Businesses affected by COVID-19 restrictions can now register with Revenue for a new support scheme announced in Budget 2021.

Details of the proposed COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) were published in the Finance Bill 2020, though the necessary legislation has yet to be passed.

Revenue says, however, that registration for the scheme is now available to eligible businesses, or the tax agent acting on their behalf, through the e-registration facility in its ROS online service. A total of 700 firms have already registered.

Tax clearance 

The CRSS is aimed at businesses that have been forced to prohibit or considerably restrict customers from accessing their premises due to public-health measures.

These firms can make a claim to Revenue for a payment of up to €5,000 for each week that they are affected by the restrictions. The weekly payment will be calculated by reference to the average weekly turnover for 2019.

To register for CRSS, a business must have tax clearance and provide relevant information about its business activity, premises, and previous turnover details. Revenue says this information will be validated against the information already held on its systems.

A claims portal for CRSS will be available on ROS from mid-November, according to Revenue.