Applications open for third SEISS grant

The third SEISS grant will be based on 80 per cent of three months' average trading profits, paid out in a single taxable instalment capped at £7,500, and will cover the period from 1 November to 29 January 2021. Self-employed people who are eligible will be able to claim the third grant at any time from 30 November 2020 to 29 January 2021.   

The HMRC has reminded that rules on who is eligible to claim are different to those for the previous SEISS grants, however, a self assessment tax return for the tax year 2018 to 2019 showing self-employed income will still need to have been submitted in order to claim. 

As previously, the third grant will also be subject to income tax and self-employed national insurance and must be reported on 2020 to 2021 self assessment tax returns, due by 31 January 2022.

What customers should do to get ready

• Check whether they are eligible to claim, as the eligibility rules are different to the previous SEISS grants; and
• Be aware that, like SEISS 1 and 2, tax agents cannot claim this grant on behalf of their clients; they must do so themselves. If an agent tries to make a claim on a client’s behalf, it will trigger a fraud alert that will delay the payment. Applying online is quick and easy.

Who is eligible

To make a claim for the third grant, customers must meet a number of conditions, and make an honest assessment about whether they reasonably believe their trading profits will be significantly reduced due to coronavirus. 

To make a claim for the third grant, customers must – as previously: 

• be self-employed or a member of a partnership. They cannot claim the grant if they trade through a limited company or a trust; and
• have traded in both the tax years 2018-19 and 2019-20.

For this third SEISS grant customers must also now: 

• either be currently trading but are impacted by reduced business activity, capacity or demand, or have been previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus;  
• declare that they intend to continue to trade, or restart trading, and that they reasonably believe that the impact on their business will cause a significant reduction in their trading profits; and
• only claim if the reduction in profits is caused by reduced business activity, capacity or demand, or inability to trade due to coronavirus. Reduction in profits due to increased costs (such as having to buy masks) does not make a business eligible for the third SEISS grant.  

When deciding whether the reduction is significant, the HMRC is advising customers to consider their wider business circumstances.  

"We expect claimants to make an honest assessment about whether they reasonably believe their trading profits will be significantly reduced compared to what they would otherwise expect to achieve during this period. HMRC cannot make this decision for them because their individual and wider business circumstances will need to be considered when deciding whether the reduction is significant," the tax authority stressed. 

It reminded that the claimant's business must have been impacted on or after 1 November 2020. 

More information and examples to help you check eligibility to claim are available on GOV.UK.