HM Treasury reported businesses have so far repaid £1.3 billion in furlough cash since July 2020, claimed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which has been passed to HMRC.
Businesses have repaid £300 million in the last three months where amounts for furlough have been overclaimed or no longer required due to changes in circumstances.
With the CJRS coming to an end on 30h September, businesses still have time to adjust any returns where any overpayments have been received. The submission deadline for claims relating to this month must be made by 14 October 2021.
However, if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent the claim being submitted by this date HMRC will accept a late request based on the latest date of:
- 90 days from receiving the CJRS money they’re not entitled to
- 90 days from the point circumstances changed so that they were no longer entitled to keep the CJRS grant.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, commented:
"This Government stepped in to help when people needed it most, supporting nearly 12 million jobs through furlough. This worked, nearly 2 million fewer people are now expected to be out of work in the UK than previously feared.
Now with our recovery underway it is heartening to see that £1.3 billion in furlough grants have been returned as the economy recovers.
HMRC is also cracking down on those who have fraudulently claimed furlough through its 1,250-strong Taxpayer Protection Taskforce.
With businesses reopening and employment rising to near pre-pandemic levels thanks to the successful rollout of the vaccination programme and the Government’s roadmap out of the pandemic, the number of people on furlough has fallen to a record low of 1.6 million. Around 340,000 people left the scheme in July, with more than a third aged between 18 and 34 – a clear sign the government’s Plan for Jobs is working.
The government is doubling down on its Plan for Jobs as the UK economy rebounds - focusing our support on giving people the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow through schemes including Kickstart, Restart and apprenticeships."
