The online Claim Service for claims under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be launched on GOV.UK on 20 April 2020.
Whilst we aren’t currently able to access it or see what it looks, BHP are in the meantime working hard with HMRC and the professional bodies to ensure that the claims process is as straightforward and easy as possible.
What we know at the moment:
- the only way to make a claim is online – the service should be simple to use and any support you need available on GOV.UK; this will include help with calculating the amount you can claim
- you can make the claim yourself even if you usually use BHP as your payroll agents
- where we have been registered to act for you (and have also been authorised by you as your representative to deal with PAYE and/or CIS matters with HMRC on your behalf through the completion of an HMRC 64-8 form) we understand we will be able to make the claim for you if you instruct us to do so.
- due the way the scheme has currently been established by the Government, we understand that we may not be able to submit your claim for you where we act as your “Filing Only Agent” or “RTI Agent” and you will need to register and make the claim yourself (see below). We can of course advise on how to do this and assist you by collating the relevant information for you to file. If you are unclear as to the capacity in which we act for you (authorised representative or Filing Only Agent) please contact us and we can advise.
- claims will be paid within 6 working days; HMRC have noted that you should not contact them unless it is absolutely necessary – any queries should be directed to your agent, representative or the HMRC webchat service
Information you will need before you make a claim
You will need to have the following before 20 April 2020:
- a Government Gateway (GG) ID and password – if you don’t already have a GG account, you can apply for one online, by going to GOV.UK and searching for ‘HMRC services: sign in or register’
- be enrolled for PAYE online – if you aren’t registered yet, you can do so now, by going to GOV.UK and searching for ‘PAYE Online for employers’
- the following information for each furloughed employee you will be claiming for:
- Name.
- National Insurance number.
- Claim period and claim amount.
- PAYE/employee number (optional).
- if you have fewer than 100 furloughed staff – you will need to input information directly into the system for each employee
- if you have 100 or more furloughed staff – you will need to upload a file with information for each employee; HMRC will accept the following file types: .xls .xlsx .csv .ods.
- which UK bank account you want the grant to be paid into, in order to ensure funds are paid as quickly as possible to you.
As noted above representatives authorised by you to act for you on PAYE matters can make the claim on your behalf using their ID and password (but note that in some instances BHP will not be registered to act for you and will only be registered as Filing Only (or RTI) Agent on your behalf for PAYE purposes. Typically, we act as RTI agent for our payroll bureau services clients.
Monday will be a critical day for understanding the system and to establish whether you will be carrying out the grant claim for your furloughed employees or if you would like BHP to assist you with this claim. In order for us to plan our resources in order to provide you with the level of service we would wish to provide, it would be helpful if you could let us know if you expect to require our assistance. Terms of engagement will be sent on request.
If you have any queries on this, or consider you are likely to require our assistance, please respond to furloughclaim@bhp.co.uk
