Seiss grant eligibility. Can HMRC consider a late tax return 'on time' in some circumstances?

Hydra_2

I'm in a bit of despair this morning. I've been relying on SEISS grants as a lifeline as much of my work isn't due to resume until summer. I thought I was fine for the 4th grant as I filed my tax return back in the autumn in good faith using the online system. I've used the system for several tax returns with no problems. I am positive it was submitted correctly. After finding out details of the new SEISS grant I logged into my HMRC account today to check the final figure on my 2019/20 return and was stunned to find it coming up as unsubmitted. All the relevant info had been filled in and it seems just three check boxes at the end were unfilled. I don't understand it because I know how to complete the process and I was 100% confident I had made the final submission. I really don't know what has happened. I have always found the online system cumbersome and confusing and I have raised a complaint with HMRC. They can see that 99% of the details including all financial details were submitted in the Autumn, it seems something wen wrong in the final submission stage but I have no idea how. Does anyone think I have any chance at all of them considering my return 'on time' as all the relevant info was saved to it back in october last year. I'm probably hoping for the impossible, but I just don't know how this happened.

poppy12345

Hydra_2 said:

 Does anyone think I have any chance at all of them considering my return 'on time' as all the relevant info was saved to it back in october last year. I'm probably hoping for the impossible, but I just don't know how this happened.

I would say it's very unlikely that HMRC will accept this reason. The rules are set by the Government and not by HMRC and therefore can't be changed. There were others that missed the deadline last year and were unable to claim the grant because of this reason.

unholyangel

Did you get a submission reference number? If not, you didn't submit it. 

Hydra_2

I normally save all submissions and reference numbers and can't find them on my system so somehow I must have left it unsubmitted but can't imagine why or how. It was a very stressful time, on top of covid I was caring for a parent with alzheimers. It seems very unfair as it is people under extreme stress who are more likely to make these mistakes. I feel like people in my situation are what the government are relying on in order to open up the scheme to others but in a way they shoot themselves in the foot here as I will now probably have to claim universal credit which actually will be worth more than the SEISS grant would have given me.

poppy12345

Hydra_2 said:

I will now probably have to claim universal credit which actually will be worth more than the SEISS grant would have given me.

Then i don't understand why you didn't claim it during the start of the first lockdown, unless of course you're claiming tax credits and then a claim for UC would end that claim.

HopeAndDriftWood

No, unfortunately there’s a hard line for submission. There were some really horrible stories of people who had submitted but it got lost, or were minutes late, etc... they all went through all the appeal layers but it has to be maintained as a hard boundary. 

I’m really sorry, and I’d probably appeal anyway so I knew that I’d done all I could, but I’d prepare yourself for it being denied. 

poppy12345

SaucySecrets said:

 I’d probably appeal anyway

There's nothing to appeal HMRC are just going by the Governement rules.

Fordlover13

In a very similar situation. Logged and uploaded my tax January 31st. I even paid my tax bill the same day. Logged into self assessment the day after the budget to see that although everything was uploaded and paid, unfortunately the submit button had not been pressed!  

I have spoken to HMRC twice now who seem to think if you paid your tax bill and can prove it (bank statement, self assessment credit) before the deadline you may have a chance.

Did you pay your tax bill before 2nd March even though it wasn’t submitted?

Mrs_Ryan

Nope if it wasn’t submitted there’s no chance and no right of appeal. 

samanthahurst

Exactly the same has happened to me and my friend.  Seems odd. I did exactly what I always do and I have gone to claim and it was not submitted. Very dissapointed.