Government issues new Treasury Direction in relation to the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Direction made further to the Chancellor's announcement that the CJRS is extended to the end of March 2021

The government has issued a new Treasury Direction in relation to the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Further to the Chancellor's announcement on 5 November 2020 that the CJRS is extended to the end of March 2021, the new Treasury Direction is made under section 71 and section 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020, and -

• sets out the scheme applying for the period beginning on 1 November 2020 and ending on 31 January 2021;
• sets out that HMRC are responsible for the payment and management of amounts to be paid under the extended scheme; and
• withdraws the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Bonus, because its purpose has been superseded by the CJRS's extension.

NB - the new Direction states that -

'The scheme applying after 31 January 2021 will be set out in a further direction made by the Treasury in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020.'

For more information, see Treasury Direction made under Sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 from gov.uk