small business support grant - which tax year?

hedgerowhippy

I recieved the small business support grant in early April this year. 
It will help see me through 2020 but it arrived *just* in 19/20 tax year so it looks like I'll have to pay tax on it. 
Is there any way to move it into tax year 20/21 as thats the year my income is likely to be reduced?
It arrived in my bank account on Sat 4th April. 
Thanks

Jeremy535897

From an accountancy point of view, the grant would normally be accounted for in the accounting year it is spent. See:
https://stilwellgray.co.uk/news/coronavirus-business-support-schemes-how-to-account-for-grant-income/

"Accounting for grant income

How grant income is accounted for depends on what it is used for:
If the expenditure is usually accounted for in the P&L, then the grant income should be reflected there too. If you’ve yet to spend the grant it will be recorded on the balance sheet as deferred and moved to the P&L when the grant is spent.
If the grant is used to purchase equipment or other fixed assets then the grant income would be recorded on the balance sheet as deferred and released to the P&L over time to match depreciation of the item purchased."

Draft legislation (paragraph 1 of the schedule) concerning coronavirus support payments says:

"(2) So much of the coronavirus support payment as is referable to the business is a receipt of a revenue nature for income tax or corporation tax purposes and is to be brought into account in calculating the profits of that business—

 (a) under the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Acts, or

 (b) under the applicable provisions of the Corporation Tax Acts."

A special provision treats SEISS grants as taxable in 2020/21, but business support grants are not singled out for special treatment, although they are taxable as income as per the text in bold above.

You should talk to your accountant before making a final decision.