September/October Issue 63 - Flipbook - Page 10
NEWS
HAVE YOU RECEIVED COVID SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT?
Over the last 18 months the world has
been dealing with the Coronavirus
pandemic and this has put a strain on
lives and businesses.
With lockdown restrictions easing and a
potential return to normal life businesses
are looking to move forward and plan for
the future, which is likely to include an end
to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
(CJRS), commonly referred to as furlough.
Current guidance indicates that the CJRS
will finish on 31 August 2021 and whilst
previously the Government announced
the intention to utilise the Coronavirus
Job Support Scheme (CJSS) to support
business after the conclusion of the
CJRS, this was scrapped in late 2020 and
there has been no indication of the CJSS
being resurrected. There has also been
no announcement from the Government
regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention
Bonus.
If you are a business that has used the
CJRS or other related Coronavirus support,
you need to make sure that your records
are in order. Many may have been focused
on other areas as the Budget 2021 was
announced but included was a £100 million
investment in the Taxpayer Protection
Taskforce with a view to targeting individuals
and businesses that sought to defrauded
COVID support initiative, including the
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Businesses are expected to retain a copy
of the Furlough Agreement, required for
all employees placed on furlough under
the CJRS, for a period of 6 years. Other
information should also be retained for a
minimum of 5 years including:
•
Evidence of how much you have
claimed over the claim period for each
individual;
•
the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme reference number;
•
Your calculation of the furlough
payment;
•
The usual working hours of the
employee; and
•
If you have used flexible furlough,
a record of the actual hours worked
during the flexible furlough period.
The above-mentioned evidence will be
used to demonstrate that there was a
genuine claim under the CJRS and that
your business has not recovered more than
they were entitled to for each employee.
HMRC appreciate there will be potential
errors and they have advised that they
are not looking to target those who have
made innocent errors but rather those who
deliberately flouted the system and rules.
Having said that, this is now an opportunity
for HMRC to look into the claims and you
may well have a visit from HRMC. Therefore,
it is advisable that you ensure your records
are in place. It is also an opportunity to
rectify any errors or overpayments.
What is an overclaim of the grant for the
purposes of the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme?
An overclaim is monies you were not
entitled to receive. This could include an
error in calculation which did not meet
the requirement of the CJRS or where
the qualification of your business or the
individual concerned could be challenged.
Source: Backhouse Jones
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