Updated 27 March 2020

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented health, social and economic environment worldwide. We know this is a time of great upheaval and worry for many businesses, so we have compiled a summary of the financial measures in place today to alleviate some of the financial burden for businesses.

This situation is ever evolving and we expect new measures to be announced in the days and weeks ahead. The information below is a broad summary of the measures. We will update this page if more measures are introduced.

Employer Wage Subsidy

The Employer Wage Subsidy will be of critical importance to a lot of employers. In simple terms, the Scheme is:

• A wage subsidy to fund part of the employees net pay
• Available to all commercial businesses impacted by COVID-19
• Paid for 3 months from 26 March
• A maximum payment of EUR410 or EUR350 per week for each qualifying employee
• Not available for employees earning more than EUR76,000 pa
• The Government will pay the subsidy to employers.

Our briefing note has the detail. (COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme)

Taxation Measures

The Revenue have announced a number of measures to assist business and taxpayers.

• Revenue are prioritising all tax refunds
• Revenue have stated that late payments of January/February and March/April VAT and February, March and April PAYE by SMEs will not be subject to interest or penalties but are asking that taxpayers continue to file their tax returns as normal.
• Revenue have stopped any enforcement of debt in progress following an audit/disclosure
• Local property tax due in March is deferred until 21 May
• Surcharge for late filing of Corporation Tax returns for accounting periods ending June 2019 onwards (i.e. due by March 23 onwards) is suspended until further notice
• For tax residence, if an individual is unexpectedly in Ireland due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they may be considered not to be in Ireland for tax residence purposes on those days

Revenue are seeking input and suggestions from key stakeholders on what they can do to assist taxpayers at this time and therefore, we expect more from Revenue.
The following link contains all press releases from Revenue detailing the above measures:
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/press-releases/index.aspx?year=2020

Loans to businesses

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation website details loans and grants available to businesses to assist with short-term cash flow problems related to the COVID-19 crisis. The website also outlines practical steps that businesses should be taking. The link to the website is:
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/Government-supports-to-COVID-19-impacted-businesses.html

As cash flow and levels of capital available are major concerns for many businesses, a number of loan schemes have been put in place.

Four main Government supports have been announced:

1. Credit Guarantee Scheme

A credit guarantee scheme for SME’s via the main Irish banks for loans up to EUR1m to be made available to businesses, repayable over a 7 year term. https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/Access-to-Finance/SME-Credit-Guarantee-Scheme/

2. COVID-19 Business loans Microfinance Ireland

Micro-enterprise loans of up to EUR50,000 will be made available from Microfinance Ireland for small SMEs/family businesses with loan terms typically up to 3 years. The loans may include an option for a freeze on both interest and capital repayments for the first six months. The loan would then be repaid over the remaining 30 months of the 36-month period.   https://microfinanceireland.ie/

3. SBCI Working Capital Loan Scheme

Strategic Banking Corporation Ireland has announced that eligible businesses can borrow up to EUR1.5m with EUR500,000 unsecured and at a maximum interest rate of 4%. Applicants must first apply for an eligibility letter from the SBCI before making a loan application to the relevant bank.  Here is a link to the details issued so far: https://sbci.gov.ie/schemes/covid-19-loan-application/

4. Enterprise Ireland initiatives

Enterprise Ireland has announced a support package up to EUR200m in small grants for Enterprise Ireland clients. https://enterprise-ireland.com/en/about-us/services/covid-19/

Employee Measures

In order to support employers, employees and the self-employed the Government has announced a National COVID-19 Income Support Scheme.

The key points of the scheme are:

• Workers who have lost their jobs due to the crisis will receive an enhanced emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of EUR350 per week (an increase from EUR203). More detail can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/
• The COVID-19 illness payment will also be increased to EUR350 per week https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/
• The self-employed will be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of EUR350 directly from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (rather than the Revenue scheme). More detail can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/
• Employees of businesses that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short-time Work Support. More detail can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c20e1b-short-time-work-support/

We are here to help

We understand this will be a difficult time for businesses, and we are here to help. If you wish to discuss any of the measures outlined above or how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting your business, please contact your Twomey Moran adviser. Click here for our contact details.