HMRC starts chasing up SEISS overpayments

22 Apr 2022

HMRC has started to recover overpayments of Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grants.

From April, HMRC is writing to taxpayers whose entitlement to the fourth or the fifth SEISS grant has reduced by more than £100 to ask them to repay amounts that were overpaid.

A taxpayer's grant is calculated by using the information from their amended tax return. HMRC's letters include a date by which the taxpayer must make the repayment. If the payment is over 30 days late, a late payment penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax will be applied.

Taxpayers who need to repay grants can make use of HMRC online tools to help them calculate what they owe. Individuals who receive a letter from HMRC are required to use the payment reference beginning with X when making their repayment.

Taxpayers who are not able to pay in full may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC, which allows them to spread payments.

More information on making a repayment can be found here.