The very fact that umbrella companies exist, is totally wrong! working through an umbrella company is not being freelance and is not being self employed. You end up with non of the benefits of self employment, or indeed full time employment. I for one, totally refuse to engage through umbrella companies, or engage in any contract other than that deemed outside IR35. Unfortunately this has reduced my UK client base by over 75% owing to many companies blanket assessment of all contract workers. Fortunately however I also have overseas clients to engage with to fill the gap. If I was not so close now to retirement now, I think I would probably be moving my business / residence completely overseas and forget about the UK market all together. This government is totally blind to what the freelance market provides to industry in the UK. If they want to help industry and help grow the economy in this country they have to reverse the ridiculous IR35 amendments introduced in 2021, or better still scrap IR35 completely.