AGENCY USER GUIDES

What to do if a contractor is PAYE, but would like to become a sub-contractor of Sterling Techserv?
Simply ask them to call our Customer Service Team on 0870 754 1111. We will then explain the benefits of becoming a Sterling Techserv sub-contractor and the support they will receive once they do. We will then send them a registration pack and form, or they can download one here. If they are happy for us to call them directly, simply ring our Sales Team 0870 754 1111 and give us a contact name / number.

What to do if they are already a user of another service provider?
Simply ask them to call the Sterling Techserv Sales Team on 0870 754 1111. We will then explain the benefits of becoming a sub-contractor of Sterling Techserv and the support they will receive once they do. We will explain any differences between Sterling Techserv and their current provider (e.g. we operate a sliding-scale of fees and they may be paying a flat-fee).
If they are happy for us to call them directly, simply ring the Sterling Sales team on 0870 754 1111 and give us a contact name / number.

What happens when a contractor wishes to be paid on a self-employed basis?

For non-construction workers; Some contractors wish to work self-employed, most agencies are unable to facilitate this. Call the Sterling sales team on 0870 754 1111, we will explain the full implications of remaining self-employed, along with all the advantages and disadvantages of this status. If the contractor is happy for us to call them directly simply ring our Sterling sales team on 0870 754 1111.

What is the difference between a Sterling CIS sub-contractor and Sterling Techserv sub-contractor?

Sterling CIS - for construction workers
The contractor registers as a sub-contractor to Sterling CIS and maintains their self-employed status i.e. they are not classed as an employee, but as a business on their own account. A Sterling CIS sub-contractor can only claim their expenses through their own business accounts at the end of the Tax Year. Sterling CIS make the relevant tax deductions and pay this money over to the HMRC on a monthly basis. We then issue a remittance to the sub-contractor, to show they have paid this money "on account." At the end of the tax year the contractor must produce business accounts to complete a self assessment.

Income Tax and National Insurance are only calculated from the business net profit. The CIS tax deductions taken over the year are treated as payments on account. Therefore, only extra tax owed or refunds due, are dealt with through the PAYE system. 

Sterling Techserv - for Non-Construction workers 
The contractor registers as a sub-contractor to Sterling Techserv and maintains their self-employed status i.e. they are not classed as an employee, but as a business on their own account. As such, they can only claim their expenses through their own business accounts, at the end of the Tax Year. At this time, the contractor must produce business accounts for self assessment.

Income Tax and National Insurance are only calculated from the business not profit. All tax deductions are taken after the self assessments have been submitted. 


What to do if you are still receiving queries at branch-level?
We have systems in place to ensure that none of this burden falls back on the Agency. However, out of habit you may find that the contractors will still contact the agency that they are sub-contracted to, if they have a query. If this is the case, please encourage them to call our Customer Service Team on 0870 754 1111 with general queries, or their dedicated Sterling Payments Clerk with any specific queries.

What happens to a contractor once they join Sterling Techserv?
As soon as we have received a completed and signed registration form, along with the correct documentation (please see "Why do we need to confirm everyone’s "Eligibility to Work?" section) the relevant paperwork will be forwarded to your Agency (to the branch itself, or to a central Payroll Department) according to your instructions. The Techserv sub-contractor will then receive a Welcome Pack, which will include such details as a Health & Safety Guidance handbook and useful numbers.

Why do we need to confirm everyone’s "Eligibility to Work?"
As you will be aware, any employer has to perform a number of checks on its sub-contractors to ensure that they have the right to work in the UK. As of May 2004, these checks were amended, to include all sub-contractors, not just those who are deemed as ’non-UK’ residents. As such we must receive documentation from all potential sub-contractors, before we can accept their application, even those who claim to be UK residents. It is no longer a statutory defence for an employer to claim that an employee has stated UK residency, therefore this is not classed as confirmation of the sub-contractors "Eligibility to Work” as the onus is now on the Employer to verify formal documentation.

As an Employer, we must also ensure that we do not discriminate against any party / parties, by asking one person to confirm their eligibility and not another.
Whilst this sometimes requires further explanation, it is a vital part of the service we provide to our Agency clients; this safeguards your reputation by ensuring that everyone who passes through your system has had their "Eligibility to Work" confirmed by Sterling Techserv.
Sterling Techserv are not obliged to undertake such a check as we are not an employer, but do so as best practice.