News item | 25-02-2022 | 15:45
In the context of the corona developments, the Netherlands will open and entrepreneurs can get back to work. That is why the cabinet will stop the corona support package as of the second quarter (1 April 2022). Entrepreneurs can then no longer make use of the temporary Emergency Measure Bridging Employment (NOW), the Fixed Expense Allowance (TVL) and the generic deferral of tax payments. The temporarily simplified implementation of the Self-Employed Assistance Decree (Bbz) will also come to an end, the regular Bbz will be implemented again without changes.
With the relaxation of the corona measures and the positive economic outlook, entrepreneurs have again the opportunity to do business without restrictions. This also means that the support packages will come to an end after two years. Thanks in part to this financial support to employers and employees affected, the economy is now back to full swing and unemployment is very low. Because the contact restrictive measures are over, generic corona support is no longer necessary. In addition, the chance that support will end up with entrepreneurs who suffer losses for reasons other than corona increases. Generic support also hinders people from switching to a new job where they are more needed. The Central Planning Bureau and De Nederlandsche Bank also believe that continuing with generic support will hinder recovery, disrupt the economy and damage the earning capacity of the Netherlands.
Ongoing measures
Various specific schemes for entrepreneurs will continue to apply after the first quarter of 2022. This concerns the event guarantee schemes, the temporary guarantee and credit schemes KKC and GO-C and the BMKB-C. The Qredits bridging loans for existing entrepreneurs and starters will continue until the end of June 2022. This also applies to the loan facilities at Cultuur+Ondernemen and the monument loan from the National Restoration Fund.
debt
The corona crisis has had a deep impact on society and many have been hit hard. Many companies, entrepreneurs and workers have been put to the test in the past two years. They have shown resilience and adaptability during this period. Despite the support packages, there are entrepreneurs and workers who have been hit hard by the crisis and have built up debt. The cabinet supports them with a favorable payment arrangement. For example, the accrued tax debt can be repaid in five years. For entrepreneurs with problematic debts, there are possibilities to obtain debt assistance through the municipality. In addition, the government essentially supports healthy companies with a high debt by making restructuring agreements more promising. This means that in the period from August 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, the Tax and Customs Administration will be satisfied with the same payment percentage as other creditors, instead of the double percentage that is normally used.
Long-term vision support
The knowledge that corona will not just disappear and that generic support measures are not sustainable in the long term also means that the Netherlands will return to regular economic relationships in an open society in the context of corona. In March, the cabinet will therefore elaborate on the long-term approach to the coronavirus and the associated long-term vision on support. The government will also discuss the debt approach of entrepreneurs. A healthy balance is sought in society between risks for the government and entrepreneurs.