Businesses encouraged to apply for enhanced restart payment under CRSS on reopening
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, this week encouraged businesses to apply for enhanced restart payment under CRSS on reopening.
The maximum amount that may be claimed for each week has been increased from €5,000 to €10,000 and the total maximum payment is €30,000.
Following the announcement by the Government last week that indoor hospitality could reopen from Monday (July 26), the Minister Donohoe reminded businesses who now allowed to reopen that they can make a claim for an enhanced restart Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) payment.
Under the scheme, businesses may claim for the restart payment within eight weeks of the date of re-opening. Claims can be made via the claim portal in respect of CRSS, which is available via the eRepayments system on ROS. Revenue has updated their guidelines to assist businesses and these can be found at this link https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/budget-information/2021/crss-guidelines.pdf.
The enhanced restart payments are provided for in the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provision) Act, which was signed into law on 19 July. Businesses who qualified for CRSS that are reopening after 2nd June are eligible for an enhanced ‘restart week’ payment, which will cover a period of three weeks at double the normal rate. This will assist them with the additional costs of reopening.
Minister Donohoe said ‘The CRSS has proved to be a significant support for businesses that were affected by public health regulations, which meant that they had to restrict access to their premises. The Act gives enhanced support to these businesses on reopening and I would encourage them to apply for the triple week payment at double the normal rate.”
As of July 15, there were 22,800 businesses with 26,800 premises registered for CRSS with Revenue (this includes those at applicant stage). Of these, 12,300 have claimed ‘restart’ weeks and are now trading without the support of CRSS.
The Minister added, “It is great to see the number of businesses that were supported throughout the period of restricted access now reopening and no longer needing access to CRSS for support. A total of €655 million has been paid to businesses under the CRSS since its introduction in the Budget last year. The weekly amount being paid is now reducing significantly as businesses reopen’.
“The Government and I have always committed that there would be no cliff edge to supports. Businesses that are no longer eligible for CRSS because they have reopened have the withdrawal of this support eased by the enhanced payments on reopening. I see this as part of the gradual unwinding of business supports, which will progressively return our public finances to a sustainable position while supporting the economic recovery.”
Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS)
The Act also provides for the BRSS which will be implemented in September 2021. This scheme is being introduced for vulnerable but viable businesses, particularly in sectors that were significantly impacted throughout the pandemic, even during periods when restrictions were eased. Businesses whose turnover is reduced by 75% in the reference period, 1st September 2020 to 31st August 2021, compared with 2019 will be eligible.
The scheme will not be restricted by location, rate-paying or physical premises. Businesses that previously availed of other schemes such as the small business assistance scheme for Covid and the tourism business continuity scheme, for example, as well as the CRSS, will be eligible to apply for a once-off payment based on a percentage of their average weekly turnover for 2019, subject to a maximum payment of €15,000, provided they meet the qualifying criteria. Charities and approved sports bodies may also be eligible.
Additional details are available at https://www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/brss/index.aspx .
***Revised guidelines on the CRSS are available at https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/budget-information/2021/crss-guidelines.pdf .
