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COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level responses

Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for case IE-2020-45/1421 – measures in Ireland

Supports for self-employed individuals introduced in the budget

Country Ireland , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 November 2020 – 31 December 2021
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial)
Author Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound
Case created 11 November 2020 (updated 12 November 2020)

Background information

Budget 2021 introduced a number of measures to support self-employed individuals in the pandemic. This included the extension of the debt warehousing scheme - which allows self-employed taxpayers to defer payment with no interest applying - introduced as part of the July stimulus plan. Self-employed people will also be entitled to earn some income without impacting their claim for Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Read more on the (PUP) on the COVID-19 data base website

Content of measure

As part of Budget 2021, there was an extension of the tax debt warehousing scheme to include repayments of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme funds owed by employers and preliminary tax obligations for the adversely affected self-employed. Debts that are warehoused are subject to 0% interest for 12 months. After this 12-month period, a reduced interest rate of 3% per annum will apply. If income for 2021 is also at least 25% lower than income for 2019, the balance of 2020 IT and Preliminary Tax for 2021 can also be warehoused.

In addition, self-employed recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be able to earn up to €480 per month without losing their payment.

Use of measure

No information.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Self-employed
Solo-self-employed
SMEs
One person or microenterprises
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Not applicable.

Views and reactions

The Small Firms Association (SFA), part of Ibec said "Self-employed business owners will welcome the reliefs announced today, which show the Government’s commitment to indigenous entrepreneurs."

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Supports for self-employed individuals introduced in the budget, case IE-2020-45/1421 (measures in Ireland), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.