HMRC is reminding taxpayers that they must declare COVID-19 payments in their tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year.

SEISS payments

The SEISS application and payment windows during the 2021 to 2022 tax year were:

● SEISS Four: 22 April 2021 to 1 June 2021

● SEISS Five: 29 July 2021 to 30 September 2021

If you received a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) grant or an Eat Out to Help Out payment, you will need to do both of the following:

How to Apply: Blackpool businesses can apply here (Closing date for applications is Monday 14 February 2022 at 10.00am) Wyre businesses can apply here (Closing date for applications is Monday 14 February 2022 at 5.00pm) Preston businesses can apply here (Closing date for applications is Friday 18 March 2022.)

The government is introducing a new grant scheme to support businesses that are experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant. Hospitality and leisure premises will benefit from targeted grant support. | Blackpool Poulton Accountant

Employers will be able to claim the costs for up to two weeks of SSP per employee that has to take time off because of COVID-19. This two-week limit will be reset so an employer will be able to claim up to two weeks per employee regardless of whether they have claimed under the previous scheme for that employee.

Temporary insolvency restrictions protections are being lifted and new targeted measures to support small business and commercial tenants introduced. The Insolvency Service has announced that Temporary measures brought in to support businesses from insolvency during the pandemic will be phased out from 1 October.

The grant claims for employees furloughed in the month of September are 60% of the employee’s usual pay up to a maximum cap of £1,875.

The fifth (and final) SEISS grant will be available for the self-employed to claim towards the end of July.

Remember that you are required to tell HMRC about overclaimed CJRS grants as part of your next claim. | Blackpool and Poulton based Chartered Accountants | Xero Platinum Partners | Cloud Accounting Experts

A fifth grant covering May 2021 to September 2021 will be open to claims from late July 2021. The grant is taxable and will be paid out in a single instalment. Guidance for claiming the grant will be available by the end of June 2021.

The ONS have published their report on the demographic and economic characteristics of older workers aged 50 years. The main points are that while the impact of the pandemic has been greatest for younger workers, older workers aged 50 years and over have been affected to a greater extent than those in the middle age groups.

A roundup of changes to government support information generally and for businesses, employers and the self-employed.