One-page Procurement SOP: SDS (IR35)
A practical, internal-ready SOP for HR/Procurement to control off-payroll engagements: intake → working practices → SDS issuance → evidence retention → dispute handling.
- Clear workflow gates (before onboarding)
- RACI responsibilities (HR/Procurement, Hiring Manager, Tax/Legal)
- Audit pack checklist ("reasonable care" records)
- Dispute/representation handling (45-day SLA)
- One-page PDF (printable)
- Free download. No email required.
Fill in the form to generate an SDS preview
Governance gates
What to collect and when (contract, SoW, role details, supply chain contacts).
Reasonable-care audit pack
Exactly what to retain (SDS + evidence + approvals + distribution proof).
Dispute handling
How to log and respond to representations within the SLA.
Who this SOP is for
- Procurement teams onboarding contractors through agencies
- HR teams managing contingent workforce policy
- Hiring managers needing a simple working-practices checklist
- Finance/Tax/Legal teams supporting edge cases and disputes
Note: This SOP is a template for internal process design. It is not legal or tax advice.
How to use it
1
Add it to your contractor onboarding checklist
2
Create a dedicated mailbox for SDS representations/disputes
3
Require working-practices confirmation from hiring managers
4
Store the audit pack alongside the engagement record
5
Review annually (or when guidance/supplier model changes)
FAQ
Is this SOP specific to our organisation?
No — it’s a generic template. Adjust roles, sign-off, and retention to your governance model.
Can we use this alongside CEST or other tools?
Yes. The SOP focuses on workflow controls (inputs, approvals, records, dispute handling), regardless of the assessment method.
Does Docoply issue the SDS for us?
Docoply helps generate an SDS pack and evidence summary, but the end client remains responsible for issuing SDS and ensuring it matches working practices.