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Covid-19: help for self employed launches

05 - 05 - 2020

HMRC has begun contacting around 3.5m taxpayers who may be eligible for the government’s self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) to explain the application process and help them get ready to make a claim when the service opens next week

 HMRC has begun contacting around 3.5m taxpayers who may be eligible for the government’s self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) to explain the application process and help them get ready to make a claim when the service opens next week

 

  The claims service is due to be operational on Wednesday 13 May, with payments reaching bank accounts by 25 May, or six working days after the claim is made. An online checker is now available which will let taxpayers check their eligibility for themselves, as well as giving them a date on which they can apply. Individuals will need their unique taxpayer reference (UTR) and National Insurance number and should ensure their details are up-to-date in their government gateway account.SEISS is a temporary scheme that will enable those eligible to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average trading profits up to a maximum of £7,500 (equivalent to three months’ profits) in a single instalment.Taxpayers are eligible if their business has been adversely affected by coronavirus, they traded in 2019-20, intend to continue trading and they meet three criteria.These are earning at least half of their income through self-employment; having trading profits of no more than £50,000 per year; and trading in the tax year 2018 to 2019, having submitted their self assessment tax return on or before 23 April 2020 for that year.   HMRC is using information that individuals have provided in their 2018-19 tax return – and returns for 2016-17 and 2017-18 where needed – to determine their eligibility and is contacting customers who may be eligible via email, SMS or letter.Where individuals are ineligible for the scheme, HMRC will direct them to guidance setting out the conditions to help them understand why they are ineligible, and advice about other support that might be available to them, such as income tax deferrals, rental support, Universal Credit, access to mortgage holidays and the various business support schemes the government has introduced to protect businesses during this time.   HMRC warns it expects support phone lines to be very busy over the next few weeks as people enter this new scheme, so is encouraging taxpayers to only call if they cannot find what they need on GOV.UK, from their tax agent or via HMRC’s webchat service.

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Fixed Data

Assumptions

General                                                                                                                              

• The user is over 21 and subject to tax in the UK
• The user wishes to minimise their tax liability
• The user is subject to national insurance i.e.he/she is not over retirement age
• Only current tax rates and limits are applied
• No tax mitigation payments are made e.g. pension contributions
• Only 3 digit letter 'L' tax codes shown in the drop down list can be entered 
• The user does not have a turnover greater than £100,000 where fewer reliefs and or higher taxes may apply

Expenses

• All miles claimed as expenses are for business use using a personally owned car or van
• All other expenses claimed are wholly, necessarily and where appropriate exclusively for the benefit of the business

Foremans LLP Charges

• Foremans fees associated with Limited Company, Sole Trader or Umbrella are as per published rates
• Foremans current Service Costs are allowed for in all calculations.

Holiday Pay

• Holiday pay is accumulated week by week by Umbrella or Agency employer but paid out during the year

VAT

• Limited Company or Sole Trader will be VAT registered
• Limited Company or Sole Trader will take advantage of Flat rate VAT
• Flat rate applied includes the benefit of the additional 1% applicable to the first year of VAT registration

Limited Company Conditions

• One director / one shareholder in a Personal Service Company
• Director of Personal Service Company elects to vote for 100% dividend after salary, costs and expenses
• Director's salary is maximum salary to the primary threshold for NI
• The Limited Company is trading normally i.e it is not subject to IR35 and is not a Managed Service Company

NOTES

• The Current tax rates are taken from the Fixed Data Table
• The current Value Added Tax Rate is 20% and is applied to all invoices and expenses as appropriate
• The Director's Salary is fixed in relation to National Insurance thresholds. Higher Rate Taxpayers should consider the advantages and disadvantages of a larger annual salary or bonus
• Higher Rate Taxpayers may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of shared ownership of their business
• Users with a tax code other than three digits and letter "L" may telephone or email our Development Department to request a detailed calculation
• Generally the use of an Umbrella rather than an Agency payroll is only efficient if sufficient weekly expenses are allowable and claimed
• The expenses claimed under an Umbrella should not prevent the proper operation of National Minimum Wage