Corona virus and relief measures
Coronavirus and relief measures
To provide some support during this difficult time, the government has announced some relief measures relating to taxes and social security contributions which can provide companies with some financial breathing room.
1. Social Security Contributions
For the first two quarters of 2020, companies can request a payment plan for their social security contributions (maximum spread over 24 months) if they demonstrate to suffer economic consequences of the COVID-19 virus, making it difficult to pay the contributions in time. The payment plan will be determinted in joint agreement with the social security services.
An application form is available on https://www.socialsecurity.be/site_nl/employer/applics/paymentplan/index.htm (in Dutch). In the section “Your motivation”, the company needs to clarify how it suffers financially as a result of the coronavirus. A response can be expected within 10 days (in case of questions or need for clarification, the Social Security Services will contact the company).
2. Fiscal measures
Companies which can demonstrate to be economically affected by the coronavirus can request a payment plan regarding company tax, VAT, company withholding tax, with the exemption of penalties or interests.
Such requests have to be filed before 30 June 2020 via an application form available on the website of the Treasury department. One application may be submitted per debt, which will apply to all measure, at the time of receipt of a notice of assessment or payment.
A reply is expected within 30 days of submission of the application.
3. Nuisance premium of the Flemish government
The Flemish government offers a premium for companies that have to close due to a mandatory safety measure related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In case of complete closure, undertakings are eligible to apply for a premium of a lump sum of 4.000 EUR for the first period until 3 April, plus 160 EUR per day thereafter. Undertakings converting to alternative activities, (e.g. restaurant converting to take away), can still claim the same premium.
In case of a weekend closure, the undertaking is eligible for a lump sum of 2.000 EUR for the first period until 3 April, plus 160 EUR per day thereafter.
The premium is limited to one premium per undertaking and does not apply per branch or per shop. For horeca, the premium is per bar/restaurant on the condition that at least one full-time equivalent is employed.
How to apply for this premium will be communicated on http://www.vlaio.be.
Would you like to know more?
The Racine team is at your disposal to answer your specific questions.
