HMRC has confirmed that online system to for business to reclaim wages under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is due to be launched on 20 April 2020.
Employers will be able to log on and make a claim for their furloughed employees. Employers can claim for 80% of their, up to a maximum cap of £2,500 per month.
Businesses, and agents that are authorised to act on behalf of clients for PAYE matters, will be able to claim. However, file only agents, including payroll bureaus, will not be able access the service due to data protection issues.
Although file only agents will not be able to access the system, they are being asked to help their clients as they are likely to have the information they need in order to make their claims.
For each furloughed employee, employers will need to know their:
- National Insurance number
- Salary
- National Insurance and pension contribution information
This information will allow employers to calculate the amount they can claim from the scheme.
The system will be designed to be self-service however, HMRC provides guidance on how to use the system.
There is likely to be huge demand on the system in the first few days of launch so employers should be patient, however, it is expected that the first payments to employers will be made by 30 April.
If you intend to furlough your employees, you must seek their consent and confirm to them in writing that they have been furloughed. A record of this must then be kept for five years.