Update:Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Extension to August
If you havent done so already, you must start the claim process by clicking on the link below – online checker tool.- and checking your eligibility.
Those who are eligible will be able to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average trading profits up to a maximum of £7,500 (equivalent to three months’ profits), paid in a single installment. Eligibility can be checked using the new online checker tool. Once the online check is complete, those who are eligible will be given a date when they can submit their claim.
The claims service will open on 13 May and those who are eligible will have the money paid into their bank account by 25 May, or within six working days of completing a claim.
Extension to Scheme
This has now been extended to August 2020 for the three months June,July and August – at a reduced rate of 70% of your average trading profit up to a maximum of 2,500.
If you’re eligible the second and final grant will be a taxable grant worth 70% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering a further 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
First time applicants for Self Employed Income Support grant
If you have not claimed for the first payouts under the scheme, then letters have been sent out by HMRC to some of those who may be eligible for Self-Employment Income Support grant with your UTR (Unique Tax Reference). Your UTR is also on your self-assessment tax return. You do not have to wait for the letter! Go online and check if you are eligible first even if you have not received a letter. If you’re eligible and want to claim the first grant you must make your claim on or before 13 July 2020.
Go to: https://gov.uk/hmrc/self-employment-income-support-scheme/
You need to go on-line and check your eligibility before you can make a claim.
The online service will be available from 13 May 2020. If you’re eligible, HMRC will tell you the date you can make your claim from. If your claim is approved you’ll receive your payment within 6 working days.
If you’re unable to claim online an alternative way to claim will be available. HMRC will update their page with more information soon.
When you make your claim – Important!
You will need your:
- Self Assessment UTR – if you do not have this find out how to get your lost UTR – this will be on your tax return
- National Insurance number – if you do not have this find out how to get your lost National Insurance number
- *Government Gateway user ID and password – if you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you check your eligibility online
- bank account number and sort code you want us to pay the grant into (only provide bank account details where a Bacs payment can be accepted)
How to claim – It is important to note that you must have a *Government Gateway Account with an ID and password to make this claim. If you do not have one you must set one up immediately – or when you use the online eligibility tool. See above for what you need to set one up.
You’ll have to confirm to HMRC that your business has been adversely affected by coronavirus.
If you claim the grant HMRC will treat this as confirmation you’re below the state aid limits.
HMRC will check claims and take appropriate action to withhold or recover payments found to be dishonest or inaccurate.
After you’ve claimed
Once you’ve submitted your claim, you will be told straight away if your grant is approved. HMRC will pay the grant into your bank account within 6 working days.
You must keep a copy of all records in line with normal self-employment record keeping requirements, including:
- the amount claimed
- the claim reference number for your records
- evidence that your business has been adversely affected by coronavirus
You will need to report the grant:
- on your Self Assessment tax return
- as self-employed income for any Universal Credit claims
- as self-employed income and that you’re working 16 hours a week for any tax credits claims
Other help you can get
Get other financial support
You can make a claim for Universal Credit while you wait for the grant. The grant may affect the amount of Universal Credit you get, but will not affect claims for earlier periods.
The government is also providing the following help for the self-employed:
- deferral of Self Assessment Income Tax and VAT payments
- grants for businesses that pay little or no business rates
- Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Bounce Back Loan
If you have other employment as a director or employee paid through PAYE your employer may be able to get support using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Get help online
You can watch videos and register for free webinars to learn more about the support available to help you deal with the economic impacts of coronavirus.
Use HMRC’s digital assistant to find more information about the coronavirus support schemes.
Contacting HMRC
HMRC NOTE: We are receiving very high numbers of calls. Contacting HMRC unnecessarily puts our essential public services at risk during these challenging times.
But you can contact HMRC if you cannot get the help you need online.
Published 26 March 2020
Last updated 4 May 2020 + show all updates
