Business Briefing #16 

Covered in this briefing:

1. Chancellor eases burden on more than a million businesses through Pay as You Grow flexible repayment options
2. Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
3. Government boost to rapid workplace testing
4. Haulier advice site locations
5. Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Job Retention Scheme
6. Ask HMRC not to publish your Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claim details
7. NHS Test and Trace in the workplace
8. Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
9. Making your Self Assessment payments including Class 2 National Insurance
10. Repayment holiday for Bounce Back Loan
11. Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions

1. Chancellor eases burden on more than a million businesses through Pay as You Grow flexible repayment options

Businesses that took out government-backed Bounce Back Loans to get through Covid-19 will now have greater flexibility to repay their loans, the government announced today.

2. Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Find out how to pay VAT payments deferred between 20 March and 30 June 2020. You can pay now or get ready to join the VAT deferral new payment scheme.

Information added about how to join the VAT deferral new payment scheme – the online service is open between 23 February and 21 June 2021.

3. Government boost to rapid workplace testing

New government drive to increase workplace testing in sectors open during lockdown, to detect coronavirus (COVID-19) in people who are not showing symptoms.

For businesses with over 50 employees that choose to take part in the Workplace Testing scheme, DHSC will provide the following:

1. Lateral Flow Test kits

2. Guidance on how to set up your own testing site (including staffing, process and safety)

3. Online training for testing site staff to enable them to use the test accurately and safely

4. The web systems to securely manage the processing of the resulting data

5. Necessary paperwork to become a testing facility and the data and reporting requirements

Apply here: https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests

If you have any further questions, please contact Employee.Testing@beis.gov.uk

4. Haulier advice site locations

Find sites where HGV and coach drivers can get free COVID-19 tests and check their documents to transport goods to the EU.
Hauliers now need a negative COVID-19 test result before travelling to Germany, as well as France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

5. Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Job Retention Scheme

Find out what steps you need to take before you calculate how much you can claim for furloughed and flexibly furloughed employees.

The section ‘What to include when calculating wages’ has been updated to give more information about non-monetary benefits and employer pension contributions under salary sacrifice schemes.

6. Ask HMRC not to publish your Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claim details

Find out what to do if you are an employer and publishing your claim details could leave individuals at risk of violence or intimidation.

7. NHS Test and Trace in the workplace

Guidance on what to do if you or someone you employ is contacted by NHS Test and Trace, including self-isolation and financial support. There is an updated section on when to contact your local health protection team.

8. Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Find out how apprenticeships will continue during the coronavirus (COVD-19) outbreak. There is a new version of ‘Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ with updated information on face-to-face training and when to consider a break in an apprenticeship.

9. Making your Self Assessment payments including Class 2 National Insurance

Check how to pay your Self Assessment payments including your Class 2 National Insurance contributions. Information about payment of Class 2 National insurance contributions through a Time to Pay arrangement has been added and the Pay in instalments section has been updated.

10. Repayment holiday for Bounce Back Loan

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) enables smaller businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak. A repayment holiday of up to 6 months is now possible once at any point during the term of a Bounce Back Loan.

11. Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions

There have been a number of updates to jobs that qualify for exemptions from self-isolation, passenger locator form or COVID testing requirements.