella employment. It is an... READ ARTICLE Umbrella Guide: Pension Contributions Explained When you are in employment, especially when you are younger, retirement is a faraway concept we tend not to think about. Many,... READ ARTICLE What is FCSA and why our accreditation is important As a freelance contractor, you have, at some point, looked at choosing the right umbrella company to work with. But with so many... READ ARTICLE Contractor’s Guide: Working Through an Umbrella Company What is an umbrella company? The primary function of an umbrella company is to organise payments for fixed-term work undertaken by... READ ARTICLE Tax Codes Explained – Umbrella Contractor’s Guide Tax Codes - Everyone on payroll in the UK has them, but what are they, and how are they important? In this guide, we will go... READ ARTICLE The Mini Umbrella Company Scam – Choosing a Compliant Business for your Supply Chain In the past few years, particularly since 2017, thanks to changes in the legislative environment, and of course, the pandemic, we've... READ ARTICLE SmartWork Expenses Guide for the Umbrella Worker ... READ ARTICLE Reasons Your Net Pay Might Differ from a Take-home Pay Illustration It is important to remember that net pay illustrations are often based on assumed information. We do our best to be as accurate as... READ ARTICLE Contractor’s Guide: Things to Consider When Choosing an Umbrella Company In our previous guide, we talked about in what case you’d opt for going with an umbrella company so if you haven’t read it yet,... READ ARTICLE What is FCSA and why our accreditation is important As a freelance contractor, you have, at some point, looked at choosing the right umbrella company to work with. But with so many... READ ARTICLE What is an Umbrella Company? What is it? The primary function of an umbrella company is to organise payments for fix-term work undertaken by independent... READ ARTICLE Contractor’s Guide to Umbrella Company Costs and Fees If you are new to freelancing and just researching umbrella companies, you may wonder why there is a margin being deducted from your... READ ARTICLE Contractor’s Guide: When should you use an umbrella company? Are you just starting out contracting or perhaps looking into some freelance work? There are a few different trading options... READ ARTICLE How do umbrella company salary illustrations work? Top tips for when shopping around. Umbrella companies are a popular choice for freelancers that want to have the ability to work on multiple assignments while enjoying... READ ARTICLE Making the Switch from Umbrella Employment to Limited Company Contracting If you are here reading this article, there is a good chance you already know about the benefits of umbrella employment. It is an... READ ARTICLE Recruitment Agencies, Is it Time to Review Your PSL? Why review? Companies are criminally liable if they fail to prevent tax evasion by a member of their staff or other... READ ARTICLE Umbrella or Agency PAYE – What are the differences? As a contractor, you may find that your assignment falls inside IR35. So what options do you have if trading via a limited company... READ ARTICLE Umbrella Guide: Pension Contributions Explained When you are in employment, especially when you are younger, retirement is a faraway concept we tend not to think about. Many... READ ARTICLE Umbrella Insurance Explained One of the benefits of contracting via an Umbrella company is freedom from admin. This is no different when it comes to insurance.... READ ARTICLE Pros and cons of using an umbrella company For newcomers to contracting, the umbrella option offers great flexibility and simplicity. It can be a great stepping stone to a... READ ARTICLE ‘Key Information Document’ For Agency Workers A new "Key Information Document" (KID) has been introduced from the 6th April 2020, bringing extra work and administration for... READ ARTICLE SmartWork Benefits Guide When joining SmartWork, we become your employer, with the overall aim of keeping life as simple as possible for you and ensuring you... READ ARTICLE Our New Affiliate Partners: Sanlam Wealth Management Many of you reading this will know that, at SmartWork, we are always looking for ways to increase the value of our services and... READ ARTICLE Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Precautions and Measures Given the recent developments on Coronavirus, it is our top priority to ensure the protection and safety of our people, including... READ ARTICLE Budget 2020 – A Summary by MyAccountant.co.uk Have a look at our sister company MyAccountant.co.uk's summary of yesterday's Budget announcement by clicking the image... READ ARTICLE Meet our new affiliate partner Contractor Friendly Mortgages We are excited to announce our new partnership with Contractor Friendly Mortgages to add to the list of benefits for SmartWork's... READ ARTICLE SmartWork Passes Annual FCSA Review for the 5th Consecutive Year SmartWork is pleased to announce that we have once again passed our annual FCSA review. FCSA Accreditation demonstrates to... READ ARTICLE The Grass isn’t Always Greener – Offshore Schemes and What to Avoid Often our employees or prospective clients come to us, wondering why our figures don't match the improbable 95% retention rates... READ ARTICLE Non-compliant umbrella schemes and how to spot them Since the off-payroll legislation reform hit in 2017, we’ve seen the popularity of the umbrella company increasing. With that... READ ARTICLE Umbrella vs Limited – Which Trading Vehicle is Right for You? When embarking on a contractor career, the first big decision you will likely have to make is whether to operate via your own limited... READ ARTICLE Meet our Sales Manager – Neil Kane Neil has over 14 years’ experience within the industry and is always on hand to help support agencies and contractors in... READ ARTICLE Umbrellas and the Nursing Agency VAT Concession: The Essentials Since the IR35 reforms and the subsequent increase in the use of umbrella companies by NHS workers, there has also been a rise in... READ ARTICLE Disguised Remuneration – the April 2019 loan charge Following our previous look at loan schemes and how these impact your choice of umbrella provider, the latest in this series looks at... READ ARTICLE SmartWork & iContract announce partnership SmartWork is thrilled to be partnering with iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors and recruiters that has... READ ARTICLE The Criminal Finance Act – time to review your PSL? From the 30th September 2017, Companies will become criminally liable if they fail to prevent tax evasion by a member of their staff... READ ARTICLE 3,500 CONTRACTORS & FREELANCERS ASSISTED 830 END CLIENTS/AGENCIES WORKED WITH 17,000 CONTRACT REVIEWS 300 CONTRACTOR QUERIES HANDLED PER WEEK LIMITED COMPANIES Accounting made easy with MyAccountant We recognise that you may want to be more involved in managing your income and tax affairs. In which case, forming your own limited company makes complete sense. From company formation through managing your business and personal tax returns, your team at MyAccountant will work alongside you at each step at pace, helping you maximise your pay in a compliant manner. FIND OUT MORE I used SmartWork’s Umbrella services for the past year, and have had nothing but wonderful service from them. From initial setup to the occasional question I had from time to time, the team were always easy to contact and happy to help. Payments were always very prompt and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to operate through an Umbrella.” LEAD BUSINESS ANALYST SmartWork has been amazing for the past 16 months. Even during the COVID crisis I could expect a timely response from the team and no interruptions to their service. Far better than my previous provider in both customer service and value for money. I’m sure I’ll be back if/when the need arises.” PROJECT MANAGER Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT Registered in England & Wales | Registration No. 4207299 About Contractors Recruiters Guidance Referrals Blog Contact Us HAVE QUESTIONS? Call SmartWork today on: 0800 434 6446 REQUEST A CALLBACK © 2021 smartwork.com Ltd | Designed by Lucid Design Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy Gender Pay Statement Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement