News

Important deadlines approach for the furlough scheme
26 November 2020

Businesses across the UK are being reminded of key deadlines and actions for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which are just days away.

The CJRS was extended recently to 31‌‌‌ ‌March 2021 for all parts of the UK. Since 1 November 2020, the UK Government has agreed to pay 80 per cent of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. Employers are only required to cover the cost of National Insurance and Workplace Pension contributions.

The scheme is open to employees who have previously been claimed for through the scheme before 1 November 2020 and those who have not.

However, in the next few days, businesses that are using the CJRS need to do the following:

• Submit any claims for periods up to 31‌‌‌ ‌October 2020 on or before 30‌‌‌ ‌November 2020 – they will not be accepted after this date.

• Submit any claims for November, no later than 14‌‌‌ ‌‌December 2020 – Businesses can claim before, during or after they process their payroll as long as the claim is submitted by the deadline.

• Keep all records to support each CJRS claim – HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) may need to check them (copies of previously submitted claims can be found via the CJRS service on GOV‌.UK).

In future, all claims for periods starting on or after 1‌‌‌ ‌November 2020 must be submitted within 14 calendar days after the month they relate to – unless this falls on a weekend, in which case the deadline is the next weekday.

For claim periods from 1‌‌‌ ‌December 2020, you cannot claim CJRS grants for any days that your employee is serving a contractual or statutory notice period, including notice of retirement or resignation.

After this date in December, HMRC will also begin publishing the names, an indication of the value of claims and company registration numbers of employers who make CJRS claims. HMRC has said it will write to businesses with details of when this information will be published.

Details of claims will also be available to employees through their online Personal Tax Account for claim periods from December 2020.

It is important that you meet these upcoming deadlines. If you require support with claiming the CJRS, please contact us.