'Covid repayment window' scheme

[Tables Force]

Those who still owe Covid scheme money to the public purse have been given a time-limited opportunity to pay it back before tougher sanctions apply.

• New voluntary repayment scheme gives individuals and businesses until December 2025 to return pandemic scheme money, no questions asked.
• Use it or lose it opportunity comes ahead of tougher sanctions to follow for those who don’t come forward.
• Move comes as government continues to do everything in its power to recoup money lost to Covid fraud.

A voluntary repayment scheme, launched today (12 September), will provide Covid scheme recipients with a ‘no questions asked’ window to repay outstanding money they were not entitled to or did not need.

The move comes as the government continues to do everything in its power to recoup money lost to Covid fraud.

Individuals who don’t take this last chance to come forward and repay any outstanding money could face prosecution when the government receives additional investigatory powers next year.

A Covid fraud reporting website is also being launched to allow members of the public to report suspected fraud.

Changes to how director disqualification works could also see more people stopped from being involved in businesses, or facing compensation orders.

Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe said:

Our message to those who still owe Covid era money is simple – pay now, clear your conscience, or face the consequences.

This money belongs in communities, the NHS, police and armed forces. Those who don’t take up this straightforward offer and have knowingly, wrongly claimed tax-payer-funded help could face prosecution, disqualification, or prison.

The digital trail is forever, so the time to settle is now - before new investigatory powers and tougher rules come into force.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Covid scheme money

What is this defined as?

 

[Ozzy]

I understand it is a broad definition; any financial support provided that was government-backed during the pandemic.... and not used for its intended purpose.

 

[Tables Force]

What is this defined as?

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
• Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
• Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (email [email protected])
• Cultural Recovery Fund (email [email protected]
• Business support grants (email [email protected])
• Grants from the Department for Health & Social Care (email [email protected])
• COVID-19 Business Loan Guarantee Schemes, e.g. Bounce Back Loan (contact your lender directly)

If you don’t know your scheme, or for any other COVID-19 financial support scheme, email the Voluntary Repayment Scheme ([email protected])

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Some of these loans e.g. BBL, have a 6-10 year payback timescale, so why would the government be chasing people or offering a time limited deal?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Some of these loans e.g. BBL, have a 6-10 year payback timescale, so why would the government be chasing people or offering a time limited deal?

It's an amnesty for fraudulent (or marginal) applications

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Ahhh!

That isn't too clear to me (but I am starting to fog over in my old age!).

 

[Lisa Thomas]

It's an amnesty for fraudulent (or marginal) applications

It doesn't make that very clear from the link provided by OP...I didn't see anything referring to such an amnesty. Maybe I missed it.

 

[Mark T Jones]

It doesn't make that very clear from the link provided by OP...I didn't see anything referring to such an amnesty. Maybe I missed it.

I was paraphrasing

The point being 'no questions asked', followed by direct reference to fraud

 

[Lisa Thomas]

I was paraphrasing

The point being 'no questions asked', followed by direct reference to fraud

Hi Mark

I was referring more to what OP implied, but I can't see anything mentioned on the HMRC page.