Okay. I've made my claim and so has Mrs. AuRav.
Hers is obvious - as a self employed person she does part time cleaning for half a dozen elderly and vulnerable people (all cancelled at the mo') and she does my books and tax returns and on rare jobs will help me out doing inside trad. or on an annual office internal clean (which is cancelled at the mo') I still pay her to do my books etc. but she is down by about 65% of her income. She is eligible and has claimed.
Me - I'm eligible and have claimed.
Here's my reasoning.
When lockdown happened on the 23rd/24th I stopped for the rest of March, sorted out what I could or could not do and set up for cleaning socially distantly when the whole country was going through the can I or can't I stage?
This meant March's figures were A) 25% down on what was scheduled and B) 15% on March last year.
During this time three larger of my commercials and several smaller ones approached me and cancelled for the duration of lockdown as they were shutting shop or going to skeleton staff. This represents about 20-25% of my turnover and has continued for April and May and I think will also continue on in at least June.
April - I sent out letters and texts to customers the week before I was due and while most asked me to continue some cancelled and I was down by about 35% on last year (including commercials).
May - The domestics have virtually bounced back and I think I will be down by around 25%
June - I suspect I will be running at about 70/80% of turnover based on last year.
Other factors - I had a handful which I could not do due to parking and the equipment I carried at the time of my arrival. They have been skipped until next time and may get skipped a gain - who knows?
Cashflow. As the commercials are about 30/45 days behind payable on invoice this has remained good but now the commercial income will stop and will continue stopped for a similar period if and when I start again.
So ... I shall keep records of the above (emails cancelling) and have "George" data as support and the lack of invoices is also testament by their absence . Then if I am asked to give a brief synopsis as to (for example) why my figures at the end of 20/21 do not seem too far from what 2019/20 was then I have supporting evidence.
Always keep supporting evidence when dealing with HMRC is the best motto IME and if it's prepared now I won't be scrabbling around in the future. Then if in the unlikely event an issue is made I can support my claim.
Finally (at last you verbose git) I shall pay my tax bill in July, continue paying my already set up monthly tax contribution and keep my claim money "ring fenced" to one side.
