I can't claim Employment Allowance - the EPS does not contain the option

Hi there, Juliet9.

I'll help you in claiming your Employee Allowance.

I've checked our records here and found out that a closed investigation about this issue. Our software engineers recommend turning off the Employee Allowance option in QuickBooks then send EPS to refresh the connection. I'll show you how.

Turning off Employment Allowance:

1. Click the Company Cog.
2. Select Employer Settings under Settings.
3. On the Employer Details tab, uncheck the Employment Allowance Enabled option.
4. Click Save, then select X at the top right corner to exit and return to your company.

Then, you can refer to this article in submitting the EPS to HMRC. Once done, we'll have to turn Employee Allowance option back on, then resend EPS. Before doing this, I recommend reaching out to HMRC first to check if the EPS sent after turning EA back on will have retroactive effects on their liabilities.

Thou, I'd also encourage getting in touch with our technical supports. This way, we'll be able pull up your account and guide in doing this process. Before doing so, please check out our support hours to ensure that we address your concerns on time. 

Here's how to connect with us:

1. Click the Help icon.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Enter "Unable to claim Employment Allowance" in the description, then click Let's talk.
4. Choose Start a chat.

I recommend reading this article to know more about how Employment Allowance works in QuickBooks.
 

If I can be of any additional assistance, please don't hesitate to drop a comment on this thread. I'll be right here to keep helping.

Hello, thank you.  I'm uncertain about your reply:

1) What will HMRC make of a blank EPS submission?  I can't phone them at the moment because they are impossible to get hold of at the best of times and now during lockdown is not the best of times.  I would be worried about doing this.

2) What do you mean sending EPS after turning back on having a retroactive effect on their liabilities?

I am thinking of using HMRC's PAYE online tools to send the EPS as it will be simpler. 

Thank you,

Julie

Hello there, Juliet9,

Since you've mentioned about using HMRC's PAYE online tools, you don't have to follow the troubleshooting above.

However, to claim the employment allowance, I recommend contacting our QuickBooks support. We'll be able to help you out.

1. Click the Help icon.
2. Select Contact us.
3. Enter claim employment allowance, then click Let's talk.
4. Select from Start messaging or Get a callback.

Note that our support hours are open from 6 AM-6 PM PT Monday-Friday. We have limited staff due to COVID-19.

Let me know if you need anything else.

The problem with this community is that no one ever gives a straight answer because they don't understand themselves.

Apparently when one sends an EPS to HMRC, even though the actual report that you can see on your screen DOES NOT indicate that you are claiming Employment Allowance, QB have "helpfully" hidden this fact in the code that is sent to HMRC. The only way you know that you have claimed it is to login to your HMRC account and see that you no longer owe them £4000 of Class 1 employer NIC's. You'll have to wait a few days though because HMRC apparently don't actually use Real Time computers but have to wait for Bob in IT to turn the handle

Yes I checked the manual report for EPS and there is no mention of claiming Employers Allowance - helpful NOT

And I concur about the speed of the HMRC IT system. If you submit between the 20th and the end of the month you can't see the results until the 12th of the next month either - unbelievable!!

I love the versatility of quickbooks but the HELP section is almost worse than not having a HELP section, especially the search engine. Anyway, swings and roundabouts I suppose... 

so this is what ghosting feels like