Available Funding COVID-19

We recognize that with the constantly changing COVID-19 situation around the world, this is an unprecedented time for everyone in South Africa which we will remember for years to come. Our hearts and thoughts go out to each one of our loyal clients and their families, local and overseas. We are still working and want you to know you have our dedicated commitment to continue providing you with our agreed monthly services and to keep your business up to date and compliant.    

We have compiled a list of all possible funding solutions available to you at this time. New information is distributed on a regular basis and we commit to sending you updated and accurate information to keep you as informed as possible Where possible we have also provided you with the necessary links and email addresses to access these benefits and to assist you during this process.

IN SUMMARY:

  • SMMESA covers operational expenses whereas TERS and NDF is only for your employees.
  • SMMESA is a loan that you would have to repay at much more favourable terms and low interest. You will undergo an audit and should you have provided false information you will be severely penalised.

1. Funding through the Department of Small Business Development http://smmesa.gov.za/.

To qualify, businesses must meet the SMME criteria as shown below. SMME’s can apply for financial or non-financial assistance in order to meet employee, supplier and overhead obligations.

The qualifying criteria is as follows;

  • Turnover below R50 million for the previous financial year.
  • Business 100% South African owned.
  • 70% of employees employed by the business must be South African citizens.
  • Business must be tax compliant.

Information supplied by the government indicates that funding of up to R500 000.00 is available and applications are likely to take up to 14 days.

It is important to note that successful applications will be audited in the future and will have to provide supporting documentation and invoices to show how the money was expended. Anyone failing the audit will have to repay the money at prime plus 10%.

2. Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) Funding: http://www.sefa.org.za/

The requirements to access SEFA funding are the same as for SMME SA Funding, but is restricted to the following sectors:

  • Retail, wholesale and tourism industry
  • Production industry
  • Agriculture industry
  • Construction industry
  • Mining industry

The Industrial Development Corporation will disburse and manage this fund. Please note that as with SMME funding, an audit will be carried out in future and those failing the audit will be required to repay the money at penalty interest rates.

3. Accessing UIF benefits for employees (NDF): https://www.labour.gov.za.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is to be utilised to make funds available to:

  • Companies that imposed reduced work time during the lockdown, in which case the UIF benefit is equivalent to the difference between what the employer normally pays and the normal UIF benefits applicable.
  • In the case of Illness Benefits affected employees are entitled to claim 1 credit day for every four days of work, up to a maximum of 365 days for every four years of completed work.
  • Death Benefits payable to the beneficiaries of the deceased are payable on the same basis as illness benefits mentioned above.

Application forms can be downloaded from the Department of Employment and Labour website.

4. The TERS programme (Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme)

This UIF fund will be expanded and expedited to assist distressed companies with subsidies to fund workers' wages. One of the conditions is that the company embarks upon a turnaround or sustainability programme.

TERS will be overseen by the CCMA (Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration).

If it is found that you did not follow and comply with a sustainability programme, then penalties and repayment will be levied against you at punitive interest rates.

To access application forms and all other relevant details, please email us, and we will send you the application forms.

5. Solidarity Fund: https://www.solidarityfund.co.za/

This is a special fund created by government and funded by both the private and public sectors (the Rupert and Oppenheimer families have agreed to contribute R1 billion each).

It is not yet known how to apply for funding from this source. We advise that you visit the above-mentioned website on a daily basis for more details.

6. Compensation Commissioner: https://www.gov.za/services/compensation-fund/register-compensation-fund

Any employee contracting the Covid-19 virus while in your employment (not while at home) may apply for compensation under the Compensation Act.
Please note that these applications must be made in person by the employee to the Compensation Commissioner's offices.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO ACCESS THE ABOVE FUNDS:

To access the SMME SA Funding, Solidarity Fund or the SEFA Fund you will require the following up-to-date information:

  • Financial statements
  • Management statements; and
  • Financial forecasts for the next 12 months.

Register as a company that provides essential services:

In terms of the regulations issued by the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, requires companies providing essential services to provide their employees with a form or certificate.

This form / certificate must always be carried by the employees when traveling to and from work.  Please use the following link for information and to apply; https://bizportal.gov.za/essential_service.aspx

7. Tax Breaks:

There are three types of tax breaks:

  • ETI;
  • PAYE; and
  • Provisional Taxation.

You must be classified as a small business (Turnover of less than R50 million) and you have to be tax compliant.

7.1 ETI Claims

The claim will work as follows:

  • Increasing the claim of eligible employee to R1 500 or R1 000 respectively depending on where they are in their qualifying periods; and
  • Allowing an ETI claim of R500 per employee during these 4 months for employees from the ages of:
    • 18 to 29 who are no longer eligible for the ETI as the employer has claimed ETI in respect of these employees for 24 months; and
    • 30 to 65 who are not eligible for the ETI due to their age.

Eligible employees are as follows:

  • Employees who are between the ages of 18 and 29; and
  • Has a monthly remuneration of less than R6 500.

Effective Date - The proposed amendments will apply for a period of four months and are deemed to have come into operation on the 1st of April 2020 and end on 31st of July 2020.

7.2 PAYE

Suggestion - Deferred of payment of 20% of the PAYE liability, without SARS imposing administrative penalties and interest for the late payment thereof.

Repayment - The deferred PAYE liability must be paid to SARS in equal instalments over the six-month period commencing on 1 August 2020, i.e the first payment must be made on 7 September 2020. This deferred payment will be over and above your normal PAYE liability due on 7 September 2020 for the August 2020 salaries.

Effective Date - The proposed amendments are deemed to have come into operation on 1 April 2020 and end on 31 January 2021.

Interest and penalties will be raised if the employer understated the PAYE liability for any of the four months.

7.3 Provisional Taxation

Suggestion - Deferral of a portion of the payment of the first and second provisional tax payment liability to SARS, without SARS imposing administrative penalties and interest for the late payment of the deferred amount.

The 1st provisional tax payment that is due on 31 August 2020 will be based on 15% of your estimated tax liability.

The 2nd provisional tax payment due on 28 February 2021 will be based on 65% of the estimated total tax liability.

Repayment Provisional taxpayers will be required to pay the full deferred tax liability amount when making the third provisional tax payment in order to avoid interest charges by August 2021.

Please note that the PAYE and Provisional Tax are deferrals only, you still must repay whatever you held back now at a later stage.