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<p>It has not been possible to include those who began trading after the 2018-19 tax
year in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. This was a very difficult decision
and it was taken for practical reasons. It is correct that individuals can now submit
Income Tax Self Assessment returns for 2019-20, but there would be significant risks
for the public purse if the Government relied on these returns for the scheme. HMRC
would not be able to distinguish genuine self-employed individuals who started trading
in 2019-20 from fake applications by fraudulent operators and organised criminal gangs
seeking to exploit the SEISS. The Government cannot expose the tax system to these
risks.</p><p> </p><p>However, those who entered self-employment after April 2019 will
still be eligible for other support. For example, the self-employed can benefit from
the Government’s relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor)
in Universal Credit. The SEISS supplements the significant support already announced
for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the deferral of tax payments. More
information about the full range of business support measures is available at: <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a></p>
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