Support for business costs is intended for companies whose turnover has fallen over 25% due to the coronavirus and that have therefore struggled to pay inflexible costs and payroll costs. According to the Government, the need for and amount of support will be assessed on the basis of the sudden decrease in turnover caused by the coronavirus epidemic. The purpose of the support is to help companies cope until the coronavirus pandemic ends.

Business cost support primarily intended for tourism, restaurant and event companies that have suffered from less restrictive measures. A company whose operations or a significant part of its customer base has been subject to restrictions may also apply for business cost support.

Companies that according to the EU State aid rules were in financial difficulties on 31 December 2019, or that have neglected their tax obligations or are bankrupt are not entitled to business cost support. Support may not be granted for business activities in primary agricultural production, fisheries and aquaculture. More information: https://www.valtiokonttori.fi/en/covid19support/

 

Preparations for the sixth round for business cost support and closure compensation are under way. The Government submitted its proposal for the sixth round of business cost support to Parliament on 10 February 2022 and it will enter into force on 15 March 2022. The support period for the sixth round of business cost support is from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022 Applications will be accepted from 26 April. Companies can apply for business cost support at the  State Treasury.

The support period for the sixth round of business cost support is from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022 and the reference months are from 2019. For new companies the reference months are from November 2021. Aligning the reference periods more closely with the support period will make companies established later eligible for support as long as the company has had business activities as of 1 November 2021. 
 

 

It does. In the sixth application round, the percentage in the decrease in turnover and the company’s own liability has been reduced from the previous 30% to 25%.
 

The calculation of compensation would be based on payroll costs and inflexible business costs (other costs of the reference period), which the company declares in its application. Payroll costs would also include the employer’s non-wage labour costs calculated as a percentage ratio. 
 

Companies are eligible for support if their premises have been closed in full or in significant part or if public events organised by these companies have been prohibited by a provision of an act or by order of an authority to manage a pandemic. Similarly, a restriction that would clearly make organising an event impossible would be regarded as a prohibition. A less severe restriction or recommendation issued by an authority would not constitute a closure measure for the purposes of closure compensation. The compensation does not cover events for which the use of a COVID-19 passport would be permitted.

The compensation does not cover theatres, orchestras or national art institutions that receive central government transfers or grants, or so-called independent art professionals who receive aid from the Arts Promotion Center Finland. The Ministry of Education and Culture is currently preparing a support scheme for these operators. 
 

Companies and other operators can apply for compensation for closure measures issued from 21 December 2021 to 28 February 2022. The reference period is 1 December 2021–28 February 2022. With this solution, the costs can be allocated more accurately for the closure period. The amount of compensation would be based on the number of closure days during the support period. As regards public events prohibited during the support period, costs from 1 October 2021 may be considered.
 

 

The closure compensation will compensate for the losses to business activities caused by the coronavirus-related closures and prohibitions of public events. The preparation of a new application round for closure compensation is under way. Applications will be accepted from 22 March 2022. Companies can apply for the closure compensation at the S State Treasury