HMRC has issued its latest update about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:
A ‘Save and return’ option has been added to the process, allowing you to come back to a claim rather than completing it in a single sitting.
Steps have been outlined to help make the application process straightforward and avoid common mistakes:
- Read the guidance before you apply, go to GOV.UK and search for 'Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme' where you’ll find a step-by-step guide
- Check whether your employees are eligible, again there is guidance on GOV.UK
- Check your calculations each time you submit a claim, in case any details have changed
- Only submit one claim per pay period – you can’t submit another claim for overlapping periods; this means that in each claim you should include all furloughed employees paid during that period
- If there are missing National Insurance numbers for your employees, try and find them so your claim isn’t delayed. If an employee doesn’t yet have a National Insurance number, you should contact HMRC to complete your claim. Go to GOV.UK and search for 'get help with the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme' to find out how to contact them
- Double check all information in the claim, including your bank details, before you submit it.
Advice to be alert to scams
HMRC has reinforced its message to be aware of scam communications that appear to be government messages. To understand how to identify a genuine HMRC message, search 'scams' on GOV.UK. Suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC can be sent to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.
HMRC webinars provide further information
The HMRC YouTube channel contains a range of webinars including an overview of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and how to make a claim plus a session on protecting yourself against tax scams and phishing.
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