Anti-crisis Shield - 6 Solutions for Entrepreneurs.

If you run an online store, business support is also available for your store. Check if you can take advantage of the solutions for entrepreneurs offered as part of the anti-crisis shield.

The package of changes to the so-called crisis law of 2 March 2020 - was published on 31 March in the Journal of Laws. The quick legislative process and the entry into force of the changes on the day of publication make it worth getting to know the proposed solutions - especially if you run your own business. The introduced anti-crisis shield regulations are intended to be a support during the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic - for the economy and entrepreneurs. The indicated proposals are intended to increase the financial security of small and medium-sized companies and employees. The most important solutions for entrepreneurs include:

1. Layoff benefit

This is a one-time payment due to economic standstill due to the occurrence of an epidemic threat. The benefit is non-taxable and non-taxable - it is 80% of the minimum wage. Self-employed people and those working on the basis of civil law contracts will be able to take advantage of it. It is possible to obtain a layoff benefit if the applicant had registered the activity before 1 February 2020, and the income obtained in the month preceding the month of submitting the application for the said benefit - was at least 15% lower than the income obtained in the month preceding that month. However, it cannot be higher than 300% of the average monthly salary from the previous quarter announced by the President of GUS.

2. Loan for micro-entrepreneurs

According to the amended law, a micro-entrepreneur may apply for a loan of up to PLN 5,000.00 if they had been running a business before March 1, 2020. The purpose of the loan is to cover current costs associated with running a business. The loan interest rate is fixed at 0.05% of the NBP discount rate per annum. The repayment period of the loan cannot exceed 12 months, with the repayment starting after a 3-month grace period. There is a chance to write off the loan with interest. The condition is that the micro-entrepreneur does not reduce the number of employees in full-time equivalent compared to the number of employees on February 29, 2020, for a period of 3 months from the date of granting the loan.

3. Subsidy for part of the costs of running a business in case of a decrease in turnover due to the coronavirus pandemic

This subsidy is a support for self-employed persons. It is paid out on a monthly basis upon submission of a statement by the entrepreneur that they are running a business in that month. The amount of the subsidy is not fixed and depends on the documented decrease in turnover. In the event of a decrease in turnover of at least 30%, the subsidy may be granted in the amount of 50% of the minimum wage per month. In the case of a greater decrease in turnover - at least 50% - the subsidy may be granted in the amount of 70% of the minimum wage per month. The highest decrease provided for by the law - at least 80% - allows for applying for a subsidy in the amount of 90% of the minimum wage per month. At this moment, the subsidy may be granted for a period not longer than 3 months.

4. Subsidy for part of the employee wages

Subsidy for part of the employee wages and social security contributions due on these wages - in the event of a decrease in business turnover as a result of the pandemicFunding can be granted to micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses and medium-sized businesses. Qualifying the entrepreneur into one of these groups is important, as it directly affects the period of granting the funding. The amount of funding is directly dependent on the percentage of turnover decrease, the number of employees employed by the entrepreneur and the minimum wage for work. However, it is required that the period of conducting business is at least one year and there are no grounds for declaring bankruptcy in relation to the entrepreneur. In addition, it is necessary for there to be a decrease in economic turnover meeting the statutory criteria in terms of their amount and the period of occurrence. Funding can be granted for a maximum of 3 months.

5. Funding for wages from the Guaranteed Benefits Fund

New regulations provide that the employee who has been subject to economic standstill - the employer pays a salary reduced by no more than 50%, but not lower than the minimum wage for work. The salary paid will be co-financed from the funds from the Guaranteed Benefits Fund, in the amount of 50% of the minimum wage for work - together with social security contributions due from the employer for the granted benefits. In the case of a reduction in working time due to a decrease in economic turnover - being a direct consequence of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, it is possible to reduce the employee's working time to a maximum of 20%, but no more than 1/2 full-time. However, the salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage for work.

6. Exemption from ZUS contributions

Exemption from ZUS contributions covers 3 months and can be used by payers who were registered for social security as payers of contributions before February 1, 2020, including those:

• a) who on February 29, 2020 registered for social security less than 10 insured persons - employees and contractors are included,
• b) are a person conducting business and paying contributions themselves or a cooperating person, and the income from the business did not exceed 300% of the average wage in February 2020.
• c) are clergy.

This article was prepared by the Law Office of Arkadiusz Jaskuła, which provides legal services to companies, also for SOTE and our customers: www.adwokat-jaskula.pl

Related Pages

• Online Store Regulations
• Online Store Regulations - English Version