COVID-19: support systems for businesses

April 16, 2020 | Official information

To support businesses in the face of the health crisis, the government has put in place several actionable devices. Here are the main support measures for businesses:
[This page is updated regularly with the latest information.]

 

Specific aid for start-ups
  • Placement of an envelope of € 80M, financed by the Investments for the Future Program (PIA) and managed by Bpifrance, to finance bridges between fundraising
  • Granting of cash loans guaranteed by the State specifically up to twice the France 2019 payroll, or, if higher, 25% of annual turnover as for other companies. 
  • Accelerated reimbursement by the State of tax credits on companies returnable in 2020, including the research tax credit (CIR) for the year 2019, and VAT credits. 
  • Accelerated payment of PIA innovation aid already allocated but not yet paid, for a total estimated amount of € 250M.
  • Through Bpifrance, support for innovative companies with € 1,3bn in innovation aid planned for 2020 (grants, repayable advances, loans, etc.). 

 

 
State guaranteed loans
  • Guarantee of 300 billion euros for bank loans in France, for all new loans granted by credit institutions between the 1erMarch and December 31, 2020 to companies registered in France.
  •  Businesses of all sizes, regardless of their legal form, with the exception of real estate companies, credit institutions and finance companies, can apply to their usual bank for a government guaranteed loan to support their cash flow.
  • The loan can represent up to 3 months of 2019 turnover with a minimum grace period of 12 months.
  • To benefit from it: ask for the bank's agreement, then apply for a PGE certificate on the dedicated website managed by Bpifrance.
  • Lending platforms can now offer EMPs in order to contribute to support systems for businesses alongside banks
  • The decree taking account of IFPs in the distribution of EMPs was published in the official journal
  • Publication of a Frequently Asked Questions to answer all questions companies have about the EMP

 

Other financing solutions
  • Solidarity fund for VSEs and self-employed workers realizing less than 1 million euros of turnover and having lost 70% of their activity in March 2020 compared to March 2019. Funded 75% by the State and 25% by the regions, it allows the payment by the public finance department (DGFiP) of € 1 on a lump sum basis. More information
  • Aid of up to € 1 for craftsmen and traders: automatic aid paid by Urssaf corresponding to the amount of supplementary pension contributions paid on the basis of their 2018 income.
  • Loan of € 10 to € 000M: Bpifrance offers to provide cash directly without guarantee, from 3 to 5 years with a significant grace period.

 

Load reports
  • Accelerated refund of tax credits
  • Rent, water, electricity, gas: small businesses in difficulty can request a deferral from their suppliers.
  • Social contributions : theUrssaf allows the postponement of all or part of social contributions on file for up to 3 months without penalties. 
  • Rescheduling of bank loans: deferral of loan repayments for up to 6 months and elimination of penalties and additional costs for deferral of deadlines. Commitment made by French banks
  • Direct tax deferral or rebates: possibility of asking the public accountant to spread or postpone the payment of the tax debt. For the most difficult situations, you can request a direct tax rebate. More information.

 

Careers
  • Partial activity : reinforcement of the partial activity mechanism with support by the State of 84% of the amount of wages up to 4,5 SMIC, and 100% at the level of the SMIC. More information
  • Childcare compensation: exceptional coverage of daily allowances by Health Insurance for parents who have no other option for the care of their children. 

 

Other measures
  • Adaptation of the organizational rules for shareholders' meetings: authorization of postponement to September or dematerialization of general meetings of companies.
  • Postponement of the execution of public contracts without penalties: delay penalties will not be applied for all state and local government public contracts.

 

National deconfinement protocol

On Tuesday May 5, the Ministry of Labor issued a national deconfinement protocol  to help and support companies and associations, whatever their size, activity and geographic location, to resume their activity while ensuring the protection of the health of their employees thanks to universal rules.

This protocol specifies the general doctrine of collective protection that private sector employers need to put in place. It comes in addition to 48 professional guides already available on the website of the Ministry of Labor et developed in partnership with professional federations and social partners

The Ministry of Labor has also set up a document gathering all the measures that an employer must take in order to protect its employees against the virus.

 

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