HMRC Issues Further Employer Guidance on Furlough Pay

HMRC has issued a further update on employers that will need to make employee claims for Furlough.

Businesses that need to claim for employee payments for May will need to apply to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) by Wednesday 20^th May.

The CJRS aims to pay the claims within 6 working days.  They also ask you to keep records and calculations after making a claim in case they have to contact you further.

Rishi Sunak the Chancellor said the CJRS will run until the end of July and then to allow employers to begin operation again.  From 1^st August to 31^st October, employees may go back part-time even if employers still receive support from the scheme, to help contribute to staff pay e.g. part time working, part time furloughed.

More details will be published by the end of May and will apply to all sectors and regions in the UK economy.

Go to https://www.gov.uk/search/all?keywords=coronavirus+job+retention+scheme&order=relevance for further information, advice and updates including:

• What time periods you can claim for
• More information for furloughed employees
• The work furloughed company directors can undertake
• More details on non-discretionary payments, holiday pay and record keeping

Please Note:

• Grants are only intended for the payment of employees salaries and related National Insurance and pension contributions
• Payments may be withheld or need to be repaid in full if based on dishonest or inaccurate information or found to be fraudulent and they may call you to check the claim details.

Comment

A sensible approach for a staged return to work assuming the coronavirus spread is kept under control.