On Friday (29 May) the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced more details about the extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has been extended for those self-employed whose trade continues to be, or is newly, adversely affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus). Eligible self-employed people will be able to claim a second and final Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant in August; this will be a taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits for three months, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £6,570 in total.
The eligibility criteria for the second grant will be the same as for the first grant. People do not need to have claimed the first grant to claim the second grant: for example, their business may have been adversely affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus) more recently.
Claims for the first Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, which opened on 13 May, must be made no later than 13 July. Eligible self-employed people must make a claim before that date to receive the first Self-Employment Income Support Schemegrant (a taxable grant of 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total).
It’s really important to note that as with the first Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, the eligible individual must make the claim themselves. If your accountant/agent attempt to make a claim on behalf of your client, this will trigger a fraud alert and will result in significant delays to payment.
More information about the second Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant will is set to be made available by HMRC on 12 June.