Factsheet for case
AT-2020-45/1872
–
Updated
– measures in Austria
Bonus for companies with large losses in turnover
Ausfallsbonus
Background information
Due to the third COVID-19 wave that hit the country with high infection numbers and ICUs working at almost full capacity, the extension of the lockdown in Austria in the first months of 2021 was implemented. In order to support companies which are affected by large turnover losses, a so-called "loss bonus" was implemented in February 2021. This bonus is not limited to companies which are directly affected by the lockdown (such as the lock down turnover (sales compensation)
AT-2020-45/1637
, but this bonus can be applied for by any company suffering a loss of more than 40% of turnover, compared to the same calendar month in pre-crisis times (i.e. during the period March 2019 to February 2020). Via this measure, the government intends to support companies by providing them with sufficient liquidity.
Content of measure
The replacement rate lies at 30% of the loss of turnover, with a maximum upper limit of €60,000 per month. Half of the bonus (15%) consists of a non-repayable grant and the other half (i.e. the other 15%) are an advance on the fixed cost grant II
AT-2020-12/474
to be applied for.
The application for the loss bonus can be submitted every month, for the time period November 2020 to June 2021.
Due to the 'hard' lock-down in the eastern region of Austria, the bonus portion of the loss bonus was increased for the calendar months of March and April 2021, compared to the other calendar months. Instead of 15%, the bonus is increased to 30% of the sales loss (with a maximum limit of €50,000). With the addition of the (optional) advance of the fixed cost grant II, the total amount lies at 45 percent or €80,000 at the maximum for March and April 2021.
The bonus can - in general - be drawn also when other subsidies have been applied for and received, with the exception of the lockdown turnover (sales) compensation
AT-2020-45/1637
. If those subsidies have been received, the loss bonus cannot be applied for for the months of November and December 2020. The same applies to self-employed artists which have been granted funds from the bridging fund for artists [AT-2020-14/631] (https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2020-14_631.html) for any of the months in question.
The loss bonus can be applied for from the 16th of the calendar month following the observation period up to the 15th of the third calendar month following the observation period.
Applications for the observation periods November 2020 and December 2020 can be submitted from 16 February 2021 to 15 April 2021.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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15 June 2021
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The bonus for companies with large losses in turnover has been extended by three months until 30 September 2021. The new threshold is a minimum loss of 50 percent in sales as compared to before the crisis (beforehand, a 40% loss was the minimum threshold for claiming the bonus).
Depending on the sector, between 10 and 40% of the gross profit is replaced. A maximum of €80,000 can be paid out per month, whereby the sum of short-time working aid and cancellation bonus may not exceed the turnover of the comparison period in order to prevent over-funding.
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Use of measure
As of 15 April 2021, 160,000 applications with a total volume of around €1 billion have been received. Out of these, around 110,000 applications (with a volume of over €700 million) have been processed and paid, according to the finance minister Mr Blümel. The average amount per applicant and month was at around €7,000.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Applies to all businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
Unknown
-
Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
The social partners' involvement is unknown.
Views and reactions
The Federal Economic Chamber has welcomed the increased payments for the months of March and April 2021.
Sources
