SEISS - Average earnings & grant calculation - Appeal Success?

mcooke999

I'm just wondering if anyone has heard back from HMRC who have appealed against their SEISS grant calculation due to them not agreeing with how the calculation has been made (i.e.: one very low year bringing down average earnings or only set up part way through 16/17 or 17/18?).

poppy12345

I've not seen any posts regarding this. I highly doubt the rules will be changed now, if they were going to be then it would have been anounced by now.

tommyt-saver

No response to the appeal my friend made. That 2% SE income for 16/17 has cost her 4K on the first grant. 

Pauli2

I am working on these forms. There is no appeal as far as I know. No amendments to 18/19 tax returns allowed. If you're not eligible then it's a straight letter stating why you're not allowed. There are thousands and thousands of forms to work through and respond, no phone calls just letters.

Jeremy535897

Pauli2 said:

I am working on these forms. There is no appeal as far as I know. No amendments to 18/19 tax returns allowed. If you're not eligible then it's a straight letter stating why you're not allowed. There are thousands and thousands of forms to work through and respond, no phone calls just letters.

The only cases that will be allowed will be cases where there has been an administrative glitch (for example the case where the claimant apparently had 2 UTRs and HMRC were only looking at the wrong one).

bobbooo

mcooke999 said:

I'm just wondering if anyone has heard back from HMRC who have appealed against their SEISS grant calculation due to them not agreeing with how the calculation has been made (i.e.: one very low year bringing down average earnings or only set up part way through 16/17 or 17/18?).

You can track your appeal online. Log in to self-assessment on gov.uk then click on 'Track your forms' at the top of the page. Mine says the estimated completion date is the 3rd of June, although the current status is still only 'Received on 13 May 2020' (the next steps being 'Work started' then 'Being processed'), so I'm doubtful it will be completed by the estimated date.

acooley

I got my letter today (which said they tried to call but no record of a missed call) and had an unsuccessful phone call trying to argue my case. I was late submitting my 2018/19 tax return. Crazy. How are they related? I qualify on every level. OK, maybe fine me for being late like HMRC do normally... but to stop any claim all together? I will now miss out on potentially thousands on that technicality. 

[Deleted User]

acooley said:

I got my letter today (which said they tried to call but no record of a missed call) and had an unsuccessful phone call trying to argue my case. I was late submitting my 2018/19 tax return. Crazy. How are they related? I qualify on every level. OK, maybe fine me for being late like HMRC do normally... but to stop any claim all together? I will now miss out on potentially thousands on that technicality. 

The original deadline for filing your 18/19 tax return was 31/01/2020, that was extended to 23/04/2020 for the purpose of claiming SEISS (although you would still be fined for late filing). So you had from 06/04/2019 to 23/04/2020 to file a tax return, more than a year, you had over a month to file after they announced the deadline for extended filing, yet you still did not file it. 
If you can't be bothered to file your tax return on time (or even three months late) and pay your tax as we all are required to do, then why should other taxpayers be required to use the tax they pay to bail you out?
It is hardly a "technicality", but something you are required to do by law and had over a year to do, yet still chose not to. It is a requirement of the scheme, a requirement you had a month to do once it was announced, yet you still chose not to. If you are looking for someone to blame, then it is you for not completing your tax return, not the scheme, for having rules. 

123thfc123

MadMattUK said:

acooley said:

I got my letter today (which said they tried to call but no record of a missed call) and had an unsuccessful phone call trying to argue my case. I was late submitting my 2018/19 tax return. Crazy. How are they related? I qualify on every level. OK, maybe fine me for being late like HMRC do normally... but to stop any claim all together? I will now miss out on potentially thousands on that technicality. 

The original deadline for filing your 18/19 tax return was 31/01/2020, that was extended to 23/04/2020 for the purpose of claiming SEISS (although you would still be fined for late filing). So you had from 06/04/2019 to 23/04/2020 to file a tax return, more than a year, you had over a month to file after they announced the deadline for extended filing, yet you still did not file it. 
If you can't be bothered to file your tax return on time (or even three months late) and pay your tax as we all are required to do, then why should other taxpayers be required to use the tax they pay to bail you out?
It is hardly a "technicality", but something you are required to do by law and had over a year to do, yet still chose not to. It is a requirement of the scheme, a requirement you had a month to do once it was announced, yet you still chose not to. If you are looking for someone to blame, then it is you for not completing your tax return, not the scheme, for having rules. 

Whilst I never wrote the first message, I am in exactly the same situation and I find your response absoutely appaling as you do not know what anyone circumstance is as to why a return wasnt submitted on time. Without going into a lot of detail, I was late with the original return, which I have been in a few years when I was self employed, which I paid a penalty for. The chancellor gave an extension so that people like myself could have a chance to submit it. However due to my family situation, being a carer for my mum and her in the vunerable group and shielding and following government official advice, I could not leave my mums house in order to go the office to pick up filing information for my accountant to submit, which is why I missed the second deadline. My return was sent for 18/19 and 19/20 as soon as possibly could, which was at the start of May as my brother was let go from work and he could now care for our mum. The rules are black and white and I missed the deadline, however the lockdown rules from the government I followed - and I would add I wouldnt change what I did, I am not prepared to risk my mums life for to get a return in on time. I have appealed the decision and will wait on a decision being made. 

[Deleted User]

@123thfc123
Whilst I feel your personal circumstances make things more difficult, I do get annoyed with people complaining about not being able to file their tax return on time. In normal times people are given nine and a half months to do so and many (hundreds of thousands) choose not to. Where as it makes sense to file the tax return as early as possible. If you have been late in previous years as well that does not indicate a one off exceptional circumstance, but a persistent pattern of behaviour. People should take responsibility for their actions, not claim that the rules are unfair as the original poster was doing. 

life_love_anna

I appealed my SEISS grant when I applied on 13/05 - I was told that I'd hear back by the end of the month regarding the outcome but as yet I've not heard anything. I appealed on the basis that I was on maternity leave during 16/17, therefore, bringing my earnings down.