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Increase in temporary wage subsidy announced

Nicole Barnett • Apr 26, 2020
The federal government announced today that the temporary wage subsidy for small and medium sized businesses will be increased from 10% to 75%, with the goal of encouraging struggling companies to retain and/or rehire employees.

So far, few details are known, other than:
  • The subsidy will be available for three months, retroactive to March 15th
  • Eligibility criteria are expected to include an assessment of the impact of Covid-19 on sales
More information is expected to be released on Monday. We will keep you updated.

GST payment deferrals
GST payment deadlines are extended to June 30th for the following eligible GST reporting periods:
  • Annual filers - GST returns or instalment payments are due in March, April or May. This will include all corporations with fiscal year ends of December 31/19 through February 29/20. It will also include all proprietorships with December 31/19 year ends.
  • Quarterly filers - GST returns for the January 1/20 through March 31/20 reporting period. This means that any businesses with quarterly GST returns due March 31/20 (for the December 31/19 through February 29/20 reporting period) still need to pay their GST in March.
  • Monthly filers - GST returns for the February, March and April, 2020 reporting months.
Remember that this is just a deferral of the payments. The filing deadline for GST returns has not been extended. Late filing is still likely to result in penalties.


 Canada Emergency Benefit Account 
$40,000 bank loans will also be available to qualifying businesses and not-for -profits to assist with operating costs while revenues are reduced.

  • Interest-free for the first year
  • If repaid by December 31, 2022, 25% of the loan or $10,000 will be forgiven  
  • To qualify, you must have paid between $50,000 and $1,000,000 for payroll in 2019
Contact your financial institution for more information on how to apply.

Info available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/additional-support-for-canadian-businesses-from-the-economic-impact-of-covid-19.html
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
The application portal for the CERB $2,000/month funding is available starting today through CRA My Account. Use the following schedule to apply: April 6th - Birth months of January, February and March April 7th - Birth months of April, May and June April 8th - Birth months of July, August and September April 9th - Birth months of October, November and December Open for anyone after those dates Where to apply: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html Two important points: CRA has clarified that business owners who are compensated through dividends rather than wages are eligible for the CERB if their 2019 income is $5,000 or more. CERB vs EI If you have applied for EI since March 15th, your application will automatically be transferred to the CERB process, so there is no need to apply for CERB . At the end of the 4 month CERB program, you could resume receiving EI if eligible and the CERB payments will not use up any of the EI-eligible weeks. For anyone who applied to EI prior to March 15th and received benefits, you will stay in the EI program and continue receiving the EI payments. A good summary here: https://globalnews.ca/news/6770564/coronavirus-ei-beneficiaries-federal-emergency-benefit/ More answers to common questions are available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
Details are here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html Highlights: A 10% wage subsidy is available for any wages paid between March 18th and June 20th, to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer To calculate: If you have 5 employees earning monthly salaries of $4,100 for a total monthly payroll of $20,500, the subsidy would be 10% of $20,500, or $2,050. To claim the subsidy: Reduce your payroll remittances by the amount of the calculated subsidy in the first remittance period that includes wages paid between March 18th and June 20th. So, for a regular remitter, the remittances due April 15 will be reduced by the amount of the subsidy. The subsidy does not need to be used to reduce remittances immediately. You can pay full remittances now and then request the calculated subsidy be paid out to you at the end of the year or applied to next year's remittances. To report the subsidy: CRA has not yet released info on how to report the subsidy calculation or amount. This is expected in the near future. The subsidy will be considered taxable income to your business in the year it is received. The team at Insight LLP is committed to helping our business clients access and understand the latest information on the ever-changing Covid-19 situation. Please contact us directly with any questions specific to your business needs at 403-524-4878 or via email.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
Private sector employers will have immediate financial relief by deferring WCB premiums until early 2021, effectively for one year. Employers who have already paid their WCB premium payment for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit. For small and medium businesses, the government will cover 50 per cent of the premium when it is due. Large employers will also receive a break by having their 2020 WCB premium payments deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due. Info from: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=699045A66118C-FA03-F4F5-959455E3316B8564
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