The world under COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic managed to bring the global economy to a standstill. To help small businesses in this situation, governments from around the world have come up with financial relief plans. To help you access these opportunities, we’ve created a consolidated list of financial support programs that are being offered by different countries during COVID-19. 

In addition, we at Zoho believe now is the time to give back to all the small businesses who have always supported us. To ease the burden for our subscribers, Zoho has come up with the Small Business Emergency Assistance Subscription Program (ESAP). Under this, small businesses (25 or fewer employees) who have been subscribed to Zoho for a year can continue to use the software they’ve subscribed to for free for the next three months. The waivers offered will depend on the effect and severity of disruption based on the industry. 

Here is the global list of programs, arranged by country. These schemes may change over time and may get outdated. We will try our best to maintain it as much as possible. 

United States of America

  • SBA Express Bridge Loans
    This loan enables businesses that have an existing relationship with an SBA express lender to borrow up to $25k immediately.

  • SBA Debt Relief
    This is a small financial reprieve to small businesses where SBA will pay the principal, interest, and fees for a period of six months.

  • WaFD 
    This regional bank is offering 90 days interest-free to businesses with a 10% drop in revenue. This is available in several states like Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

  • Alabama
    The Department of Revenue for the state of Alabama is waiving late fees for sales tax for small hospitality and retail businesses.

  • Arkansas
    The Governor has promised to fund to midsize companies to continue their operations.

  • California
    The sate of California has several COVID relief plans for small and medium businesses in the state:

  • Colorado 
    This state is currently offering two relief plans:

  • Connecticut
    The state is offering no-interest loans to organizations with less than 100 employees.

  • Delaware
    They are offering no-interest loans of $10k to businesses that have a turnover of less than $1.5 million per year.

  • Illinois
    This is offered by the state to provide vital economic support required by small businesses and NGO’s at an almost zero interest rate.

  • Iowa
    This grant offered $5k-25k to small businesses. The application window has closed as of March 31, 2020.

  • Kansas
    They used to offer a short-term loan of $20k offered by the government to small businesses with less than 100 employees.

  • Louisiana
    The funds offered by the state are extended to gig workers like musicians and drivers as long as they are Orleans Parish members.

  • Massachusetts
    The administration has offered up to $75k to small businesses with less than 50 full and part-time employees.

  • Michigan 
    This state is offering three support programs:

  • Minnesota 
    This state has the following relief programs:

    • Small Business Emergency Loan

  • Montana 
    This state’s relief programs are:

  • Nevada 
    This state offers the following programs:

    • Nevada Debt Relief 

    • WaFD, a regional bank, is offering 90 days interest-free to businesses with a 10% drop in revenue.

  • New Hampshire
    The state is offering emergency assistance to people so that they can keep their homes. This program will pay for rent and other essentials like heating systems.

  • New Jersey 
    This state’s relief programs are:

To learn more about all the different support offered by New Jersey, visit this page.

  • New York 
    This state offers a wide range of COVID relief programs to small businesses:

  • North Dakota 
    This state is offering many relief programs including:

  • Washington 
    This state will soon offer the Small Business Emergency Grant Program along with all other countrywide programs.

  • Wisconsin 
    This state has several programs to offer:

Canada

  • The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
    This program provides $2,000 CAD per month for the next four months to eligible workers who lost their jobs to COVID-19.

  • Community Support Fund
    This fund is used to meet the immediate needs in the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities.

  • Work-Sharing program  
    Under this program, employees work for a reduced number of hours each day for reasons that are beyond the control of the employers.

  • Mortgage Deferral
    The respective financial institutions will be proving the necessary support for planning and activating mortgage deferrals.

Europe

United Kingdom (UK)

  • Corona Job Retention Scheme
    This scheme provides 80% of an employee’s wages up to £2,500 monthly. This is applicable for the next three months.

  • Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees
    Under this scheme, sick employers can claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid to employees for sickness absence due to COVID-19. This is only for small and medium businesses with less than 250 employees. This scheme is still under development and will come into effect once the legislature has passed it.

  • Commercial Insurance
    Most insurance policies do not cover pandemics like COVID-19. Those under the insurance scheme that covers government-ordered closure and pandemic or unspecified notifiable diseases such as COVID-19 can make claims under this policy.

  • Support to Small Businesses by Deferral of VAT
    Under this scheme, VAT payments have been deferred for a span of three months until the end of June.

Italy 

  • Small and medium-sized businesses will get a moratorium on mortgage payments and other short-term maturity loan repayments.

  • Exemption of Various Taxes
    Italy has postponed the payment of all taxes and government duties, with different deadlines for different sectors.

  • Bonus to Employees
    Employees who have an income of less than €40,000 in the previous fiscal year can get a non-taxable bonus of €100 for each day they worked in the month of March 2020.

France

  • France has extended all tax payment deadlines for the next three months until June. Essential bills like electricity and gas have also been postponed for small businesses. Companies have been asked to pay employees 70% of their salary. For employees who fall below the minimum wage categories, companies must pay 100% of their salaries. The state has also guaranteed cash loans to all businesses with a few exceptions.

Germany

  • Kurzarbeit (short-term working) is a government scheme where employers are expected to reduce employee working hours while the state continues to pay their salaries. This is a chosen method to reduce layoffs.

Africa

South Africa

  • Debt Relief Fund
    This program is available for small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMME’s) who can demonstrate a direct impact of COVID-19 on their businesses. It will offer relaxation to existing debts and repayments.

  • The Business Growth/Resilience Fund
    This scheme is meant to allow SMME’s to continue to manufacture and produce goods that are in high demand locally due to the COVID-19 situation.

  • Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Support
    This scheme will fund vulnerable businesses while giving fast-track financial support to vital businesses addressing the impact of COVID-19.

  • National Empowerment Fund (NEF) Support
    This scheme has allocated 200 million Rand as loans for black entrepreneurs to help manufacture essentials like masks and other equipment during COVID-19.

  • Small businesses in South Africa can also apply for grants on the basis that they are based out of South Africa and have at least 70% of employees who are citizens of South Africa.

Middle East

To learn about all the schemes offered by the different countries in the Middle East, visit this link. 

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

  • Targeted Economic Support Scheme
    The Central Bank of UAE has allocated 100 billion Dirhams to ease principal and interest payments to help the economy and protect consumers.

Saudi Arabia

  • The government of Saudi Arabia has decided to give an extension of three months for VAT and Excise Tax.

  • Expatriate Residence Visas will be extended for a period of three months while employers will be given refunds on visas that are not used due to lockdown of borders.

Egypt

  • Property tax will be given a three months extension for businesses in the tourism and industrial sectors.

  • The Central Bank of Egypt has reduced interest rates along with rates of essentials like electricity and natural gas for industries.

Oceania 

Australia

  • Jobkeeper Package
    This scheme provides 100% median wages for industries that are deeply affected and about 70% for other industries. This will amount to a minimum of $1,500 every fortnight for the next six months.

  • Business and Industry Support 
    Under this relief scheme, there are several industry-specific categories of programs:

  • Australian Taxation Office (ATO) 
    ATO has requested all affected businesses to directly contact them on the Emergency Support Infoline at 1800-806 218. You can also check out their website for further information.

New Zealand 

  • Business Finance Guarantee Scheme
    This scheme will provide businesses with cash flow and operating expenses. $6.25 billion NZD will be made available in loans to New Zealand businesses under this scheme.

Asia 

India 

  • COVID-19 Regulatory package
    This is a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiative where all loans are given a three-month moratorium period. The catch is that this moratorium period will cost you in the form of an increased interest rate.

  • PM Garib Kalyan Aann Yojana
    This scheme is meant to help the weakest section of society. Rural women and migrant workers will benefit the most from this scheme that provides free ration to 80 crore families for the next three months starting from April .

  • COVID-19 Second Economic Package
    This scheme is still under discussion. It is meant to bring tax concessions to the worst-hit manufacturing industries. Micro, small, and medium industries will benefit from this scheme.

China

  • Financial 30
    This is a collection of multiple policies that have been issued by the government, the Bank of China, and other regulatory commissions.

Singapore 

  • Job Support Scheme
    This scheme allows 8% of wages for every worker in employment with a cap of S$3,600 per month for the next three months until the end of June.

  • Corporate Income Tax rebate 
    All tax paying organizations can use a rebate of 25% of tax payable capped at S$15,000.

  • Redeployment Programs
    Employees from the aviation and tourism sector can take time to re-skill themselves and find jobs in other sectors.

  • Property Tax Rebate 
    Under this scheme, organizations can use a rebate of 30% for accommodation in licensed hotels for 2020. A 15% rebate is provided for International cruises and ferries.

In addition to all of these, the World Bank has offered financial support to different countries as a part of their First Operation for COVID-19. To learn more about these financial offers, visit their website. 

There are several other schemes that are being made available across the world. If you are aware of any that could make a difference, email us at sneha.j@zohocorp.com.

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