HSA & Co Client SupportPayroll RelatedCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeHow to complete the furlough grant claim on HMRC's portal

How to complete the furlough grant claim on HMRC's portal

This guide will take you step-by-step through completing the claim on the HMRC portal.

Before starting, please ensure that you have the following...

  1. You have an HMRC online business account (there is a separate guide here on how to set this up)
  2. You have access to PAYE for employers in your HMRC online business account (there is a separate guide here on how to set this up)
  3. You have the information ready to support your claim, there is an HMRC guide here

1. Log in to your business tax account, there is link copied below

Log in to your business tax account via HMRC Online Services.

You can obtain detailed instructions on how to log in here.

If you are an agent logging in then use these instructions

1.1. Go to "Activate or access online services"

HMRC: Your HMRC services - Google Chrome

1.2. Go to "PAYE for Agents" and select "Access service"

HMRC: Services you can use - Google Chrome

1.3. Search for the required client

HMRC: At a glance - Google Chrome

1.4. Select "Access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme"

HMRC: Your current client - Google Chrome

1.5. Forward to step 5

Business tax summary - Business tax account - GOV.UK - Google Chrome
Check if you can claim for your employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

4. On the next page scroll about 2/3 of the way down and select "Claim now"

Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

5. You will now be taken to the first claim window, read the conditions and select "Accept and continue"

You must read the following before making a claim - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

6. On the screen "Has the employer ‘furloughed’ any employees because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak?" read the text and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Has the employer ‘furloughed’ any employees because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

7. On the screen "Will the full amount from this claim be paid to the furloughed employees?" read the text and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Will the full amount from this claim be paid to the furloughed employees? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

8. On the screen "Does the employer submit a Company Tax Return?" read the text and select "Continue" to continue the claim for a corporate entity

Does the employer submit a Company Tax Return? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

A corporate entity is a limited company, your business name would end with either "Ltd" or "Limited."

If you are not a corporate entity then you should select "No".

9. On the screen "Enter the employer’s Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference" read the text and enter the tax reference number.  Then select "Continue" to continue the claim

Enter the employer’s Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

If you are not a corporate entity you will be asked to enter the personal or partnership Unique Taxpayer Reference.

10. On the screen "What is the name of the employer?" read the text and enter the employer name.  Then select "Continue" to continue the claim

What is the name of the employer? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

11. On the screen "In this section you will need to tell us about the claim period" read the text and select "Continue" to continue the claim

In this section you will need to tell us about the claim period - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

12. On the screen "Tell us about the claim period" enter the required dates and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Tell us about the claim period - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

13. On the screen "Confirm the claim period" check the dates and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Confirm the claim period - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

14. On the screen "How many employees have been furloughed in the period you are claiming for?" enter the number of staff and select "Continue" to continue the claim

How many employees have been furloughed in the period you are claiming for? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

15. On the screen "Confirm the number of furloughed employees" check the number of staff and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Confirm the number of furloughed employees - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

16. On the screen "Enter the total claim amounts" enter the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Enter the total claim amounts - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

17. On the screen "Check the total claim amounts" check the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Check the total claim amounts - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

18. On the screen "Employee details" enter the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

The payroll number of the employee is optional.

Employee details - 1 of 1 employees - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

You will need to enter the above information for each individual employee, in this example there was only one employee.

19. On the screen "Check this employee’s details" check the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Check this employee’s details - 1 of 1 employees - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

20. On the screen "X Employee added" check the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

1 Employee added - Employee details - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

21. On the screen "What type of bank account should we pay the claim into?" read the text and select the type of bank account.  Then select "Continue" to continue the claim

What type of bank account should we pay the claim into? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

22. On the screen "Employer’s bank or building society account details" enter the required information and select "Continue" to continue the claim

Employer’s bank or building society account details - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

23. On the screen "Find the address associated with the employer’s bank account" enter the required information and select "Find address" to continue the claim

There has been some confusion about whether this should be the employer’s address or the address of the bank. HSA & Co understands that the address the employer’s bank statements are sent to should be provided.

Find the address associated with the employer’s bank account - Google Chrome

24. On the screen "Confirm the address associated with the employer’s bank account" check the required information and select "Confirm address" to continue the claim

Confirm the address associated with the employer’s bank account - Google Chrome

25. On the screen "Who should we contact about this claim?" enter the required information and select "Confirm address" to continue the claim

If you are a client completing your own claim you should not enter HSA & Co's details as we will not be able to assist HMRC with any queries.

Who should we contact about this claim? - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome
Relevant note for HSA & Co staff

Please enter your own name and the company phone number.

26. On the screen "Review your answers?" check all of the answers provided

Review your answers - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

27. Save a pdf version of the "Review your answers" page

This is a very important step as HMRC will not provide you with a summary of your entries, this is the only opportunity that you will have to retain a copy of what you submitted.

Relevant note for HSA & Co staff

Save the pdf copy in the clients folder where the rest of the furlough claim documents are retained.  Ensure that you rename the start of the file with "YYMMDD - [file name as created by HMRC]"

28. Read the "Declaration" and select "Confirm and submit" to complete the claim

Review your answers - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome

29. You are taken to a claim submitted screen.  Save a pdf copy of the "Claim submitted" page

This is a very important step as HMRC will not provide you with a receipt, this is the only opportunity that you will have to retain a copy to prove that your submission was made.

Claim submitted - Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - GOV.UK - Google Chrome
Relevant note for HSA & Co staff

Save the pdf copy in the clients folder where the rest of the furlough claim documents are retained.  Ensure that you rename the start of the file with "YYMMDD - [file name as created by HMRC]"

30. The claim is now completed and you can sign out

Relevant note for HSA & Co staff

You can continue with the next clients claim.