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New time limits for furlough claims

The Government has changed the deadlines for employers lodging furlough claims with HMRC. Claims from 1 November 2020 must be submitted by 11.59pm 14 calendar days after the month you are claiming for.

Claim for furlough days in	Claim must be submitted by
November 2020	14 December 2020
December 2020	14 January 2021
January 2021	15 February 2021
February 2021	15 March 2021
March 2021	14 April 2021

If you miss a deadline, HMRC may accept your claim if you have a 'reasonable excuse' for failing to make a claim in time. You must ensure that you make a claim without delay after the reasonable excuse no longer applies. The Government has listed the following examples which may amount to a reasonable excuse:

• your partner or another close relative died shortly before the claim deadline
• you had an unexpected stay in hospital that prevented you from dealing with your claim
• you had a serious or life-threatening illness, including Coronavirus related illnesses, which prevented you from making your claim (and no one else could claim for you)
• a period of self-isolation prevented you from making your claim (and no one else could make the claim for you)
• your computer or software failed just before or while you were preparing your online claim
• service issues with HMRC online services prevented you from making your claim
• a fire, flood or theft prevented you them from making your claim
• postal delays that you could not have predicted prevented you from making your claim
• delays related to a disability you have prevented you from making your claim
• a HMRC error prevented you from making your claim

For more information contact Emma Swan in our Employment & HR department via email or phone on 0333 207 1154. Alternatively send any question through to Forbes Solicitors via our online Contact Form.