Full guidelines on CRSS published by Revenue

​Details of the proposed Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (“CRSS”) were published in the Finance Bill 2020. The CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The key features of the proposed scheme are:

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​1. The CRSS will provide support for companies and self-employed individuals carrying on a trade or trading activities, either solely or in partnership, the profits from which are
chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule D, from a business premises located in a
region subject to restrictions introduced in line with the Living with Covid-19 Plan, with
the result that the business is required to prohibit or considerably restrict customers
from accessing their business premises. Generally, this refers to Covid restrictions at
Level 3, 4 or 5 of the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19 but certain businesses
may qualify for the support where lower levels of restrictions are in operation.

2. Where a company or a self-employed individual is either forced to temporarily close
their business, or the business is required to operate at significantly reduced levels,
because of the restrictions, the company or self-employed individual will qualify for the
support.

3. To qualify under the scheme, a business must be able to demonstrate that, because of
the Covid restrictions, the turnover of the business in the period for which the
restrictions are in operation, and for which a claim is made, will be no more than 25% of
an amount equal to the average weekly turnover of the business in 2019 (or average
weekly turnover in 2020 in the case of a new business) multiplied by the number of
weeks in the period for which a claim is made.

4. A qualifying person will be able to make a claim to Revenue under the CRSS for a cash
payment to be known as an “Advance Credit for Trading Expenses”. This payment will
be equal to 10% of their average weekly turnover in 2019 up to €20,000 and 5%
thereafter, subject to a maximum weekly payment of €5,000, for each week that their
business is affected by the Covid restrictions. For businesses established between 26
December 2019 and 12 October 2020, the claim will be based on their weekly average
turnover in the period between the date of commencement and 12 October 2020
(subject to the weekly cap of €5,000).

5. The person must register to claim on the Revenue Online Service (ROS), provide certain
information and make a declaration that they satisfy the conditions to make a claim.
Where Covid restrictions for a geographical region are extended beyond the date on
which they were due to expire, a new claim may be made.

6. To make a claim under the scheme, a number of other conditions must be satisfied
including that the person has an up to date tax clearance certificate and complied with
their VAT obligations.

7. Provision is made for the publication of the names of claimants on the Revenue website.
The scheme will operate on a self-assessment basis. A person registering their details and
the details of their business activity for the purposes of a making a claim should retain
evidence supporting their basis for making a claim under the scheme, which may be
requested by Revenue under future eligibility checks.
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The scheme will operate from 13 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 and there is provision for
the Minister for Finance to vary aspects of the scheme by order, specifically the restrictions,
the end date, the percentage rate payable and the turnover test to determine a person’s
eligibility.

DOWNLOAD THE CRSS GUIDELINES