Don't forget to declare Covid19 grants on your Tax Return

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment customers to declare any Covid19 grant payments on their 2020/21 Tax Return. More than 2.7 million customers claimed at least 1 Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) payment up to 5 April 2021. These grants are taxable and customers should declare them on their 2020/21 Tax Return before the deadline on 31 January 2022.

The SEISS application and payment windows during the 2020/21 tax year were:-

► SEISS 1: 13 May 2020 to 13 July 2020.

► SEISS 2: 17 August 2020 to 19 October 2020.

► SEISS 3: 29 November 2020 to 29 January 2021.

SEISS is not the only Covid19 support scheme that customers should declare on their Tax Return. If customers received other support payments during Covid19, they may need to report this on their Tax Return if they are:-

► Self employed.

► In a partnership.

► A business.

Information on which support payments need to be reported to HMRC and any that do not is available on GOV.UK. It is important that customers check and make any changes to their Tax Return to make sure any SEISS or other Covid19 support payments have been reported correctly in their Self Assessment.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said:- "We want to help customers get their Tax Returns right, 1st time. We have videos, guidance and helpsheets available online to support you with your Self Assessment. Search 'help with Self Assessment' on GOV.UK to find out more."

HMRC has created resources to help customers complete their Tax Return including a playlist on YouTube, webinars and help sheets and guidance available on GOV.UK.

HMRC recently announced that more than 20,000 customers, who were unable to pay their tax bill in full, had used the self-serve Time to Pay facility, worth ₤46 million. The online payment plan helps customers who may feel worried or anxious about paying any tax owed by enabling them to spread the amount into manageable monthly instalments, up to the value of ₤30,000.

If customers owe more than ₤30,000, or need longer to pay, they should call the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on:- 03002003822.

HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. Customers should always type in the full online address to get the correct link for filing their Self Assessment return online securely and free of charge. HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department. If in doubt, HMRC advises not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact them straight away and to search GOV.UK for:- 'HMRC scams.'
 

Care England comments on the Shortage Occupation List

CARE England, who are the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care has welcomed the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendation to put care workers on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "Care England has long called for care workers to be on the Shortage Occupation List and is therefore very pleased that the Migration Advisory Committee has put forward this very important recommendation to Government. There is an acute workforce shortage in adult social care now so this recommendation cannot be enacted fast enough."

The Migration Advisory Committee published its annual report this morning in which it put forward several recommendations to Government to alleviate short term issues in the labour market. 1 of the recommendations includes:- making care workers immediately eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa and placing the occupation on the Shortage Occupation List.

A recent survey of Care England's members showed that the vast majority of members (96%) reported that a workforce shortage was their primary concern this Winter.