Contractor agreement
IR35-aware contractor agreements
done in minutes
Outside-IR35 friendly contractor agreements with the right substitution, control and MoO clauses. AI-drafted in plain English, eSigned in-browser.
Who it's for
Built for the people who actually use it
PSC contractors
Limited company tech, finance and consulting contractors.
Hiring managers
Engaging contractors as a medium/large business — get the determination right.
Recruitment agencies
Standard contractor paperwork at scale, with proper audit trail.
What's in the contract
Every clause you actually need
Drafted in plain English by AI, jurisdiction-aware, editable line-by-line. No legalese unless you want it.
Parties (PSC or sole trader)
Correct identification of the contracting entity for tax purposes.
Right of substitution
Genuine, unfettered right to send a substitute — strong outside-IR35 indicator.
Control over how work is done
Contractor controls the method, hours and tools — not the client.
No mutuality of obligation
No obligation to offer or accept future work between assignments.
Day rate or fixed fee
Commercial fee structure, payment terms, and invoicing cadence.
IP assignment on payment
Work product transfers on payment, not as a deemed-employee output.
Insurance & indemnity
Contractor's own PI insurance with named limits.
Termination & notice
Either side can exit on contractual notice without redundancy.
No employee benefits
Explicit exclusion of holiday, sick pay, pension and other employee rights.
How it works
From blank page to signed PDF in 3 steps
Describe in plain English
Tell SigningVault who's involved and what you're agreeing. The AI drafts the right contract with the right clauses.
Tweak in seconds
Edit any line, swap clauses, change jurisdiction. Add signature fields with a click.
Send & sign
Recipients get a private signing link by email. They sign in-browser — no account, no app. You both get the sealed PDF.
IR35-aware drafting that supports your status determination
Since April 2021, medium and large UK clients are responsible for determining IR35 status under Chapter 10 of ITEPA 2003. HMRC's CEST tool and case law (notably Ready Mixed Concrete v Minister of Pensions [1968]) focus on three pillars: substitution, control, and mutuality of obligation.
SigningVault drafts contractor agreements that clearly evidence each pillar — without contrived language tribunals will see through. A good contract supports an outside-IR35 position; it cannot create one if the working practices don't match.
- Substitution, control & MoO clauses
- Outside-IR35 friendly default wording
- PSC and sole trader supported
- Commercial-grade audit trail
FAQ
Common questions
What is IR35 and why does it matter?+
IR35 (the off-payroll working rules) determines whether a contractor is genuinely self-employed or effectively an employee for tax purposes. Since April 2021, medium and large UK clients are responsible for the IR35 status determination. SigningVault's contractor agreement is drafted with outside-IR35 indicators — substitution, control, mutuality of obligation — clearly evidenced.
Does this contract make me outside IR35 automatically?+
No contract on its own determines IR35 status — HMRC looks at the whole working relationship. But a well-drafted contract with the right substitution, control and MoO clauses is essential evidence and significantly strengthens an outside-IR35 position.
What's the difference between a contractor and a freelancer agreement?+
Contractor agreements are usually for ongoing professional services (often tech, finance, consulting) with day rates and IR35 considerations. Freelance contracts tend to be project-based with deliverables. SigningVault drafts the right kind based on your description.
Can I use this for limited company contractors?+
Yes. SigningVault drafts contractor agreements for both sole traders and PSCs (personal service companies), with the right party identification and tax treatment.
Is it legally binding when signed electronically?+
Yes. Contractor agreements signed via SigningVault qualify as Simple Electronic Signatures under UK eIDAS, the US ESIGN Act, and UETA — fully enforceable for commercial services.
More contract types
Whatever you need to sign
Employment contract
Inside-IR35? Use an employment contract instead.
Freelance contract
Project-based freelance work without IR35 considerations.
Service agreement (MSA)
Master agreement plus per-engagement SOWs.
NDA generator
Standalone confidentiality for pre-engagement discussions.
All eSignature features
Legally binding electronic signing under UK eIDAS.
AI contract drafting
How the AI handles UK tax and employment nuance.
Draft yours in under 60 seconds
No credit card. No templates to wade through. Just describe the agreement and SigningVault writes it.