01
Status checked per engagement
Each engagement is assessed against HMRC status criteria before the contract is signed.
IR35, handled on every engagement.
Status checked, SDS issued, evidence kept.
What is IR35?
IR35, also known as the off-payroll working rules, decides whether someone working through their own limited company should be taxed like an employee.
Since April 2021, medium and large private-sector clients make that decision themselves and tell the worker in a Status Determination Statement (SDS). Small clients leave the decision to the worker's own company.
Why it matters for creator payments
Many creators work through their own limited companies. If an engagement that is inside IR35 is treated as outside, the fee-payer can become liable for the tax and National Insurance that should have been deducted.
What you need to do
Decide status for each engagement, not each creator
Take reasonable care and record your reasons
Give the creator and their company an SDS
Have a process for them to disagree
Keep the records
StrideHQ collects what these rules need during creator onboarding, before anyone is paid.
Read our guide: IR35 for influencer campaigns: who is liable?
How StrideHQ handles IR35
02
SDS issued and stored
The Status Determination Statement goes to the creator and is stored against the contract.
03
Disagreements logged
Creators can respond to a decision, and every response is recorded.
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StrideHQ automates compliance work. It doesn't replace professional tax or legal advice.