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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 (SEISS). This was a very difficult
decision and it was taken for practical reasons.</p><p>The Government recognises that
those who started trading more recently will not have submitted a tax return for the
2018-19 tax year, and it considered alternative approaches. 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.</p><p>However, the self-employed can also benefit from the Government’s
relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) in Universal
Credit. They may also have access to a range of grants and loans depending on their
circumstances. These include the Bounce Back Loan 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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