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CoronavirusLatest NewsFurlough

Firms that may have made furlough claim mistakes contacted by HMRC

by Ashleigh Webber 20 Aug 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 20 Aug 2020 The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was launched by Rishi Sunak earlier this year
Andy Buchanan/PA Wire/PA Images
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was launched by Rishi Sunak earlier this year
Andy Buchanan/PA Wire/PA Images

HM Revenue & Customs has begun writing to employers it believes may have claimed too much money through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme based on the information it holds about them.

It is writing to around 3,000 “selected” organisations per week from 20 August to ask them to check their claims are accurate and to give them the opportunity to correct any mistakes that have been made. For example, some organisations claims are “significantly” different to the PAYE information they provided to HMRC for recent months.

It expects to contact 27,000 organisations in total, which is roughly 2% of those that have made claims under the scheme.

Furlough

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First furlough fraud arrests are made

The next ethical dilemma: do we pay back furlough?

Two-thirds continued to work while on furlough

The letter reads: “We are supporting our customers while tackling serious fraud and criminal attacks. We understand mistakes happen, particularly in these challenging times, and will not seek out innocent errors and small mistakes for compliance action.”

HMRC said it would impose penalties on any organisation or individual that deliberately sets out to defraud the system.

Last month the first arrests in connection with alleged furlough fraud were made. A 57-year-old West Midlands man was arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected £495,000 CJRS fraud, while eight other men were also arrested in a linked investigation.

The government has received thousands of reports about fraudulent use of the scheme, while whistleblowing organisations said thousands of employees had contacted them after being asked to break the rules.

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Employers can correct any mistake made without fear of a penalty if they notify HMRC and repay the money on time. The deadline to notify it is the latest of the following:

  •  90 days of receiving the CJRS money they’re not entitled to
  • 90 days of when circumstances changed so that they were no longer entitled to keep the CJRS grant
  • 20 October 2020 if they received CJRS money they’re not entitled to, or if their circumstances changed, on or before 22 July.

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Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a former editor of OHW+ and former HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support.

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