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Covid-19: Government unveils winter economy plan

Newsletter issue - October 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled the Government's winter economy plan, providing an update on current coronavirus support measures for individuals and businesses, and announcing the launch of a new Job Support Scheme.

Key points of the statement include:

• the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will end as planned on 31 October 2020;
• a new Job Support Scheme will provide funding for employers who are able to retain employees but on shorter hours. The scheme will initially run for six months from November;
• the temporary reduced (5%) rate of VAT for the hospitality sector will be extended until 31 March 2021;
• taxpayers will be given more flexibility over payment of VAT and personal tax bills. Deferred VAT may be spread over 11 installments, whilst taxpayers with up to £30,000 of self-assessment liabilities due will be able to use HMRC’s self-service Time to Pay facility to secure a plan to pay over an additional 12 months. This means that self-assessment liabilities due in July 2020 will not need to be paid in full until January 2022.; and
• the repayment terms of bounce back loans and other coronavirus support loans are to be extended to help businesses with cashflow. In particular, a new Pay As You Grow scheme will allow businesses with bounce back loans to extend the term of the loan from six to 10 years.

With regard to the news that taxpayers can pay deferred VAT and self-assessment liabilities in instalments, it should be noted that unlike with the original deferments, instalment plans are not automatic and must be applied for. For VAT, the Government has confirmed that an 'opt-in' process will be in place by early 2021. For self-assessment, taxpayers can either use HMRC's self-service time-to-pay facility or contact HMRC's Time to Pay Self-Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3822.

Further details can be found in the Winter Economy Plan. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/winter-economy-plan/winter-economy-plan

The Chancellor's speech can be found at Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak on the Winter Economy Plan. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-of-the-exchequer-rishi-sunak-on-the-winter-economy-plan