Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) 13 September 2021

RMcH States: Revenue have introduces a new support to assist businesses affected by Covid 19 trying to resume trading

A new Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) was announced under the Government's Economic Recovery Plan for Ireland.

The BRSS is a single payment based on a percentage of your average weekly turnover for 2019, up to a maximum payment of €15,000.

Overview

The details of the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) are set out in Finance (COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021. BRSS will support businesses that were significantly impacted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, even during periods when restrictions were eased.

The support will be available to eligible businesses who carry on a relevant business activity. Your business must be able to demonstrate a significant reduction in trade during the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021.

Eligible businesses can make a claim to Revenue for a payment known as an Advance Credit for Trading Expenses (ACTE).

Applications under the scheme may be made between early September 2021 and 30 November 2021.

Who can apply?

Companies, self-employed individuals, partnerships and certain charities and approved sporting bodies can apply for the BRSS.

How do I qualify?

You must be able to show a significant reduction in turnover during the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021 when compared to when compared with 2019 (the reference period). The reference period in most cases is 1 January to 31 December 2019 but will alter for businesses established on or after 26 December 2019.

To be eligible for the BRSS, you must:

• Have a valid tax clearance certificate
• Have met your VAT obligations
• Be actively trading
• Be ineligible to make a CRSS claim for any week that includes 1 September 2021

You can check your current tax clearance status online through ROS. More information on tax clearance is available from Revenue.

If you operate more than one business

If you operate more than one business, you can make a claim in respect of each business, once the eligibility criteria are met. If you operate one business from multiple premises, you only qualify for a single BRSS payment.

ou will be able to make claim to Revenue under the BRSS for a cash payment known as an Advance Credit for Trading Expenses (ACTE).

The payment will be calculated as three times the sum of:

• 10% of the average weekly turnover up to €20,000, and
• 5% of any excess of average weekly turnover above €20,000

The payment will be capped at a maximum of €15,000.

How to apply

You must apply between 1 September 2021 and 30 November 2021. Revenue will not accept claims made outside these dates.

You make a claim under the BRSS through Revenue’s Online Service (ROS). Revenue’s portal for registering and making an application opened on 6 September 2021.

There is a 2-step process to make a claim under the BRSS.

1. You must register for the BRSS through ROS. You need to give details, such as the business location, the date you began trading and details of the average weekly turnover during the reference period. Keep all supporting documentation that shows you meet the conditions of the BRSS. Revenue may request this information at a later date.
2. You must complete a BRSS claim using the claim portal in the eRepayments system on ROS.

You can get more information and screen shots of the eRegistration system in Section 3 and Appendices I and II of Revenue’s BRSS guidelines (pdf).

For further information see

https://www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/brss/index.aspx