Important Revenue update for businesses eligible for CRSS

Important Revenue update for businesses eligible for CRSS

Revenue has provided important information to businesses in relation to the following:
• the time limits for submitting Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) claim, and
• access to the scheme for businesses who continue to be impacted by the current revised public health
restrictions.

Time limits for submitting CRSS claims:

There is an eight-week time limit within which eligible businesses can make their claim for payment under the
CRSS. The eight-week time limit applies from the first day of a claim period which in most cases will be the first
day on which public health restrictions apply to the business concerned.
Revenue has today reminded eligible businesses of the importance of registering for the CRSS and making
their claim as soon as possible to avoid losing out on getting the full benefit of this significant cashflow support
payment.

Businesses who leave making their CRSS registration application to the last-minute risk that it may not be
completed within the eight-week time period for making a claim for payment. This might arise, for example,
where Revenue requires additional information to complete the registration or confirm eligibility for the
scheme. Revenue has confirmed that once the business has applied to be registered within the eight-week
time period, and has provided the additional information requested, it will still be able to make a claim for
payment under the CRSS within three weeks of the registration process being completed.

Claiming CRSS as public health restrictions ease:

Last Friday (27/11/2020), the Government announced an easing of public health restrictions in the run up to
Christmas. From 1 December, all non-essential retail and personal services can open, while on Friday 4
December all restaurants, cafés and pubs operating as restaurants can open.
Where businesses can reopen without having to prohibit or significantly restrict access to their premises as
outlined in the relevant public health regulations, they no longer qualify for CRSS. Additionally, businesses that
can reopen but decide not to do so will not be eligible for CRSS for the periods where they choose to remain
closed.

In recognition that it may take some time and additional costs for businesses to re-open, the Minister for
Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., last week announced an enhancement to the CRSS whereby businesses can
make a claim for an additional one-week payment to assist them in reopening after a period of Covid
restrictions. Businesses who are registered for CRSS and are now resuming their trading activities can make
their claim for this additional payment from next Monday, 7 December 2020, via the eRepayments service in
ROS. Payment will generally be made within 3 days of the submission of a qualifying claim.
However, some businesses such as ‘wet’ pubs, nightclubs, discos and casinos nationwide are still required to
either prohibit access to their premises or remain fully closed. These businesses still qualify for CRSS, and
provided all other eligibility conditions are met, can continue to claim payment under the scheme for this new
claim period.

This morning, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., announced additional seasonal support for
businesses who cannot reopen through December. Payable for a period of three weeks beginning the 21
December 2020, the additional support will provide up to double the amount of the weekly CRSS support
payment due, subject to the statutory maximum payment of €5,000 per week. Revenue is currently working
on ensuring the system is in place for these businesses to make their claim by the week of 21 December.

Updated detailed information on the CRSS can be found here.

Revenue published updated Covid-19 support scheme statistics yesterday. To date, 12,900 businesses have
registered 14,600 premises for the CRSS with Revenue. Claims for CRSS payments of €79.3 million in respect of
13,800 premises have been made to date with €77.8 million of this already processed for payment. Further
detailed information can be found here.

Source: Revenue