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Published on 2 October 2020

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme: claim by 19 October

On 24 September, the government announced that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) would be extended again. But there are important deadlines relating to the first and second grants this month – act fast if these affect you.

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What is the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme?

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is designed to provide support for self-employed individuals whose businesses have been adversely affected as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government is providing up to four taxable grants to those who meet the eligibility conditions:

Grant

Notional period*

Amount

Claim deadline

SEISS 1

March 2020 to May 2020

80% of average monthly profits for three months (capped at £7,500)

For most people, the claim window closed on 13 July 2020.

However, if you are in scope of extended rules for those with parental responsibilities or military reservists, the legal deadline is 19 October 2020. HMRC have also said that those with parental responsibilities should submit the first part of their application by 5 October 2020. See below for more information.

SEISS 2

June 2020 to August 2020

70% of average monthly profits for three months (capped at £6,570)

19 October 2020

SEISS 3

November 2020 to January 2021

20% of average monthly profits for three months (capped at £1,875)

To be confirmed

SEISS 4

February 2021 to April 2021

To be confirmed

To be confirmed


*This notional period does not have any relevance to when the grants are taxed, or the period over which you need to consider if you have been adversely affected.

For detailed guidance, see Coronavirus: Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

What are the extended rules for people with parental responsibilities and military reservists?

We publish detailed guidance on the extended rules for people with parental responsibilities in our main coronavirus guidance. If you think you qualify under these rules, HMRC can ask you to verify certain information to show this is the case.

You should do this by 5 October 2020 to allow HMRC enough time to verify the information before the claims window closes on 19 October 2020. After 5 October 2020, we understand that the online verification portal will close. We are asking HMRC for instruction on what you should do if you miss the 5 October 2020 deadline, given that the legal deadline to make a claim is not until 19 October 2020. Our guidance will be updated in due course.

Note that you still have to go on to make your claim after HMRC have checked your information, but before the 19 October deadline.

Military reservists should review the guidance on GOV.UK.

I claimed the first or second grant but I think I wasn’t entitled. What should I do?

Read our guidance on this question here.

There is a strict time limit for notifying HMRC that you have claimed the grant by mistake, or been paid too much. You should do this by the later of:

  • 20 October 2020, and
  • 90 days from the date you received the grant payment which was overpaid or to which you were not entitled.

Therefore, if you received the grant on or before 21 July 2020, you must inform HMRC by 20 October 2020. See GOV.UK for details of how to do so.

 

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

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