Government issues new Treasury Direction in relation to the fifth payment under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Direction confirms that claims for SEISS 5 must be made on or before 30 September 2021

The government has issued a new Treasury Direction in relation to the fifth payment under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Following the government's confirmation of a fifth SEISS grant in Budget 2021, a new Treasury Direction has been made under section 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 that clarifies that SEISS 5 modifies and extends the effect of the SEISS (as modified and extended by the SEISS Extension, the SEISS 3, and the SEISS 4) and accordingly the SEISS provisions that will apply.

In addition, the Schedule to the Direction advises that -

• a claim for SEISS 5 must be made on or before 30 September 2021;
• applicants must make a 'Financial Impact Declaration' that determines whether they are eligible for either a higher or lower grant amount based on how much their turnover has reduced in 2020/2021; and
• the higher grant amount will be the lower of £7,500 or 80 per cent of average trading profits over a three month period, and the lower amount will be £2,850 or 30 per cent of average trading profits over a three month period

NB - in an update to SEISS guidance also published today, HMRC advises that the online service to claim the fifth grant will be available from late July 2021 and individuals eligible to apply, based on their tax returns, will be contacted from mid-July either by email, letter or through the online service.

The Further Treasury Direction made under Sections 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 is available from gov.uk

Update (28 July 2021): the government has issued a SEISS 5 Modification Direction that amends the Financial Impact Declaration test in relation to a person who carries on a trade in partnership in the tax year 2019/2020 or in the pandemic period, and also carries on another trade in partnership or alone in either of those periods.