LITRG urges self-employed to check eligibility for SEISS

03 Jul 2020

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has urged self-employed individuals to check their eligibility for the first round of the government's coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant.

The claim window for the first SEISS grant will close on 13 July. The LITRG stated that HMRC used IT systems to identify potential SEISS claimants in May. However, the group is concerned that some self-employed individuals did not receive HMRC's correspondence.

The LITRG also said that there is 'some confusion' in regard to the time periods for the SEISS grants. HMRC recently updated its guidance and outlined that a business that has been affected by COVID-19 at any point up to 13 July is eligible for the first SEISS grant, assuming all other conditions are met.

Only if a business is adversely affected by COVID-19 from 14 July can the self-employed claim the second grant.

Commenting on the issue, Victoria Todd, Head of the LITRG, said: 'The self-employed and individual partners trading in partnerships whose businesses have been affected adversely by COVID-19 but who are yet to claim the first SEISS grant should check urgently whether they are eligible.

'It is unfortunate if potential claimants miss out because they did not realise there was a deadline or because they were unsure if they could claim.'

Information on the SEISS can be found here.