Business Support Scheme
The Department for Enterprise’s Coronavirus Business Support Scheme has been established to provide grant assistance to support local businesses in designated sectors that have been financially affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme offers financial support to eligible businesses in the form of a grant payment of £3,000.
Further information and a link to the application process can be found here
Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance – MERA
The Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (“MERA”) provides an income of £200 per week to people who have been temporarily or permanently laid off or lost their self-employed work since 2 March 2020. It was introduced on 6 April 2020 and has been extended to 20 September 2020. From 1 June those that have previously received a grant under the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme will be eligible to apply.
It is available to both displaced employees – where their employer is unable to retain them under the Business Wage Support Scheme – as well as the self-employed and will be payable for a maximum of 24 weeks between 6 April 2020 and 20 September 2020. No payment can be made for any period on or after 21 September 2020.
Claims for the MERA can be made here
Salary Support Scheme
The purpose of the scheme is to provide salary support for businesses adversely affected by Coronavirus at this time.
The Scheme was originally introduced to provide a contribution to a maximum of £280 per week per full time employee for up to 12 weeks beginning on the 2 March. It will now continue for an additional three claim periods with the last period ending on 17 August.
For part time employees the maximum contribution is £280 based on contracted hours and prorated on a 35-hour week. An employee on a zero hours contract will also receive a maximum of £280 per week based on hours worked and prorated on a 35-hour week.
Claims for the Salary Support Scheme can be made here
VAT deferment scheme
VAT payments due to the Treasury between 20 March and 30 June 2020 can be deferred if they are in respect of any of the following:
- quarterly and monthly VAT returns’ payments for the periods ending in February, March and April
- payments on account due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020
- annual accounting advance payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020
The deferral does not cover payments for VAT MOSS or import VAT.
Other financial support schemes
The Isle of Man government has worked hard to put multiple support schemes in place, please contact us for advice if you want any assistance accessing any of the following:
Strategic Capacity Scheme (for the Tourist accommodation sector)
IOM Disruption Loan Guarantee Agreement
