IRBaboon

Is there any equivalent to the UK's PCG in Australia?

See http://www.pcg.org.uk/

I'm looking for specialist and impartial advice on IT contracting in Australia.
Accountants and IFAs give one opinion, the Tax officials give another.
It would be useful to get an unbiased opinion from a pro-contractor group.

Can anyone provide links to such an organisation?

Cheers

IRBaboon

I found the answer to my own question. It's Independent Contractors of Australia found at http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php

HTH

fridgefreezer

Might also want to check the Aus equivalent of IR35.

Catches most under it's tests.

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/default.asp?menu=679

"Alienation of personal services income tests" is the official, long winded, titile.

IRBaboon

Hi Fridgefreezer

That was the reason I started looking for advice. I've managed to avoid IR35 after a bit of a scrap with the IR. However, the "Alienation of personal services income tests" looks more difficult to work around, so not sure if contracting is worth while in Aus.

Thanks for the pointer

fridgefreezer

You're welcome. The tests appear more stringent than the IR35. Rates are so poor here, compared to the U.K, I opted for a permanent job. I hear Canberra is pretty buoyant with govt work but it depends what you do. Could also check out www.brainbox.com.au for some discussion though a lot of the discussion there seems to be a bit on the cup "half empty" side so pinch of salt stuff. Market in Oz is much smaller so not as much scope to move around as, say, London.If the rates are good enough, suppose it's not much different to being a regular taxpayer. At least there's not the unlimited employers N.I to deal with. Depends on your circumstances though I guess.

IRBaboon

Background is 15 years of mostly UK defence projects with some academia. Last 8 years spent on large infrastructure projects (C++/CORBA -> MOM -> Java/J2EE ). Ideally I'd like to work from home on small projects for a variety of clients (who wouldn't). In reality I'll probably end up on a large telecoms, public sector or utilities project because they spend the most money on middleware infrastructures. That's assuming I get offered a job in Perth! If I struggle to find work we might have to move to Sydney/Melbourne. I've been put off Canberra by the negative comments about the place.

Where abouts did you move to? Do you regret moving over to Aus and being paid less than you were in the UK? Or does the lifestyle make up for the loss of income?

Thanks for the info. Cheers

fridgefreezer

Unfortunately the place isn't too my taste IRBabbon. My wife's Australian so it was at her insistence that we moved. Wife / children seem to be very happy being closer to grandparents, aunts & uncles so that's the main thing.

If it was up to me though, we wouldn't have come here. We moved to Brisbane but it wouldn't matter where really. Oz is quite homegenous on the whole, compared with the U.K.

Your skillset sounds like Canberra, Canberra, Canberra on the face of it. It's quite dull though but then again, pace of life is a bit quieter in Oz generally.

As a UK contractor, you'll find unit costs here much higher and take home pay less so be warned. Best steel yourself for that now to avoid disappointment. Choice & range of goods is also much poorer so do your shopping before you go.

sasbear

Hi Baboon,

Canberra is not as dull as you may think

If you are interested in IT out here you may like to send me your resume? Maybe you have skills that are in demand here?

Sarah

PM if you want