SEISS ineligibility on a technicality - what am I able to claim instead?

jasonrileylondon

Hi, I'm self-employed but I've been told I'm ineligible for a grant by the SEISS team at HMRC (even though I'm 'technically' eligible, my tax returns were submitted as PAYE, not self-employed, and I've missed the April cut-off date to get my returns corrected - this is what the SEISS review team have told me when they looked for a second time at my review request) so I am missing out on the grant that I should have been receiving this month. I have been unable to find freelance work since March. Am I able to claim for any other government financial help?

Also, will MSE be lobbying the govt to review the current SEISS system above, which means that technicalities like the one I've mentioned in my case above (which the SEISS team told me has happened to other people, so I am not alone is being short-changed due to a slight error on my tax returns) so that people who have slipped through the cracks like me can be helped out?

Icequeen1

If you have made mistakes on your tax returns, you may not have paid the correct NI. Who filled in the tax returns? Did you register yourself as self-employed? Are you sure you are self-employed? 
If you are are on a low income now, i'd suggest you contact the charity TaxAid who can at least help you get your tax position sorted out with respect to any amendments that are needed. 
It isn't really HMRC's fault if it is based on an error that you or someone made on your behalf. 

Jeremy535897

The cut off date to amend returns (as opposed to filing late returns) was actually 26 March. I assume you are someone who is regarded as self employed, but have PAYE deducted? This is a difficult situation, not least because no guidance is given on how to record self employed income from which PAYE has been deducted (the only way I can see to do it is to use the full self employment form SA103F, include the gross income in box 15 or 16 as appropriate and record the tax deducted in box 82).

Icequeen1

Jeremy535897 said:

The cut off date to amend returns (as opposed to filing late returns) was actually 26 March. I assume you are someone who is regarded as self employed, but have PAYE deducted? This is a difficult situation, not least because no guidance is given on how to record self employed income from which PAYE has been deducted (the only way I can see to do it is to use the full self employment form SA103F, include the gross income in box 15 or 16 as appropriate and record the tax deducted in box 82).

If they are a CIS contractor there is some guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/what-you-must-do-as-a-cis-subcontractor/pay-tax-and-claim-back-deductions

Jeremy535897

Icequeen1 said:

Jeremy535897 said:

The cut off date to amend returns (as opposed to filing late returns) was actually 26 March. I assume you are someone who is regarded as self employed, but have PAYE deducted? This is a difficult situation, not least because no guidance is given on how to record self employed income from which PAYE has been deducted (the only way I can see to do it is to use the full self employment form SA103F, include the gross income in box 15 or 16 as appropriate and record the tax deducted in box 82).

If they are a CIS contractor there is some guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/what-you-must-do-as-a-cis-subcontractor/pay-tax-and-claim-back-deductions

CIS subcontractors normally know to file as self employed, and the SA103S has a box for CIS tax deducted. I'd be surprised if this was the issue, but it could be. I don't think it helps though. If it's been filed as employment income, that's how it is for SEISS.