As part of Budget 2024, the government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB). The main aim of this Grant is to support small and medium sized businesses by contributing towards their rising business related costs including energy, labour, rent, etc.
To qualify for the ICOB grant your business must meet the following conditions:
The ICOB grant is a once-off payment based on the value of the 2023 commercial rates bill.
The grant is 50% of the commercial rates bill for eligible businesses with a 2023 bill of less than €10,000.
The grant is €5,000 for eligible businesses with a commercial rates bill of between €10,000 and €30,000.
Businesses, however, with a commercial rates bill over €30,000 are not eligible to receive this ICOB Grant.
Please be aware that Public institutions and financial institutions will not be eligible for the grant, except for Credit Unions and specific post office services.
Vacant properties will also not be eligible for the ICOB Grant.
It is important to keep in mind that this ICOB Grant is not a Commercial Rates waiver. Rateable businesses are still required to pay their commercial rates to their local authority.
Today, the Government issued two important updates concerning the Increase in Grant Scheme (ICOB):
Local Authorities are expected to begin paying out the ICOB Grant to eligible businesses in the coming weeks.
For further information, please follow the links:
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt delivered his UK Spring Budget 2024 today.
As you are aware, the Furnished Holiday Letting (FHL) regime provides tax relief for property owners letting out furnished properties as short term holiday accommodations. From 6th April 2025, however, the Chancellor is removing this tax incentive in an attempt to increase the availability of long term rental properties.
According to HMRC’s guidance material, a furnished holiday let is deemed to be a furnished commercial property which is situated in the United Kingdom.
It must be available to let for a minimum of 210 days in the year.
It must be commercially let as holiday accommodation for a minimum of 105 days in the year.
Guests must not occupy the property for 31 days or more, unless, something unforeseen happens such as the holidaymaker has a fall or accident or the flight is delayed.
You may wish to consider your options before the rules are abolished in April 2025.
Options include:
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
From 21st May 2021 Revenue will recommence their assessment of the tax clearance status of businesses.
Please be aware that this may result in the rescinding of the tax clearance status of businesses that are currently in receipt of the EWSS and/or the CRSS. It is essential to check the status of your tax clearance as your business may becoming ineligible to receive further payments under these schemes until the compliance issues concerned are fully resolved.
If Revenue have contacted you to remind you of your requirement to file outstanding returns or to address other compliance issues in order to retain your tax clearance status, please make sure you do so as a matter of urgency.
In summary, businesses which are reliant on the EWSS and/or the CRSS should take immediate action by contacting Revenue and addressing the outstanding issues.