Deadline nearing for new entrants to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
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HMRC is reminding employers who intend to furlough an employee for the first time, that they must have done so by the middle of next week.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be closed to new entrants from June 30.
An HMRC spokesman said: "The final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be this Wednesday (June 10) in order for the minimum three-week furlough period to be completed by June 30.
"Employers will have until July 31 to make any claims in respect of the period to June 30."
The furlough scheme was set up in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis to protect 80 per cent of staff wages via UK government funding.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak recently announced an extension to the furlough scheme to October 31, but as things stand employers must have employees registered by June 10 if they are to receive furlough pay.
Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry has written to the Chancellor to ask for the deadline to be extended, highlighting that businesses will need flexible support over the coming months.
He said: “While the introduction of the flexible furlough from July 1 will help some businesses starting recovery, the fact that new employees would need to be registered by June 10 makes this unworkable.
“The deadline for registering new employees also needs to be extended; if not we will see yet another group of people shut out of support because of arbitrary red tape.
“The Chancellor needs to ensure the furlough scheme works for businesses, and I’ve urged him to review this deadline and his plans for a blanket approach to employer contributions.”
More details on the scheme and how to apply is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
