5th SEISS turnover - was employed and let out a property

jo4444

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows the answer to my question...

I am self employed, working in two businesses. I also took an employed job last year (which has ended now) and I let out my house (so I receive rent)

My question is whether I need to include my employed income and/or rental income for 2020/21 for the SEISS turnover test?

I called HMRC and the person in the call centre answered yes to every question, but answered in a way that I think he just wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible! I also used the HMRC webchat to ask the same question and was told that I would need to ask my accountant instead (I don't have one).

I'm not sure how I find out this information.

If anyone knows I would be really grateful. Many thanks, Jo

Jeremy535897

No you don't.

jo4444

Oh thanks, so I don't need to include either as part of the turnover calculation

poppy12345

jo4444 said:

Oh thanks, so I don't need to include either as part of the turnover calculation

No you don't, as previously advised. Criteria for SEISS is here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Jeremy535897

I must express some concern. You must file tax returns or you would not be claiming SEISS. You say you have no accountant, and you have quite a complex tax situation (two businesses, rental income and employment income). You then raise a question that is, in accounting and tax terms, the equivalent of a football player asking where the stumps are. How do you prepare the figures for your businesses to put on forms SA103, which asks for turnover, if you don't know that turnover is the sales from them?

Grumpy_chap

I read the OP that the employed job and the letting income are new income streams which the OP only has because of COVID (to supplement reduced self-employed income) and previous years, all income was self-employed income.
I may be wrong, but that would possibly explain how come the OP has a complex situation but not an Accountant.
Either way, the OP would be strongly advised to engage an Accountant - it will be a significant benefit and the costs to engage the Accountant should be seen as an investment and not a cost.

Jeremy535897

Grumpy_chap said:

I read the OP that the employed job and the letting income are new turnover which the OP only has because of COVID (to supplement reduced self-employed income) and previous years, all income was self-employed income.
I may be wrong, but that would possibly explain how come the OP has a complex situation but not an Accountant.
Either way, the OP would be strongly advised to engage an Accountant - it will be a significant benefit and the costs to engage the Accountant should be seen as an investment and not a cost.

Please don't call "employed job" and "letting income" turnover. They are not, and cannot be, turnover, which is sales of a business, or the speed with which its staff change.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks Jeremy. That was my careless and entirely incorrect selection of words.  I have amended the post and hope I didn't add any confusion for the OP.  Your diligence is invaluable.

jo4444

Hi all, thanks for all your posts, it really helpful!

Yes, just to give a bit more detail. I've been self-employed working in two businesses and have rented out my house for some time - almost ten years - since moving in with my partner. I worked in an employed job for a few months last year due to reduced income. That was my first employment since 2013. 
I submit tax returns every year and this is has been fine. I just keep the figures simple and my partner has helped in the past.
I've completed my tax return for 2020/21 (not submitted yet) so that I could work out the turnover figures for 5th SEISS but was concerned that I may have missed some important detail about declaring other income (obviously that isn't turnover though). Possibly I am having doubts because my turnover is very very low for 20/21.

Thanks for all your help, Jo