Back in April, the government announced financial support for the self-employed in the form of free, taxable grants to be paid in June. It is now time to check whether you are eligible to make a claim when applications for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme open from 13 May.
HMRC have now begun contacting self-employed individuals who they have identified as being eligible to claim a grant under the new Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The grant, which is treated as earnings and subject to tax, is worth 80% of average trading profits up to a maximum of £7,500.
The Scheme will open for applications in phases from 13 May so it is important to take action as soon as possible.
Claiming a grant under the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Here’s what you will need to do (there are some things you can do now):
1. Check your eligibility
Use the HMRC online eligibility checker to confirm that you can apply for the grant. You will need your Unique Tax Reference number (UTR) and National Insurance number to do this. You can find your UTR on your tax return.
2. Make a note of the date you can claim from. Your date will be specific to you and from 13 May onwards.
3. Set up a Government Gateway account if you don’t already have one. You can create a new account here
4. Complete your application online. If your claim is accepted, the money will be paid directly into your bank within 6 days.
Please note: Not all self-employed people will be able to claim the grant. Find details of who can claim here
HMRC scams – please be vigilant
We are aware of an increase in scam emails, calls and texts claiming to be from HMRC. You can only claim this grant through gov.uk. If you receive any communication asking you to click a link or provide personal details to claim a grant or tax refund, do not respond. Check the email address of the sender and the website url to see if they are genuine and forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Suspicious texts should be sent to 60599.
We will share any further information about the scheme with you as we receive it.