06 Sep Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) open for registration – DILLON

Business Resumption Support Scheme (or BRSS) is now open for registration on Revenue Online Service’ (ROS) according to Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon.

Deputy Dillon said “The BRSS is a new support scheme for businesses with reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions. Qualifying businesses will be able to apply to Revenue for a cash payment, representing an advance credit for trading expenses that are deductible for income and/or corporation tax purposes.  Payments will be calculated on the basis of 3 weeks at 10% of the first €1m in turnover per week and 5% thereafter, based on average VAT exclusive turnover for 2019, and will be subject to a maximum payment of €15,000.   Businesses will be required to have tax clearance and payment will be conditional on the business actively trading on 1 September with an intention to continue to trade.

The BRSS is a general scheme and is open to any businesses whose turnover remains impacted as a result of public health restrictions.   Businesses who previously availed of other schemes such and SBASC and the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme for example as well as CRSS will be eligible to apply provided they meet the qualifying criteria.

However, businesses eligible for the CRSS on 1 September 2021 will be paid the CRSS and will not be eligible for the BRSS. They may also be eligible for “restart weeks” under the CRSS.

The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., said  “As I announced earlier this summer, the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) 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.  

The BRSS is a general scheme providing a once-off cash payment, and businesses that has previously received other supports such as SBASC or CRSS can still apply. It does not require physical premises so businesses such as taxi drivers, on course bookmakers, wholesalers and suppliers who were not eligible for CRSS will be able to benefit under this scheme providing they meet the eligibility criteria.”

Full details of the eligibility criteria are available on the Revenue website but the main criteria are as follows:

• Businesses must be able to demonstrate that their turnover reduced by at least 75% during the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021 compared with the reference turnover period which for the majority of businesses will be 2019.
• The profits of the trade, or trading activities of the business, must be chargeable to tax under Case 1 of Schedule D.
• The business must possess a valid tax clearance and continue to maintain tax clearance for the duration of the application period.

The BRSS is provided for in the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 which was passed by the Oireachtas just before the summer recess.

Deputy Dillon said “ Throughout the pandemic many viable businesses were significantly impacted, Eligible businesses can make a claim to Revenue for a payment known as an Advance Credit for Trading Expenses (ACTE). The Advance Credit for Trading Expenses (ACTE) payment will be calculated as three times the sum of 10% of the average weekly turnover of the reference period up to €20,000 and 5% of so much of the average weekly turnover of the reference period that exceeds €20,000. The ACTE payment will be subject to a maximum payment of €15,000. Charities and certain approved sporting bodies that were not able to benefit from the CRSS will also be eligible for the BRSS subject to meeting the other criteria.”  

• Applications under the scheme may be made between 1 September 2021 and 30 November 2021.
• The Scheme will be administered by Revenue and will operate in a similar way to CRSS
• The scheme will not be restricted by location, rate-paying or physical premises.

Further details of the scheme are available at https://www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/documents/brss-guideline.pdf