Ireland: Update of support measures for businesses and employers (COVID-19)
A number of amendments to various COVID-19 business and employer support measures in response to coronavirus
Amendments to various COVID-19 business and employer support measures
“Finance (COVID-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022” as released 4 March 2022, is intended to provide a “legislative footing” to a number of amendments to various COVID-19 business and employer support measures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Finance Act 2021 extended the employment wage subsidy scheme (EWSS) to 30 April 2022 (from 31 December 2021). In late 2021, Revenue released updated guidance on the operation of the EWSS for eligible employers that were correctly registered for the EWSS as of 31 December 2021. These updated provisions have now been provided for in the pending bill. Employers that met the following criteria as at 31 December 2021 may continue to apply the EWSS up through 30 April 2022 unless the employer voluntarily opts to de-register from the scheme.
- The employer continues to hold a valid tax clearance for the duration of the scheme.
- The employer is registered for and received payments under the EWSS.
- The employer meets the qualifying criteria for the reduction in turnover/customer orders at the end of 2021 (i.e., a 30% reduction in turnover/customer orders for the period January-December 2021).
In addition, the EWSS is being reopened for certain employers that were affected by the public health restrictions announced on 17 December 2021 and were previously eligible for the EWSS but as of 31 December 2021, were ineligible for the scheme.
The bill also includes measures concerning enhanced EWSS support for employers, the COVID-restrictions support scheme, and extension of the debt-warehousing scheme.
Read a March 2022 report prepared by the KPMG member firm in Ireland that provides greater details about the provisions in the bill
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