Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using CT600 returns to allow for the provision of payments under the Self Employment income Support Scheme to company directors paying themselves via dividends.

HMRC’s view is that information provided in the CT600 Company Tax Return cannot be used as a basis to provide support for directors paying themselves in dividends. The CT600 shows the company's profits. It does not provide information on dividends received by the company’s directors.

The Government has worked with stakeholders and carefully considered the case for providing a new system for those who pay themselves through dividends. However, targeting additional support for those who pay their wages via dividends is much more complex than existing income support schemes.

Those ineligible for the SEISS may still be eligible for other elements of the package of financial support available. More information is available at https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.