Guidance

Claim money back through the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Find out how to claim the reimbursement for discounts given to diners with the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

This guidance was withdrawn on

The Eat Out to Help Out service closed on 30 September 2020. You can contact HMRC if you want to talk about your claim.

Who can claim

If you have registered your establishment for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme and offered scheme discounts to diners on Mondays to Wednesdays between 3 and 31 August, you can:

  • claim back the discount given on food and non-alcoholic drinks

  • submit weekly claims for August until 30 September

You must make the claim yourself, you cannot ask an agent to do it for you.

You must enter accurate details for all the establishments you’re claiming for before submitting your claim. If you need to amend information later your payment may be delayed.

When you can claim

You can make a claim after 7 days from the date of your registration. You can only claim for scheme discounts you offered on or after the date you registered. 

What you’ll need

You’ll need the records you’ve kept for each day you’ve used the scheme, including the:

  • total number of diners (covers) who have used the scheme, including children

  • total amount of discount you’ve given

  • period you’re claiming for

If you’re making a claim for more than one establishment, you will need to have the:

  • records for each establishment

  • overall total value of the claim for all establishments ready before you claim

How to claim

This service is now closed.

You can make up to 5 claims before 30 September. You cannot claim after that.

When you sign into the service you must choose the periods that you are claiming for, from:

  • 3 to 5 August
  • 10 to 12 August
  • 17 to 19 August
  • 24 to 26 August
  • 31 August

You’ll also need to enter the total number of covers and claim value for each establishment that has offered the scheme discount.

You can read examples on how to work out the total amount of discounts.

Records you must keep

To show the link between the number of diners who got the discount and the total value of scheme discount being claimed for in each claim period, for each day, all you must keep is a record of the:

  • total number of diners (covers) who have used the scheme discount in your establishment

  • total value of all eat in food and non-alcoholic drink sold where the scheme discounts were given

  • total value of scheme discounts you’ve given and claimed for

If you are using the scheme for more than one establishment, you must keep these records for each.

HMRC may ask for your records relating to the scheme. You should keep records:

  • in a format that suits your business

  • with your other business records

What happens next

Once you’ve claimed, you’ll get a claim reference number. We will then check your claim is correct and pay the claim amount by BACs into the bank account you gave when you registered, within 5 working days.

Paying tax

You’ll still need to pay VAT based on the full amount of your customer’s bill before the scheme discount is applied. This amount needs to be reflected in the correct VAT return for the period the transaction took place.

If your point of sale system does not allow you to account for VAT accurately under this scheme, you can manually adjust your VAT account after the sale.

If you cannot include the adjustment in the period the transaction took place, you should estimate the VAT and you must account for any difference in your next VAT return.

You must include the payments you receive as income when you calculate your taxable profits for Income Tax and Corporation Tax purposes.

If you need to make a correction

If you need to correct any information given during registration or in a claim you’ve made, you’ll need to contact HMRC.

Other help you can get

HMRC have published guidance with more information on eligibility and how to offer the discount.

You can watch a YouTube video about how to participate in the scheme, keep records, and make a claim.

NHS have introduced the test and trace service to help track the spread of coronavirus.

Find coronavirus financial support for your business.

Contact HMRC

You can contact HMRC about the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, if you cannot get the help you need online.

Published 27 July 2020
Last updated 1 September 2020 + show all updates
  1. The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme closed on 31 August 2020. Page updated with removal of registration links.

  2. Added translation

  3. The claims service for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme is now live.

  4. First published.