Welcome to the February 2022 Newsletter from Certax Accounting

HMRC has waived late filing and late payment penalties for self assessment taxpayers for a month in order to give individuals affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) extra time to complete their tax return.

Meanwhile, companies have been warned that they must declare any COVID-19 support grants or payments on their company tax returns.

HMRC gives self assessment taxpayers more time to ease COVID-19 pressures

HMRC has waived late filing and late payment penalties for self assessment taxpayers for one month.

The measure will give those taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 extra time, if they need it, to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay any tax due.

HMRC is still encouraging taxpayers to file and pay on time if they can. The tax authority also revealed of the 12.2 million taxpayers who need to submit their tax return by 31 January 2022, almost 6.5 million have already done so.

The deadline to file and pay remains 31 January 2022. The penalty waivers will mean that:

• anyone who cannot file their return by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February; and

• anyone who cannot pay their self assessment tax by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late payment penalty if they pay their tax in full, or set up a Time to Pay arrangement, by 1 April.

However, interest will be payable from 1 February.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC's Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: 'We know the pressures individuals and businesses are again facing this year, due to the impacts of COVID-19. Our decision to waive penalties for one month for self assessment taxpayers will give them extra time to meet their obligations without worrying about receiving a penalty.'

COVID-19 support grants must be included on company tax returns

HMRC has warned that businesses must declare any COVID-19 support grants or payments on their company tax returns and stated that the grants and payments are taxable.

The deadline for filing company tax returns is 12 months after the end of the accounting period it covers.

The deadline for taxpayers or agents filing company tax returns (CT600) is 12 months after the end of the accounting period it covers. The deadline to pay corporation tax will depend on any taxable profits and when the end of the accounting period occurs.

Taxable grants include:

• test and trace or self-isolation payments in England, Scotland and Wales

• Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate

• Coronavirus Business Support Grants (also known as local authority grants or business rate grants).

If a company received a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) grant or an Eat Out to Help Out payment, they will need to do both of the following on their CT600 tax return:

• include it as income when calculating their taxable profits in line with the relevant accounting standards

• report it separately on their company tax return using the CJRS and Eat Out to Help Out boxes.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said: 'We want to make sure companies are getting their tax returns right, first time, including any COVID-19 support payment declarations. Support and guidance is available on GOV.UK.'