Discretionary Grant Fund for businesses impacted by coronavirus

June 5, 2020

We have already discussed the  financial support available for businesses impacted by coronavirus previously. However the latest initiative known as the Discretionary Grant Fund could prove to be extremely valuable for micro and small businesses.

Discretionary Grant Fund

Who is eligible for the Discretionary Grant Fund?

A Discretionary Grant Fund is available for small and micro-businesses that have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus and that are not eligible for other grant schemes.

A business will be potentially eligible if it fulfils the following criteria:

Who does not qualify?

You can't apply if your business is in administration, insolvent or has received a striking-off notice. Additionally you cannot make a claim if you are already claiming under another government grant scheme. However you can claim under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and still potentially qualify.

How much can I claim?

The grant amount payable is discretionary though may be up to £25,000, £10,000 or any amount under £10,000.

It is worth noting that priority applications will be given to the following businesses

  • Those small businesses in shared offices or other flexible works paces, such as units in industrial parks or business incubators
  • Regular market traders
  • Bed and breakfasts businesses who pay council tax instead of business rates.
  • Charity properties getting charitable business rates relief, which are not eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief

How do I apply?

This grant opened on 29 May 2020 and it closes at 9 am on 15 June 2020. You will need to go to your local council's website in order to apply.

For more useful information, check out our Ebooks here.

And if you'd like to know how we can help you with all of this, or with anything else, feel free to give us a call on 01202 048696 or email us at [email protected].

About the author

Richard Baldwyn ATT CTA

Richard is Co-Founder of The Friendly Accountants and has more than 30 years' experience, in tax, including 3 years spent inside HMRC before moving into private practice. He advises individuals and owner-managed businesses on a wide range of UK tax issues, including the tax challenges created by digital platforms and online business models.

Richard has specialised in UK crypto taxation since 2016 and was one of the first UK tax advisers to write publicly about the taxation of cryptoassets. His work includes advising individuals, investors, founders and owner-managed businesses on complex crypto transactions, HMRC disclosures and enquiries, DeFi, NFTs and the tax issues facing businesses operating with digital assets.

He also has first-hand experience of cryptoassets and Web3 projects, combining practical knowledge of how crypto is used with wider UK tax experience.

He particularly enjoys making complex tax transactions easier to understand and helping clients apply tax rules to transactions and technologies that do not always fit neatly within traditional tax categories. More about Richard and the TFA team

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