Entrepreneurs can receive a labour market subsidy through to the end of the year

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) has been able to pay entrepreneurs a labour market subsidy since mid-March, if the business has suffered due to the coronavirus epidemic. The right to receive this subsidy continues through to 31 December 2020.

An entrepreneur is entitled to receive the labour market subsidy from Kela up to 31 December 2020, if their full-time employment in their business has ended, or if their income from self-employment, because of the epidemic, has decreased. The subsidy is available regardless of company type, and the business activities do not need to be discontinued. The backdated application period for the labour market subsidy is three months.

New applicants must first register with the TE services

If an entrepreneur has not earlier applied for temporary labour market subsidy and now wishes to do so, this entrepreneur must first register as an unemployed job seeker with the TE services. Following this, the entrepreneur can fill in an unemployment benefit application using Kela’s online service. The application requests an estimate of the average income from business activities for the period for which the subsidy is being applied.

If the entrepreneur has earnings, these will be coordinated with the labour market subsidy. Starting from 1 June, an entrepreneur could earn 500 euros on top of the subsidy, without reducing unemployment benefit. The exempt amount of the unemployment benefit has been raised temporarily, and will return to 300 euros in the beginning of November.

An entrepreneur as a personal customer of Kela

In addition to Kela’s temporary unemployment benefit already mentioned, as a personal customer, more benefits are available, such as housing or basic income support or the infectious disease allowance.

Further information

Ministry of Employment and the Economy:

• Questions and answers about the rights of entrepreneurs to receive unemployment benefit

  https://tem.fi/kysymyksia-ja-vastauksia-yrittajien-oikeudesta-tyottomyysturvaan

   

  TE services:

• news about the labour market subsidy for entrepreneurs

  https://www.te-palvelut.fi/te/fi/nain_asioit_kanssamme/te_palvelut/ajankohtaista/2020-04-08-01/index.html

• TE services for entrepreneurs and employers during the coronavirus situation

  https://www.te-palvelut.fi/te/fi/erikoissivut/ukk_tyoantajille_ja_yrittajille/index.html

   

  Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland):

• temporary unemployment benefit for entrepreneurs

  https://www.kela.fi/tyottomyysturva-yrittaja

• information about the number of applications for benefits submitted to Kela

  https://kelaresearchandanalytics.github.io/koronamittarit/etuushakemukset.html

• entrepreneur as a personal customer of Kela

  https://www.kela.fi/yrittajat?inheritRedirect=true

• information about the infectious disease allowance

         https://www.kela.fi/tartuntatauti

Applications for coronavirus support granted by Business Finland and ELY Centres were no longer processed after 8 June 2020.

The precise time for closing the application queues was at 4:15 p.m. on 8 June 2020. All applications that were received before closing the application queues on 8 June 2020 are processed according to coronavirus support rules. After the queue was shut down, there was a return to the regular application procedure for development grants.

If your company has been granted support due to the coronavirus, please remember to submit the final report and retain all documentation pertaining to the project (for a period of ten years following the payment of the final instalment). 30% of the grant will be paid once the final report has been approved. A prerequisite for the payment of the grant is that the company has completed the final report and that the project has been implemented as planned, while adhering to the funding decision and funding conditions.

Here you can find more information about the procedure following the decision to provide support.

Business Finland: instructions for recipients of support

https://www.businessfinland.fi/suomalaisille-asiakkaille/palvelut/rahoitus/hairiotilannerahoitus/ohjeet-rahoituksen-saajalle/#raportointi

ELY Centre: instructions for recipients of support here

The ELY Centre coronavirus funding telephone service (+ 358 295 024 800) Tuesdays to Thursdays 9:00–12.00 up until 30 September.

ELY-KESKUKSEN PALVELUJA HAETTAVISSA POIKKEUSHINTAAN 23.9.2020 ASTI

Osana koronakriisin hoitoa ELY-keskusten yrityksille tarjoamien Analyysi- ja Konsultointi -palvelujen hinnat maksavat yrityksille 30 euroa (+alv)/ konsultointipäivä.

Em. poikkeushinta on ollut voimassa maaliskuusta alkaen. Hinnat palautetaan 24.9.2020 muutosta edeltäneelle tasolle, jolloin Analyysi-palvelun päivähinta yritykselle on 220 euroa (+alv), ja Konsultointi-palvelun 300 euroa (+alv). Viimeistään 23.9.2020 jätettyihin Analyysi- ja Konsultointi-palvelujen hakemuksiin sovelletaan kuitenkin vielä nykyistä, alempaa hintatasoa. Uusi hinta koskee siten 24.9.2020 ja sen jälkeen vireille tulleita hakemuksia.

Valtion tuki ELY-keskusten Yritysten kehittämispalveluihin on edelleen merkittävä, sillä valtion rahoitusosuus Analyysi-palvelusta on 80 prosenttia ja Konsultointi-palvelusta 75 prosenttia.

Lisätietoja:

https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/yritystenkehittamispalvelut/etusivu

https://tem.fi/-/yritysten-kehittamispalvelujen-hinnat-palaavat-ennalleen

Business Finlandin tilapäinen TKI-laina häiriötilanteisiin

Tilapäinen tutkimus-, kehitys- ja innovaatiolaina on tarkoitettu Suomessa toimiville vähintään kuusi henkilöä työllistäville pk- ja midcap-yrityksille sekä merkittävää liiketoimintaa tekeville säätiöille ja yhdistyksille. Rahoitusta voivat hakea kansainvälisillä tai kotimarkkinoilla toimivat yritykset sekä säätiöt ja yhdistykset, jotka etsivät kehittämisen avulla uusia keinoja liiketoimintansa häiriötilanteen ratkaisemiseen. Panostamalla kehittämiseen yritykset haluavat parantaa liiketoimintaedellytyksiään ja uudistaa toimintaansa ollakseen kilpailukykyisiä koronakriisin jälkeen.

Liiketoiminnan häiriötilanteeseen myönnettävä laina voi olla vähintään 100 000 euroa ja enintään 500 000 euroa. Laina-aika on pääsääntöisesti 7 - 10 vuotta. Business Finlandin myöntämän lainan osuus on 50-70 % projektin hyväksytyistä kustannuksista.  Hakijan on pystyttävä osoittamaan Business Finlandille, että sillä on riittävä kokonaisrahoitus projektin ajalle ja rahoituksen saajan on myös pystyttävä ensin maksamaan projektista syntyvät kustannukset itse. 

Tilapäistä lainarahoitusta voi hakea lokakuun 2020 loppuun mennessä. Projektien toteutus voi jatkua myös hakuajan päättymisen jälkeen. Rahoituspäätökset tehdään vuoden 2020 loppuun mennessä. 

Lue lisää:          https://www.businessfinland.fi/suomalaisille-asiakkaille/palvelut/rahoitus/tki-laina-hairiotilanteisiin/

https://www.businessfinland.fi/suomalaisille-asiakkaille/koronavirus/

Finnveran tuki rahoitusjärjestelyissä

Finnvera suhtautuu joustavasti kaikkiin koronaviruksen aiheuttamiin rahoituksen järjestelytarpeisiin. Koronaviruksen aiheuttamassa poikkeuksellisessa tilanteessa Finnvera turvaa pk-yritysten lisääntyneitä käyttöpääomatarpeita ensisijaisesti alkutakauksella, pk-takauksella ja Finnvera-takauksella.

Häiriötilanteessa Finnveran takausosuudet ovat normaalitilannetta korkeampia. Takaus on ensisijaisesti 80 prosenttia, mutta jopa 90 prosentin takaus voidaan myöntää pankin myöntämien velkakirjaluottojen takaamiseen, jos pk-yrityksen rahoituksen järjestyminen sitä ehdottomasti edellyttää. 

 Lue lisää:         https://www.finnvera.fi/kasvu/ajankohtaista-yrityksille

BUSINESS COST SUPPORT

The third application round for cost support started on 27 April 2021 at 9:00 and it will end 23 June 2021 at 4.15 pm.

The support period is from 1 November 2020 to 28 February 2021. The reference period depends on the company’s VAT declaration period and the date of establishment of the company.

The support can be applied through the State Treasury’s e-service; please find the link below.

Apply for cost support if

• the company’s own turnover has decreased by more than 30% compared to the reference period
• the company has at least €2000 of eligible costs for the support period
• the company has a business ID

In addition to the company’s own turnover, the decline in the turnover of the company’s sector is estimated. If the sector’s turnover has fallen by at least 10% during the support period, the company can apply for cost support without further justification, provided that the other conditions of the support are met.

Even if the company’s main sector is not eligible under the Government Decree, cost support may be granted to it on discretionary grounds.

In addition to companies, associations and foundations can apply for cost support. Cost support can only be granted for the financial activities of associations and foundations.

The minimum amount of support is EUR 2,000. The maximum amount of aid is EUR 1 million, which meets the needs of large companies in particular. The maximum amount of support was EUR 500,000 in the previous application rounds.

The aid already granted will be taken into account in the amount of the business cost support so that the total aid granted under the same temporary State aid rules of the European Commission will not exceed EUR 1.8 million. The maximum amount of total aid was previously EUR 800,000. The new maximum amount is based on the Commission’s decision to raise the company-specific ceilings for aid.

Reference periods refer to the periods for which the comparison defines the decrease in the company’s turnover between the normal period and the pandemic period. The granting of cost support is subject to a drop in turnover of more than 30%.

The normal period and the pandemic period are determined by the company’s VAT reporting period and the date of establishment. You can use the counter on the counter tab to find out your reference period.

Further information, instructions for applying for support plus frequently asked questions:

https://www.valtiokonttori.fi/en/service/business-cost-support/#instructions-for-applying-for-support

Try the cost support counter before going to the application form: 

https://www.valtiokonttori.fi/en/service/business-cost-support/#calculator_cost-support-counter

Link to the cost support application:

https://asiointipalvelu.valtiokonttori.fi/kustannustuki/

• You can change the language to English or Swedish.
• The e-service guides you in filling in the application. You can also save the application as a draft and continue filling it out later.

CLOSURE COMPENSATION

The round of applications for closure compensation started on 12 May 2021 at 9:00. The closure compensation must be applied for within four months of the closure of the customer premises.

Companies can apply for the compensation on the State Treasury’s website via electronic application form; please find the link below.

The closure compensation is a subsidy to companies that have had to close their premises completely by law or because of a decision of the authority. The closure compensation is intended for micro or small companies with less than 50 employees. Compensation for large companies is in preparation, the timetable and details will be specified later.

Closed companies can also apply for business cost support if the conditions for the support are met.

The closure compensation applies to restaurants and other food and beverage serving companies that had to be temporarily closed to customers based on the Act on Accommodation and Catering Operations. However, food take away sales are allowed. The compensation is calculated for the activity to which the closure relates.

You can apply closure compensation if:

• the company’s premises have been completely closed by government decree, or by decision of the Regional State Administrative Agency on the basis of Section 58 g of the Communicable Diseases Act
• the company has a Business ID
• the company is a micro or small company with less than 50 employees

The form of the company is not relevant to obtaining compensation.

The facilities designated for closure can be used for supervised hobbies for children born in 2008 and younger. The decision to close the premises does not apply to professional sports or activities covered by private or family life

Voluntary closure is not sufficient to justify closure compensation. Similarly, if a company’s number of customers is limited but its premises are not completely closed, the company cannot receive closure compensation.

The closure compensation can be applied for even if the company has already received other direct supports to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the maximum compensation per company provided for by the EU, EUR 1.8 million, must not be exceeded. The maximum amount of support is calculated considering all support granted under the EU framework support programme, and received by an individual company or corporate group.

Further information, instructions for applying for support plus frequently asked questions:

https://www.valtiokonttori.fi/en/service/closure-compensation/

Link to the closure compensation application:

https://asiointipalvelu.valtiokonttori.fi/sulkemiskorvaus/

• You can change the language to English or Swedish.
• The e-service guides you in completing the application. The application can also be saved as a draft and continue later.

TAX ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

The coronavirus may cause entrepreneurs, enterprises and accountants difficulties in handling their tax matters. The Tax Administration has compiled instructions for enterprises and entrepreneurs who have experienced difficulties in submitting and paying for their taxes in time because of the coronavirus situation. Find the instructions here: Coronavirus situation: Tax administration supports businesses

MEAE Group

Coronavirus bulletins:  https://t https://tem.fi/koronavirus

HELP IN COPING MENTALLY

For instance, the Crisis Helpline in Finnish is open 24/7, tel. +358 09 2525 0111.

Khttps://mieli.fi/fi/tukea-ja-apua/kriisipuhelin-keskusteluapua-numerossa-09-2525-0111

The support package approved by the Rovaniemi City Board on 30 March 2020 includes, for instance, bringing forward of procurements and focusing on local enterprises, extensions for the payment of rents and flexibility with bill payment conditions.

Approved support measures for enterprises:

Procurements

• The units of the City of Rovaniemi will bring forward all procurements planned for this year that it regards as being necessary.
• Efforts will be made to make procurements from local enterprises, with consideration for the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts and competition legislation. More flexible procedures for procurements that fall below the national threshold value.
• Efforts will be made to make procurements from local actors, with consideration for the security of supply and operating reliability.
• Wherever possible, efforts will be made to split larger procurements into parts.
• The flow of information about tender bids will be made more effective.
• Wherever possible, efforts will be made to moderate the terms and conditions of current contracts.

Support measures for the tenants of premises owned by the city

• If necessary, extended payment times for the payment of rents for company premises and land leases can be granted for a period of three months, or reductions in rents can be granted for small businesses that are forced to downsize operations, interrupt operations, or completely shut down their premises due to the coronavirus situation. The duration of this rental relief depends on the duration of the coronavirus crisis and will be applied separately by company. In the aforementioned scenario, it is possible to request assistance with the accumulation of rent paid in arrears, if the business is otherwise healthy.

Business services

• The Business Service Voucher taken into use in May can also be front-loaded. The service provider can already bill for half of the value of the voucher and corresponding VAT during the commencement stage of the service.
• Business service actors will make communications about their services more effective and shall develop their services.
• The new coronavirus support instruments of the ELY Centre, Business Finland and Finnvera are emphasised in business advice services.
• The focusing of measures for supporting the situation of sole entrepreneurs will be assured in cooperation with the state authorities.

• Business service actors shall investigate the financing possibilities of the Rovaniemi Villages’ Development Foundation support measures for this time of crisis.
  
  

General

• The subsidiaries of the city shall compile their own subsidiary-specific plans for their measures to support business as quickly as possible, while adhering to the current policies approved by the city.
• The financing needs of city subsidiaries are safeguarded due to the problems caused by the coronavirus epidemic.
• Payments of purchase invoices to enterprises by the city can be brought forward.
• The billing of sales invoices can be postponed and payment terms can be extended. Extensions of payment times can also be granted for already billed and unpaid receivables, for a maximum of 90 days.
• City marketing is being developed and implemented based on the revised brand. When possible, joint resident and company campaigns will be designed and implemented.

Requests

• The city requests for local enterprises wherever possible to also implement the aforementioned measures set by the city in their own operations.
• The city hereby appeals to all townspeople to make purchases from local enterprises.