HMRC has opened its claims period for the newly-extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) as officials “grapple with its regulatory control” to prevent erroneous and fraudulent claims.

An update from ASE Global laid out the key documents and portals that should be reviewed by car retailers now looking to return staff to furlough in light of showroom closures brought about by the implementation of ‘Lockdown 2’ COVID-19 mitigation measures in England.

Unlike the previous CJRS where the number was restricted for claims made after 30 June 2020, there is no maximum number of employees you can claim for from November 1, it revealed.

Employees made redundant on or after September 23 can also be re-employed and put straight onto the new furlough scheme.

And as 90.6% of respondents to AM’s recent ‘Lockdown 2’ survey revealed that they would be making use of the scheme – now extended to March 31 –  ASE tax manager, Martin Redfern, said: “This is a full suite of updates and guidelines containing many examples and explanations of a very complicated arrangement.

“Whilst it is undoubtedly considerable in size and detail, the information is no less new to you than to HMRC officials who are trying to grapple with its implementation and its regulatory control in order to prevent erroneous and even fraudulent claims.

“It is therefore no surprise to hear and read about employers being reminded about the need to validate claims and to ensure that where errors are made adjustments are quickly reversed.”

Although ASE said that documents newly-published by HMRC this week did not contain any “news”, it said that Government was now reviewing whether employers should be eligible to claim for employees serving contractual or statutory notice periods.

Further guidance on this is expected to be published in late November.

• Car retailers from across the UK responded to Government’s new ‘Lockdown 2’ in England as part of an AM survey on the subject, conducted online between November 5 and November 10.

A full breakdown of the findings, which include retailers hopes for 2020 profitability and their take on the support offered by both Government and their OEM franchise partners – will be published in the December edition of AM magazine, which is out next week.