HM Revenue & Customs begins checks on Eat Out to Help Out claims

19/11/2020

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that checks will be made on claims from the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Approximately 4,000 businesses suspected of making an incorrect claim will be contacted asking them to check their claims are correct.

Businesses that receive a letter from HMRC have 60 days from the date of the letter to respond. Those that do not respond by the deadline risk a formal compliance check, which could lead to having to pay statutory interest and penalties.

HMRC has stated that claims may be incorrect “because you may have:

• claimed for more EOTHO payments than you were entitled to – this is based on the information we hold about your business, the amounts claimed and the data we hold about the payments you have received by credit and debit card

• one or more EOTHO claims do not appear to be consistent with other EOTHO claims you have made

• not met the conditions to claim or receive EOTHO payments”

If you receive a letter from HMRC with the subject “Eat Out to Help Out (EOTHO) Scheme – action needed”, then please contact us, for advice.