The UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
This page provides guidance for members on the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
This page provides guidance for members on the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) which was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Friday 20 March 2020. The content herein has been derived entirely from HMRC’s guidance and communications directly to Chartered Accountants Ireland on the CJRS.
A similar page providing guidance on the Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which began making payments at the end of May 2020, is also available.
The Institute will continue to engage with HMRC on our members behalf in respect of COVID-19 supports and will share the most up to date information as it becomes available.
We therefore recommend that you bookmark this page and also regularly check the latest updates section of our COVID-19 hub.
This page was last updated on Monday, 28 September 2020.
The CJRS - recent developments
Important updates and developments in the CJRS are as follows:-
- the CJRS is planned to run for eight months until 31 October 2020;
- from 1 July, new flexibility was introduced, meaning furloughed workers are able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay some of the cost of their furloughed staff from 1 August 2020;
- the CJRS guidance has been updated multiple times and includes a step-by-step guide for employers. See below for other useful links;
- a calculator is available to help employers work out the relevant percentage of employees' wages to claim (this is only relevant up to 31 August 2020);
- claims for periods up to 30 June 2020 must be made by 31 July 2020; and
- after the scheme ends, employers may be able to claim the jobs retention bonus where certain conditions are met.
The CJRS and agents
HMRC have provided detailed guidance in respect of agents seeking to making CJRS applications on behalf of employers. Read how to check if you are authorised to complete a CJRS application for a client and also how an agent who is not currently authorised online can become authorised to do so.
The W5 of the CJRS
For the who, what, where, when and why of the scheme, download our updated factsheet now.
The CJRS - tax treatment of amounts received
Payments received by a business under the CJRS should be included as a source of taxable income in the financial statements of the relevant business subject to either Income Tax or Corporation Tax, in accordance with normal principles.
The CJRS - dealing with HMRC
The contact details for the CJRS are available on GOV.UK. HMRC advice is to only use these contact channels if you cannot get the help you need online. HMRC are also providing online webinars which you can book onto to hear the latest updates on the scheme.
HMRC expect applications to be processed and claims made within six working days. You are therefore advised not to contact HMRC unless it has been more than 10 working days since the claim was made and you have not received it in that time.
The CJRS - useful links
Make sure to bookmark the relevant CJRS pages on GOV.UK on your web browser to ensure you’re getting the most up to date information.
Links to the most up to date guidance and related sources of information are provided below:-
Members are also advised to regularly check the availability and any issues affecting the online CJRS portal. If you have a specific query or issue in respect of the CJRS or any other COVID-19 support which HMRC are administering, please check if your query is covered anywhere on GOV.UK or in our hub before contacting UK Taxation Specialist Leontia Doran.
Webinar
Hosted by the Ulster Society in partnership with A&L Goodbody, this webinar on April 23 examines many of the key questions which employers have about the Job Retention Scheme with some expert guidance and a chance to ask questions.