Covid-19 has caused us to change the way we live our lives. The Government announced a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 'open' to all UK employers to access a Government Grant covering up to 80% of employees wages. On the 20th March 2020 it was announced the cut-off date for access to the scheme was the 19th March 2020 - the date an RTI submission had to be filed with HMRC, this was extended following pressure to amend the cut-off date but to still assist in the prevention of fraudulent claims being made.

Further challenges have been faced by payroll providers both outsourced and in-house following the release of the guidance, specifically relating to annually paid directors and employees. HMRC are allowing a CJRS claim for all annual employees and Directors who have been included on an RTI submission between 06/04/2019 and 19/03/2020. 

Many annually paid employees and directors are run through payroll at the end of March or end of the tax year which falls outside of the scope of the scheme, this needs to change. HMRC and the Chancellor need to review their guidance and extend the scheme to include those who have been annually paid at the end of a tax year in previous years.

We need to promote economic equality and support businesses and livelihoods on the brink of collapse due to COVID-19.

This needs 10,000 signatures for the Government to respond and 100,000 signatures to be considered for parliamentary debate.