Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Update
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You can now claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees’ salaries, up to a maximum of £2,500 per employee, per month, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This scheme will be open until the end of June 2020.
Before you make a claim:
- please read all the available guidance on GOV.UK before you apply
- to receive payment by 30 April, you will need to complete an application by 22 April
- you’ll need your Government Gateway (GG) ID and password – if you don’t already have a GG account, you can apply for one online
- for each furloughed employee you will be claiming you need: Name, National Insurance number, Claim period and claim amount, PAYE/employee number (optional).
- if you have fewer than 100 furloughed staff – you will need to input information directly into the system for each employee. If you have 100 or more furloughed staff – you will need to upload a file with information for each employee; HMRC will accept the following file types: .xls .xlsx .csv .ods.
- you can find out more in the calculation guidance where you can access a claim calculator – this will allow you to check your claim for most employees who are paid the same amount each pay period
- please ask your furloughed employees not to contact HMRC directly – they will not be able to provide them with any information on individual claims.
After you’ve made a claim:
- keep a note or a print-out of your claim reference number – you won’t receive a confirmation SMS or email
- retain all records and calculations for your claims
- expect to receive the funds six working days after you apply, provided your claim matches records held for your PAYE scheme
- HMRC will check claims made through the scheme and will act to protect public money against anyone who makes a claim using dishonest or fraudulent information.
- We’d encourage you to also protect your own credentials from potential scammers and opportunist criminal activity.
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Business Rate Grant Scheme - Additional Guidance from Welsh Government for Self Catering
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Members may have read recent news reports regarding concerns raised by some Local Authorities relating to payments of Business Rate Grants for second home owners.
This has resulted in a delay of payments of the Business Rate Grant to self catering businesses in some, but not all, Local Authority areas in Wales. On Friday 20th April, the Welsh Government issued additional eligibility guidance to all Local Authorities in Wales for self catering businesses. The business may be required to evidence:
- produce two years of trading accounts directly preceding the current financial year of the business
- the self catering must have been let for a period of 140 days or more in the financial year 2019-20
- The self-catering accommodation business must be the primary source of income for the owner (minimum threshold is 50%).
Please note that your Local authority has full discretion to request and examine trading business accounts, booking lists and self-assessment tax returns submitted to HMRC for the financial year ending 31 March 2019 if additional evidence is required to demonstrate that this criteria is met.
In cases where local authorities have decided to request additional evidence, and the evidence shows that the scheme criteria are not met, local authorities are required to withhold payment of grant.
It is unclear at this time how long payments to eligible businesses may be delayed and we will keep members updated as soon as this becomes clear.
In the meantime, if your business has been adversely affected, please do contact your Local Councillors and / or AM's to ensure they are aware of any issues around late payment of the Business Rate Grant and its effect on your business.
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Ceredigion Key Worker Arrangements - Exemption Certificate
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Any businesses that are currently accommodating key workers and have not yet been requested by the Authority to remain open are urged to contact the Ceredigion Public Protection Team for further advice immediately.
Ceredigion County Council may request that businesses provide accommodation for key workers and for other specified purposes. If you are asked to provide accommodation you must ensure you receive an exemption certificate from Ceredigion County Council detailing the purpose for, and extent to, which you can remain open.
Businesses in Ceredigion may apply for an exemption certificate by sending an email request to the Public Protection team on
publicprotection@ceredigion.gov.uk
or through the Ceredigion Customer Contact Centre on 01545 570881.
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Key Findings:
The big picture story is a general improvement in national mood and optimism, but with less clarity this week on precisely when consumers intend to start booking, travelling and visiting again. As there is now more discussion in the media around the exit from lockdown, it is becoming clear that many consumers are reticent about committing themselves to business as normal, until a period of time has passed, or for some, until a vaccine becomes available.
- Following the trend observed in France, there is significant improvement in national mood and optimism, evident across all segments – including those who have been financially impacted by the crisis
- The majority, 3 in 5, still believe the worst is yet to come, but this is down from approximately 4 in 5 a week ago
- Confidence in HM Government’s handling of the crisis remains unchanged, with almost two thirds confident, and a little over a third not confident
- A setback for the holiday market after two weeks of positive trending. This week, slightly more consumers go back to saying that they don’t know when they will be planning and booking their next holiday – both for staycations and overseas trips. On average, we are still looking at a 5 – 6 month lead time.
- While taking holidays are high on the list of things consumers want to do when the crisis is over, over 60% say that they would want to wait for a period of a few weeks after the confinement is over before feeling comfortable enough to book. 1 in 5 say that they won’t feel comfortable about booking a holiday until vaccines against the coronavirus are available.
- For hotel stays, flights, train journeys, as well as visitor attractions, the picture is as described above for holidays, with something of a setback in terms of fewer people having a clear view on when they will next be booking / travelling.
- Of those who have made accommodation, flight or holiday bookings, there is a 3rd consecutive increase in the proportion who are planning to proceed as planned, conversely, a further decline in the proportion who plan to postpone their booking to a later stage
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If you haven't already, please make sure you join us on our MWT Cymru Facebook Members Group. There has been a lot of activity over the last few days with members sharing information. This is the fastest way to receive updates as they happen.
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