HMRC has contacted those potentially eligible for the fourth Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant. Claims for the fourth SEISS grant will open over the next week. HMRC has written to each potential claimant giving them their personal claim date. We understand that these dates fall between 22 and 29 April; the phasing is to allow HMRC to manage demand.
The date provided is the earliest date on which the taxpayer can apply; the portal will remain open until 1 June 2021. Those who believe they are eligible but do not hear from HMRC are asked to wait until 30 April before contacting the SEISS helpline.
The taxpayer must confirm that they meet the criteria for the fourth grant, including that they:
• traded in the tax years 2019/20 and 2020/21.
• are currently trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus, or have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus;
• intend to continue to trade; and
• reasonably believe there will be a significant reduction in their trading profits.
The delay to the claim’s portal opening reflects the fact that HMRC has needed to incorporate 2019/20 self-assessment tax return data into its calculations as the base years are now the four tax years 2016/17 to 2019/20
