Self-Employed HMRC update

[Snorkelface]

HMRC has added a few updates for the self employed grant scheme.

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

While HMRC will be contacting eligible claimants directly over the next couple of weeks with more specific details you can now see if you're eligible to claim and what date you'll be able to lodge your claim by using their on-line tool (about half way down their web page).

You'll need your UTR and NI number to do this and it will also give you the opportunity to set up your Gateway account if you don't already have one and to update your contact details. It's a good idea to set this up now as the website is likely to get very busy when it goes live on 13th May.

You can find both your UTR and NI number on your tax return. If you're setting up your Gateway at the same time you'll need to provide email/mobile details and you'll need to set up additional security measures to identify you using either security questions or drivers license details or your passport. The system can time out so it's a good idea to have all the details to hand.

If you are thinking of taking the loan, check the repayments. I'm sure I read had to be paid back really quickly at high interest.
didn't take too much notice as we changed to small business, so are furloughed.

No, the Bounce Back loan has 2.5% interest and the government covers the interest for the first 12 months. The borrower doesn't have to make any repayments for the first year. The loan lasts for 6 years and it can be paid back early without early repayment fees. the amount that can be borrowed depends on turnover. So for a lot of small businesses it's a great way of keeping going during not great times. The self employed grant is different and does not have to be paid back, but will be treated as income and taxed accordingly.

Good luck to anyone putting in their claim for the self-employed grant tomorrow. As you'll be first up please come back here and let everyone know how you got on.

Good luck to everyone applying tomorrow, fingers crossed for you all!

I’ve just applied for my grant. It took three whole minutes! The money should be in my account in the next six days. Good luck to everyone else 🤞🏼

I did mine too!
Very easy

I can't remember what date I was told to apply!

Did they tell you how much you’ll be getting ?

I have just applied too
Got in to HMRC site straight away and only took a couple of minutes to apply- very easy and straightforward

Great stuff everyone. Birdling - if you go to the link in the original post and use the 'see if you're eligible' tool it will tell you the time and date you can apply.

What information did you have to give !

I did the eligibility checker and it says I can apply from tomorrow- where do I actually go to apply though? I haven't heard anything else from them.

Thank you @Snorkelface

Yes you're told the amount you'll get. You need your gateway login, NI number and UTR code.
Good luck everyone!

@justtheonethen
It's your gateway account eventually but I went through the gov website that directed to my account anyway.
I had logged on before 8am and there was nothing there. I didn't receive any contact either

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme

If you use the link above there's a big Start Now button half way down the page. Remember to screen shot any important info in case you think the claim amount is wrong and for your tax records.

We're applying today.

Does anyone have an inkling if the scheme will continue like the furlough is, or if it truly is a one off?

I think we will apply for UC but I dont want to be in a position where we have to pay it back.

There's been no further announcements about an extension, yet. It would seem fair that it remains in line with the furlough scheme but who knows. There's been rumours of the £50k ceiling being dropped lower or the 80% being reduced but no one knows as yet. I just hope they don't think that this payment, July tax deferral to January and UC is enough.

It's really annoying that DH has to wait until next week to hear why he supposedly is not eligible. He did try phoning them but after hanging on the phone for 4 hours gave up!

Yeah, that was very easy. I couldn't find anything on my government gateway page so went back to the claim checker, and then it started from there.

When I checked eligibility last week, it gave me 9am on the 13th, but when I logged on this time, it said 5am on the 13th, so if you have to wait to claim, you might check again in case it's changed.

I hope they extend it, but dropping it to £30000 seems harsh for a lot of people. Maybe £40,000, with a sliding scale for after that, or something. I thought the cliff edge cut off of £50,000 was unfair too.

I also know several who don't earn that much who haven't been able to apply because it's not been 50% of their income because of rental or other things, but they're still really, really noticing the drop in income - people like my hairdresser, or musicians who supplement a low-paying performance or school job with teaching, etc. I hope there is a solution for them.

@lynsey91 Did you do the online review? The client who was showing as ineligible is now showing as eligible. Hmrc must have acted on it quickly, they also didn't notify us, I just did the checker again.

@lynsey91 I was told not eligible and then it suddenly changed, maybe keep trying online

@Bimbleberries hairdressers are going to do a years work in a month when they come out of this. I wouldn’t worry too much about them

The eligibility status has been randomly changing all week so don't immediately panic if you're sure you are eligible and the system says otherwise.

I've applied online this morning at my designated time and I had how much I was getting displayed and that it would be paid within 6 days.

Very quick, very efficient.

The July tax deferral has NOT worked. I applied at the beginning of April to defer my tax - said I would have a response within 10 days.

No response and at the end of the month they claimed the Direct Debit and took £400.

Still no response so this month I'm left with no option but to cancel it as I haven't earned enough.