Claims process opens for Covid Restrictions Support Scheme

A claim can be made through Revenue Online Service (“ROS”) now for a cash payment under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Earlier this week, information published by the Department of Finance tells us that over 9,500 businesses have registered for this targeted support.  A claim can be made for the current period of restrictions up to 1 December 2020.

Claims process

Before making a claim the qualifying business, or their tax agent acting on their behalf, must first register with Revenue via Revenue Online Service (ROS). Certain details will have to be submitted to Revenue when registering.

Once registration is complete a claim can be made via ROS. The first payments under the scheme are expected to made later this week.

Claims period

The scheme is running from 13 October 2020 to 31 March 2021. A claim can be made for the current restriction period up to 1 December 2020. If a business was subject to a restriction in a relevant geographical location at Level 3, the claim period may run from 13 October 2020 to 1 December 2020. The start of the claim period for businesses operating under Level 4 or Level 5 restrictions will be different.

A new claim

If the period of restriction for a geographical region is extended, a new claim is required for each extension period. We understand that for any future periods of restrictions, a qualifying business may make a claim prospectively for the expected period of restriction. The claims can be made for up to blocks of 3 weeks.

One payment will be made in respect of each claim period.

A reminder on the terms and conditions

Under the CRSS, companies, self-employed individuals, and partnerships carrying on a trade or trading activities can apply to Revenue for a cash payment up to a weekly maximum amount of €5,000 in respect of an “advance credit for trading expenses”. 

Certain criteria must be satisfied to qualify for their scheme. The main one being that the business must operate from a premises located in a geographical region subject to restrictions introduced by the Government to deal with the effects of Covid-19. In addition, it is required that as result of such restrictions the turnover of the business will be no more than 25% of an amount equal to the average weekly turnover over an equivalent period in 2019.

The amount of the cash payment, which is in respect of an Advance Credit for Trading Expenses, is linked to a percentage of average weekly turnover in 2019.

More details on the scheme are available on our website.

Learn more

Contact your Grant Thornton adviser to discuss making a claim under the CRSS.

See our earlier article:

Businesses can now register for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme