Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Self-employment support scheme for farmers welcomed | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Self-employment support scheme for farmers welcomed

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed confirmation that farmers can apply for the UK Government’s Self-employment Income Support Scheme which provides support following the negative impacts of COVID-19.

Minister Poots has urged eligible farmers to avail of the funding, which will go some way towards easing the financial difficulties they face.

 

 

Those farmers eligible will receive a taxable grant worth up to 80% of their average trading profit in previous years.

HMRC will pay this, capped at £2,500 a month, for a period of three months and this will be paid in one instalment.

 

 

The Minister told Newry Times, “Farmers are facing severe financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19.

“I am pleased that farmers can avail of the Government’s scheme whereby self-employed businesses can apply for taxable grant up to 80% of their trading profits for three months.

“It will provide some help at this difficult time for farmers and their families but I recognise that it’s not enough.

“I will continue to press the Government and EU for a support package for farmers in Northern Ireland.

 

 

“We all now recognise the invaluable contribution the farming sector is making, not only in our fight against COVID-19, but also to our daily, normal lives, where fresh, high-quality, local produce is always available on the shelves and on our tables. For that, I want to thank-you.”

The Minister further added, “In the current difficult climate I would also strongly advise any farmer who wishes to seek advice on business, technical or environmental aspects of their farm to contact their local CAFRE Adviser. The contact details are 0300 200 7843.”

In order to be eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, farmers must:

be self-employed

have business profits under £50,000

have submitted a self-assessment tax return for the tax year 2018 to 2019

have traded in the tax year 2019 to 2020

be trading when applying, or would be except for coronavirus

intend to continue to trade in the tax year 2020 to 2021

have lost trading profits due to coronavirus

HMRC will aim to contact those farmers eligible for the scheme by mid-May 2020 and invite them to claim using the GOV.UK online service.

 

 

If unable to claim online an alternative way to claim will be available.

HMRC will pay the grant directly into the farmer’s bank account.

More details are available from – https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-claim-grant-through-self-employment-income-support-scheme

 

 

Keep up to date with all the latest Northern Ireland Coronavirus / Covid-19 news HERE

 

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Posted by on Apr 28 2020. Filed under Coronavirus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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