Hello everyone and welcome to Monday…
I have to
say, it’s pretty Autumnal here in Edinburgh today!
First of all
– an apology. Some of you received an email I sent out directly after the
Chancellor announced the Job Support Scheme (JSS), some of you didn’t.
Hopefully you
all have it now and we’re back on track with our software!
Okay,
apologies dealt with. Here’s today’s update.
I thought I’d
just give you a couple of updates clarifying what we know so far about the JSS
and other funds that are being put in place.
I would just
like to say one thing before I start – I know this is a tough time; in my mind
I thought it would be all over by now and we would be getting back to some kind
of normal. That’s not the case and as you no doubt know we have more restrictions…
I want you to
know that if you need anything from any of us at TaxAssist please just
ask. We’ll do whatever we can to help and if we can’t help directly we
will do our very best to find someone who can help.
Okay – enough
said on that subject.
Job
Support Scheme
There have
been a couple of changes to the JSS – specifically as it relates to businesses
that have been forced to close because of new restrictions…. But because these
changes don’t kick in until 1st November and (hopefully) our restrictions
will be over by then I’ll update you later about these changes.
If you are
affected by the Scottish restrictions put in place from last Friday it’s still
the Job Retention Scheme until 31st October 2020 that you can claim
for… and we will already be working with you on this scheme.
Other
Support in Scotland
The Scottish
Government has put in place further funding for businesses affected by the
temporary restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Specifically
the COVID-19 Restrictions Fund will provide one off grants of up to £3,000
depending on the rateable value of premises to bars, restaurants and other
businesses required to close.
There’s a
second fund that will pay grants of up to £1,500 to support some
businesses that remain open but are impacted by the restrictions.
In addition
there’s funding available to help with the costs of re-furloughing staff.
Specifically this funding is targeted at helping businesses pay the additional
20% salary contribution required by the UK Government.
Finally
there’s a ‘discretionary’ fund (which I think means grants have to applied for
and someone will make a decision whether to provide support or not) to help
businesses which don’t fall into the support provided listed above.
The example
given is soft play centres.
As usual
there isn’t an awful lot of detail about how the money is going to be provided.
The gov.scot
website says that local authorities will administer the funds and (this is what
it actually says on the website): ‘Payment mechanisms for additional support
on top of grants to support the top up costs of furlough currently met by
business are being identified.’
I had to read
it a couple of times too.
However, my
plan is this. I will keep reading the government information and will
update you with details as and when they are announced so we can help you claim
the funds you are entitled to claim for.
That’s it for
today.
I really do
hope that this is the last challenge we have to face and we can meet up again
soon.
All the best
Richard
Writing on
behalf of Rowena!
