Vale & West Chartered Accountants Blog

Category Archives:Covid-19 – Grants

New guidance for partnerships claiming fifth SEISS grant

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has clarified its guidance for members of partnerships claiming the fifth Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant.

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Government launches £750 million Live Events Reinsurance Scheme in wake of coronavirus pandemic

A Government-backed insurance scheme will support the events and hospitality sector recover in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been revealed.

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Federation of Small Businesses calls for more help for SMEs as financial support winds down

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) calls on the Government to offer more economic support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as coronavirus-related limits continue and fewer financial packages are being handed out.  Read More

Third round of Culture Recovery Fund announced in wake of coronavirus pandemic

More than 5,000 organisations have now benefitted from the Culture Recovery Fund, new figures have revealed.

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Businesses can still access the Recovery Loan Scheme

Businesses affected by Coronavirus can still access the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) launched in April, despite the closure of applications for other Government loan schemes, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

The RLS opened for application on 6 April 2021, following the closure of several other Government loan schemes on 31 March 2021.

Finance worth up to £10 million, backed by a Government guarantee is available in the form of:

  • Term loans
  • Overdrafts
  • Invoice finance
  • Asset finance

Personal guarantees are not required for loans of less than £250,000 but can be for loans above this level at the lender’s discretion, although not over Principal Private Residences.

Crucially, businesses that have already accessed CBILS, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) or the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) can still access the RLS, although amounts borrowed under previous schemes could affect the amount they can borrow under the new scheme.

The RLS will close on 31 December 2021.

New figures highlight success of coronavirus support schemes

Some 2.8 million people took advantage of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) in the last year, the latest figures have revealed.

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Coronavirus Restart Grant

Businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care and accommodation sectors can now access one-off cash grants of up to £18,000 from their local council.

The Restart Grant scheme opened nationally on 1 April 2021 and is now being rolled out by local authorities across England.

Eligible businesses will be paid:

  • a one-off grant of up to £6,000 in the non-essential retail sector
  • a one-off grant of up to £18,000 in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors.

Your business may be eligible if you are:

  • Based in England
  • Pay business rates
  • In the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym sectors
  • Trading on 1 April 2021 (this includes businesses currently closed due to restrictions).

However, you may not be eligible if your business:

  • Is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register; or
  • Has exceeded the permitted subsidy allowance

It is down to each local councils’ discretion, as to whether a business meets the eligibility criteria for this grant scheme.

To apply you will need to find your relevant local authority by clicking here.

If you need assistance with claiming this grant or you are unsure of your eligibility, please speak to our team. 

Small businesses handed £7.8 billion through local authority grant schemes, figures reveal

More than £7.8 billion in grant funding has been delivered to small businesses through local authority grant schemes, it has been revealed. Read More

VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme goes live

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that its online VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme is now open for applications to help businesses arrange smaller monthly repayments of deferred VAT.

Under the New Payment Scheme, you can repay VAT deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020 in up to 11 instalments from March 2021 (the length of repayment and number of instalments will depend on when you join).

To use the online service, you must:

  • Join the scheme yourself – agents cannot directly assist you;
  • Have deferred VAT to pay;
  • Be up to date with VAT return filings for the last four years;
  • Correct any errors on VAT returns, as soon as possible;
  • Make sure you know how much VAT you owe;
  • Pay the first instalment when you join; and
  • Pay instalments by Direct Debit (there are alternative payment methods of payment on request).

If you intend to use this scheme, you will need to opt-in online between 23 February and 21 June 2021.

Click here to join the scheme today

Businesses can also repay their deferred VAT in full by 31 March 2021 or agree extra help to pay with HMRC by calling 0800 024 1222 by 30 June 2021.

Businesses may be charged interest or a penalty if they do not pay the deferred VAT in full by 31 March, opt-in to the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme or seek additional help to repay deferred VAT by the deadlines outlined above.

If a business decides to use the New Payment Scheme it will not affect its ability to request a Time to Pay arrangement from HMRC in future.

Although agents, such as accountants, can’t join the scheme on your behalf, our team can help you get your VAT affairs in order and figure out how much VAT you may owe. To find out more, please contact us. 

One in five small businesses not entitled to financial support, FSB reveals

As many as one in five small businesses and sole traders are not entitled to financial support under the Government’s coronavirus support package, it has been revealed. Read More

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