Claiming under the Government's Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – a short thread of 10 top tips as claiming starts this week, based on what @HMRCgovuk have told us #SEISS 1/15
1) To see if u r eligible, use HMRC’s online eligibility checker- gov.uk/guidance/claim…. You’ll need yr Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) & yr NI Number handy 4 quick confirmation of yr eligibility & a date in which the service will be open specifically for u 2 make a claim 2/15
2) You’ll also be asked to go into Government Gateway using your user ID and password as HMRC need you to update your contact details which they’ll use to remind you by email or text message when it’s your turn to make a claim. 3/15
3) If checker confirms you are eligible, you will be given a date when you can use the online service to make a claim. This will be between 13 & 18 May. NB This isn’t first come, first served – when you use eligibility checker has no impact on when date of yr claim will be. 4/15
4) If you don’t have a Government Gateway User ID you should create one when you check your eligibility online. 5/15
5) HMRC are contacting the same three and a half million customers who they think are eligible and invite them to claim. They’ll use the contact details given to them through the use of the eligibility checker. #SEISS 6/15
6) To receive #SEISS money, applicants will need to go to gov.uk/hmrc/self-empl… on date HMRC has advised them of. Enter yr UTR, NI Number & Govt Gateway password & user ID. You’ll need to provide yr bank acc details for HMRC to make payment – sort code & bank account no. 7/15
7) You'll be asked to confirm yr business has been adversely affected by #COVID19 & u intend to continue trading. HMRC will calculate what u r due based on info you’ve provided already & will have the money paid into yr bank account within 6 working days of completing claim 8/15
8) If HMRC have told you that you’re not eligible it is likely because the information you, or yr accountant/adviser provided them with on past self-assessment tax returns, tells them that you are ineligible. If you do use an accountant/adviser, discuss this with them 9/15
9) If the checker says you aren't eligible you will be able to ask for a review – a link to a review form will be provided. If you request a review, HMRC will look at the info you have supplied to them from 18 May and will explain your eligibility to you by the end of May. 10/15
10) If you are not eligible for money under #SEISS, you may still qualify for other forms of help. EG: delay VAT payments, delay your Self Assessment payment on account, arrange to pay your SA tax bill in instalments, get a payment from the Small Business Grant Fund... 11/15
10 (cont.) ..., get a loan from the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, or a loan from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, get Universal Credit, apply for Employment and Support Allowance, apply for Child Benefit. Visit GOV.UK to see what support is available. 12/15
NB 1: On accuracy of the #SEISS checker, we understand from HMRC that the vast majority (over 99%) of cases that people have put through the checker have returned an accurate result. 13/15
NB 2: There is a very small minority of exceptions, for example those who have very recently filed their 18/19 SA return, for whom the system won’t yet show a positive answer. HMRC are updating the system at pace and will encourage these people to apply. 14/15
NB 3: For more #SEISS info see:
CIOT SEISS page - tax.org.uk/policy-and-tec…;
Full HMRC guidance - gov.uk/guidance/claim…;
CIOT/ATT webinar recording - tax.org.uk/policy-technic…;
Or book a place on an HMRC webinar - gov.uk/guidance/help-… 15/15
CIOT SEISS page - tax.org.uk/policy-and-tec…;
Full HMRC guidance - gov.uk/guidance/claim…;
CIOT/ATT webinar recording - tax.org.uk/policy-technic…;
Or book a place on an HMRC webinar - gov.uk/guidance/help-… 15/15
