Sole Traders Financial Support For Isolating

[Ian b]

I have been off work for 8 weeks, like many others, and have been onto the tax website to apply for the 80% support. After entering my details (I am self assessment) to apply, I was told that I am not eligible, because,.....my tax return for my financial year of 2019, which was April, was not returned within four weeks. I usually send my returns September time, but have always done so and have never defaulted. I'm wondering how many people out there send their returns in that quickly. It's a good 'get-out' clause for the government if it is true. but I will appeal anyway.

[Gizmonster]

I think you might have misunderstood the reason for your eligibility. I say this because on Martin Lewis' programme, they said the government had extended its deadline for eligibility to the scheme. The deadline for a tax return and payment for the year 2018 - 2019 was Jan 31st 2020 .... now I can't remember the exact date, but you needed to have submitted a tax return by March 2020 (which would make your tax return late by 2 months anyway) to be eligible .... but this date was extended.
My tax return is usually submitted Dec/Jan ..... I had no problem with my claim.

[Gizmonster]

Sorry ... it should read the reason for your INELIGIBILITY.

There's either another reason .... or they've made a mistake .... so chase it up .... and good luck :)

[bednobs]

I also think you must have misunderstood. The tax year 18/19 should have had the tax return submitted and paid by 31st January 2020. If you normally don't send it till September, you are normally very very late!
perhaps your profits are too big to be eligible?

[Deskdiary]

That does sound odd.

I’m self-assessment, but as I’m a PAYE employee I always wait for my P11D and P60, and in the case of the former I rarely get it until Aug/Sept time, and usually don’t submit until Nov/Dec, mainly because I can’t stand completing the online form, so it tends to be one of those ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ jobs, but my understanding is you’d have until Jan to submit.

[Gizmonster]

Ian can you just clarify what tax year you're referring to:

I'm reading it as you're referring to the tax year 2018/19 and you paid your tax bill in Sept 2019 .... in which case, you're eligible (on this point anyway) .... but there may be other points causing you to be ineligible, like as bednobs says, if your net profit is over £50k ??

[Ian b]

The 80% support is based on the last three years (submitted) accounts, so, in my case 2017-18-19. My financial year ends march 22nd. they said I had not completed my return by 23rd May which made me ineligible.

[Buenchico]

I'm still confused.

Your own 'financial year' is irrelevant as far as the deadlines for the submission of your tax returns are concerned. The deadline for the submission of your tax return in respect of HMRC's tax year which ended on 5 April 2019 was 31 January of this year (or 31 October last year if you're still submitting paper returns).

So did you submit a return by the relevant date or not?

[Ian b]

OK, I have sorted it out. Basically I am not eligible because I am retired and my income from 'working' is less than my pension; it's nothing to do with submitting. This will cost me some, as I do have overheads; insurances, vehicle etc., all have to be paid for working or not. Thanks to all for your answers.