Skip to content
BLOG

HMRC confirms 5th SEISS grant application portal now open

pexels-karolina-grabowska-5882683 (1)-jpg

HMRC has confirmed that the applications platform for the fifth grant for Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is now open for online submissions.

The fifth grant can be claimed if you think that your business profit will be impacted by coronavirus between 1 May 2021 and 30 September 2021. 

The scheme closes on 30 September.

 

Application process

The application process for the fifth SEISS grant will depend on details of two years of turnover and losses resulting from the pandemic.

There are some rule changes for the fifth grant which are important to take into account and also note that accountants are not allowed to apply directly on behalf of their clients.

HMRC has confirmed that ‘the fifth grant is different. In most cases, you’ll need to provide two turnover figures when you make your claim. We’ll use these to work out how much you’ll get’.

Claims must include information about turnover if you submitted a tax return for your business in 2019 to 2020, as well as any of the following tax years: 2018-19, 2017-18 and 2016-17. Turnover includes the takings, fees, sales or money earned or received by your business.

Turnover must be calculated for a 12-month period, starting on any day from 1 April 2020 to 6 April 2020.

 

Where to find turnover figures

Turnover figures can be obtained from the 2020-21 self assessment tax return, from accounting software, your bookkeeping or spreadsheet records that cover your self-employment invoices, and payments received (check the bank account used for your business to account for money coming in from customers). You can also ask your accountant or tax adviser for help in finding these figures.

Claims must not include previous SEISS grants, Eat Out to Help Out payments and local authority or devolved administration grants.

In most cases, you must use the turnover reported in your 2019 to 2020 tax return as a reference year. The figure needs to be based on a 12-month period and include the total turnover for all your businesses.

If 2019-20 was not a normal year for your business, due to the pandemic, SEISS applicants can use 2018-19 as the turnover reference year.

If you are currently trading but have reduced demand, you must keep any evidence that your business has had reduced activity, capacity or demand due to Covid-19 at the time you made your claim, such as:

  • business accounts showing reduction in activity compared to previous years;
  • records of reduced or cancelled contracts or appointments; and
  • a record of dates where you had reduced demand or capacity due to government restrictions.

 

How much will you get?

If your turnover is down by 30% or more, the grant will be:

    • worked out at 80% of three months’ average trading profits; and
    • capped at £7,500.

If your turnover is down by less than 30%, the grant will be:

    • worked out at 30% of three months’ average trading profits; and
    • capped at £2,850.

 

Applied example

If you had a total turnover of £20,000 for 2019-20, which fell to £10,000 for April 2020 to April 2021, representing a 50% drop in revenue, you will get the higher grant amount which is worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits as turnover is down by 30% or more.

If turnover is down by 20% compared to 2019-20 you will get the lower grant amount which is worth 30% of three months’ average trading profits as turnover is down by less than 30%.

 

Partnership adjustments

In the case of partnerships, work out and include your percentage share of the partnership’s turnover, for each individual partnership. This will be the same as the percentage of profit taken from each partnership in your reference year, even if your profit share percentage changed in 2020 to 2021. You should add this to the turnover from your other businesses.



Make a claim

The 5th SEISS grant application portal is now live. Make an SEISS claim here.

Applications will close on 30 September 2021.

 

Source:   Accountancy Daily

 

amy-hirschi-K0c8ko3e6AA-unsplash-(5)

Speak to one of our specialist accountants today!

If you’d like to know more about how we can support your wealth management, we’re happy to help.