SEISS review rejected - 21 days late submitting 18/19 returns - what now?

nathonjones

Contacted HMRC today to get an update on my review.  They said that a letter had gone out but that they couldn't tell me outcome via the web chat "...in case I get it wrong...".
Within minutes I receive an e-mail from my accountant, who had submitted the review on my behalf (I had hoped that would hold more authority), with an attachment which was the letter they'd just received from HMRC explaining that my review had been rejected.
These are the facts here...
1)  I did not know what the criteria for SEISS was.  I had no idea that it would hinge on the 2018/2019 tax return having been submitted.
2)  When the criteria was clear, I did not know that there was going be an extension to the deadline for submitting 2018/2019 tax returns - my return was late (due Jan 31st), and I was working as hard as I could, in the circumstances, to get that done.
3)  I completed my book-keeping for the 2018/2019 period and submitted that to my accountant on 11th May.  The accountant worked hard and got that submitted to HMRC on 14th May.
I don't qualify for any other support for the government because I share an office and am not the rate payer.  My wife is a key worker so I don't qualify for Universal Credit.  We have two primary school age children who I've had to spent time looking after whilst my wife works.
….I'm 21 days late getting the return in and I'm told that's it?  No help.  Nothing.
What now?
I would appreciate any advice and guidance you could offer as I'm on my knees here after 15+ years self-employment.
Thank you.
NJ

SpiderLegs

After 15 years self employment one would be expected to know when tax deadlines were.

Your appeal was rejected, as one would expect. So there is nothing more that can be done.

poppy12345

Unfortunately, there's nothing else you can claim.

LilElvis

Apply for whichever loans and grants you might be eligible for. Also look at any benefit entitlement and holidays from mortgage/ loans/ credit cards. There really isn't any excuse for failing to file your tax return - especially when they extended the deadline and gave you over a year - and that has come back to bite you.

Grumpy_chap

You may be eligible for BBLS.

nathonjones

SpiderLegs said:

After 15 years self employment one would be expected to know when tax deadlines were.

I know when tax deadlines are, I was simply late in submitting my return.  Thank you for your sympathy though.  It is very much appreciated.

poppy12345

I don't know how you can expect to claim the SEISS grant when you didn't submit your tax return on time.

nathonjones

LilElvis said:

There really isn't any excuse for failing to file your tax return - especially when they extended the deadline and gave you over a year - and that has come back to bite you.

Except I didn't know they'd extended the deadline - I was not contacted - nor did I understand what support was going to even be offered to self employed people.  Meanwhile accountants were closing, our offices were closed....
It feels like HMRC in here.

nathonjones

Grumpy_chap said:

You may be eligible for BBLS.

What is BBLS?

calcotti

nathonjones said:

Grumpy_chap said:

You may be eligible for BBLS.

What is BBLS?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan

gt94sss2

nathonjones said:

LilElvis said:

There really isn't any excuse for failing to file your tax return - especially when they extended the deadline and gave you over a year - and that has come back to bite you.

Except I didn't know they'd extended the deadline - I was not contacted - nor did I understand what support was going to even be offered to self employed people.  Meanwhile accountants were closing, our offices were closed....

To be fair to the Government, they did announce the support scheme on national TV and it (and the extended filing deadline)did get plenty of subsequent media coverage.

They didn’t have to extend the filing date from 31 Jan at all - they did so, so more self employed people would qualify.

BBLS =  Bounce Back Loan Scheme