HMRC refusing to pay furlough

Jeremy535897

MicheleS01 said:

Ok I now have the full picture.  The PAYE coding didn't arrive until 24th March and the payroll was submitted on 25th March.  However HMRC say that the coding was send on 2nd March - but it definitely wasn't received until 24th.  The business went into lockdown on 18th March and although the post may have got there on 19th March the owner didn't go back to the business premises until 24th March.  Are there any grounds for appeal at all?

I have just heard from a webinar that some people have managed to persuade HMRC to be flexible, despite the rules being clear. The fact that HMRC sent out the notification on 2 March is evidence that the company had employees requiring a payroll before the cut off date of 19 March. I am not sure just how much discretion they have, and the fact that the company has no track record of paying anyone may be against it, but all that you can do is make sure you have marshalled all the facts and try again. I don't want to get your hopes up though. The chances are low to nil of success.