Government starts Covid amnesty over taxpayer backed support

People urged to return funds if they weren't eligible for help

People who received taxpayer backed financial support via Coronavirus schemes are being urged to check they were actually eligible for it.

Government says it will undertake a formal review of all claims following a 20-day amnesty period.

After 4 August any individuals or businesses that are found to have fraudulently claimed financial support may be subject to possible sanctions.

The schemes that will be reviewed are:

• Business Premises Support Scheme
• Circuit Break Lockdown Schemes
• Coronavirus Business Support Scheme – All variations
• Coronavirus Recovery Scheme
• December Disruption Scheme
• Hospitality Transition Support Scheme
• Salary Support Scheme
• Strategic Capacity Scheme
• Winter Disruption Scheme

The amnesty period will begin on Wednesday (6 July).

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson said: "The government understands and is sympathetic to the fact that throughout the Coronavirus pandemic many individuals and businesses experienced financial challenges and were reliant on claiming support measures designed to relieve pressures during a time where working practices, and indeed our daily lives, were disrupted.

"With the most severe period of the pandemic now behind us we have the opportunity for reflection and the offering of this amnesty period has been designed to provide those who claimed support through any of the financial support schemes which they now feel they were not entitled to receive at the time, the opportunity to come forward and return funds."

Government says repayment terms will be affordable and can be staggered across a period of time.

Anyone who believes they received a payment in error should contact the Coronavirus Review Team on 01624 685748 or by emailing csr@gov.im.