This article was written on 28 March 2020 and updated on 29, 30 and 31 March and 8 April 2020.
Since Friday 27 March, the Compensation Scheme for Entrepreneurs in Affected Sectors (TOGS) has been open for applications at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Previously, this scheme was also referred to as the ‘emergency helpdesk’. The text of the scheme was published on 30 March 2020 in the Official Gazette announced. This article is based on the information on the website of the Central Government.
€ 4.000
A one-off grant of €4,000 is available at the emergency helpdesk for business owners who are directly affected by the measures taken to combat the coronavirus.
Previous announcements regarding the emergency helpdesk had already stated that it is intended, for example, for the hospitality sector and beauty salons. This has now been set out in more detail in the form of a list of SBI codes (SBI stands for Standard Business Classification). Only business owners whose main activity falls under one of these SBI codes are eligible for a grant from the emergency support scheme.
You can look up your company’s SBI code at the Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Commerce). If the SBI code registered for your business with the Chamber of Commerce is incorrect, you can report this to RVO. RVO will then assess each case individually.
For sport too
The list of SBI codes shows that some (amateur) sports clubs and foundations are also eligible for the emergency support scheme. For example, the list includes the SBI codes for outdoor football, team outdoor sports (other than football), tennis, athletics, equestrian sports, cycling, motor racing and motorcycling, winter sports and other outdoor sports.
Non-food items added
On the day after the emergency support scheme was launched, it was announced that the group of businesses eligible for support would be expanded to include those in the non-food sector (such as retailers). This applies with effect from 30 March 2020. As these shops were permitted to remain open, they were not initially eligible for the emergency support scheme.
The updated list of SBI codes was published on 31 March 2020.
Dentists, physiotherapists and various other sectors have been added
A letter to Parliament dated 7 April 2020 states that the emergency helpdesk is being extended to cover a number of additional sectors. The list of SBI codes has already been updated. The list has been divided into three modules. Businesses in Module 2 are asked to declare that 70% of their turnover comes from the affected sectors listed in Module 1 and from the sectors included in the list published on 27 and 28 March.
The sectors that have been added include, amongst others, campsites, heritage conservation (the management of listed buildings), taxi services, zoos, dentists and physiotherapists. Healthcare providers must submit an additional declaration setting out the extent to which the loss of turnover and staff costs have already been compensated through the continuity allowance provided by health insurers.
Conditions
To be eligible for the donation, the following conditions must be met, in addition to the SBI code:
- Your business must not have a physical premises at a residential address (with the exception of pub and restaurant owners who rent, lease or own a catering establishment); see below!;
- you expect your business to suffer a loss of turnover of at least €4,000 during the period from 16 March 2020 to 15 June 2020 inclusive;
- you have at least €4,000 in fixed expenses during the period mentioned above;
- your company employs no more than 250 staff;
- your business was established and registered with the Chamber of Commerce before 15 March 2020;
- your business is not a state-owned enterprise;
- Your business is not in liquidation and has not filed an application for a moratorium on payments with the court.
Outdoor criteria relaxed
The requirement that the business must be based outside the home is being relaxed in two respects:
- These entrepreneurs are required to provide a supplementary statement confirming that their business activities are of a certain minimum scale;
- The requirement does not apply to sectors characterised by the fact that they have physical premises or physical means of production outside their home (for example, a driving school operator, who bears substantial costs in relation to the training vehicles).
Post-event assessment
In the application, the applicant must declare that all these conditions are met. The government may subsequently verify whether these declarations are accurate. The amount of the grant may be revised within five years of its award if it transpires that it was awarded in breach of the policy rules as a result of the company providing incorrect information.
Request
As mentioned, the emergency helpdesk has been set up at RVO. The application must be submitted there digital submitted (using DigiD or E-herkenning). However, immediately after the service desk opened, this was no longer possible due to a technical fault. The emergency service desk is now only accessible to a limited extent.
Applications can be submitted for a period of three months. As the application window opened on 27 March 2020, it will close on 26 June 2020.