COVID-19 – FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR CANADIANS

Since the beginning of March, restrictions and measures related to COVID-19 have rapidly escalated. On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a series of measures designed to support the finances of individuals, businesses, charities, and non-profit organizations. Since then, on an almost daily basis, new possibilities have been introduced, and old ones have been adjusted.

This document aims to provide a consolidated summary of support in their most current state of affairs, as of May 8, 2020 (all updates since April 16, 2020’s financial update are indicated by bold light blue font).

• Businesses
• Individuals
• Other Filings and Administration
• Future Changes
• Appendix 1:  Summary of Measures
• Appendix 2:  Summary of Deadlines
• Printable PDF Summary – UPDATED – May 8, 2020

BUSINESSES

As Canada struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has implemented a number of measures to assist businesses improve their cash flow such that they can survive over the coming months. They can be sorted into three primary categories: payroll support, financing, and deferrals of tax payments. While sole proprietors are eligible for many of these measures, some additional measures will be discussed in the Individuals section of this newsletter.

Payroll Support

There are generally three payroll programs available: the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy (10% WS), the 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (75% WS), and the Employment Insurance (EI) Work-sharing Program. In general, the 75% WS is available to a wide variety of entities whose revenue has dropped by at least 30%. The 10% WS is available only to smaller businesses but does not require a revenue decline. In cases where employers are entitled to both, amounts received under the 10% WS will reduce the amounts receivable under the 75% WS.

The EI Work-sharing Program is different in that it enables the employees and employer to agree to reduce working hours by 10% to 60%. This reduces the employer’s payroll costs, while the employees receive EI payments directly for the reduction in their hours. While the Work-sharing Program can be used in combination with a subsidy, the government has specifically noted that receipts under the 75% subsidy will be eroded by the EI received by the employee. The legislation implementing the 10% subsidy does not provide for any similar reduction.

10% Temporary Wage Subsidy (10% WS)

 A business may benefit immediately from a 10% subsidy by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld from their employees’ remuneration.

Eligibility

 In order to be eligible, the employer must meet three criteria:

• • employ one or more individuals in Canada (“eligible employees”);
  • was registered, with a business number and a payroll remittance account, on March 18, 2020; and
  • be any of the following:
    • most Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs), based on eligibility for the small business deduction (see below);
    • an individual (other than a trust);
    • a partnership, all members of which are entities described in (i), (ii), (iii) or (v);
    • a non-profit organization (exempt from income tax); or
    • a registered charity.

To be eligible, a CCPC must have had a business limit, for purposes of the small business deduction greater than nil for its most recent tax year ended prior to March 18, 2020 (or, if it had no taxation year ended before that date, would have had a business limit greater than nil if its taxation year ended on March 17, 2020).

For this purpose, the reduction to the business limit caused by the passive income grind (which commences when passive income exceeds $50,000) is not considered. However, a CCPC which had no business limit for other reasons (for example, its taxable capital, in combination with other associated corporations, exceeded $15 million; it was a member of an associated group of corporations and was not assigned any portion of the business limit; or it assigned its entire business limit to one or more other CCPCs under the specified corporate income rules) would not qualify for the subsidy.

A portion of remuneration (e.g. wages, salaries) paid to employees from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, inclusive, will be recoverable by the employer. The legislation affords the government the ability to change several amounts that determine the availability of the subsidy. Items in italics are amounts that have been announced to date.

The subsidy will be equal to the least of three amounts, as follows:

• • a fixed maximum for each employer of $25,000. CRA has indicated that this amount is per employer and is not required to be shared between related or associated employers;
  • a fixed percentage, being 10% of remuneration paid to eligible employees during the period from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020; or
  • the number of eligible employees employed during the period from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, multiplied by a fixed amount, $1,375.

Therefore, to get the maximum benefit of $25,000, the employer must have more than 18 employees with total wages no less than $250,000 during the period.

Application Process

There is no formal application process. Source deduction remittances for income tax, but not for CPP or EI, can be reduced for the available subsidy, providing an immediate cash flow benefit to the employer. Presumably, there will be an eventual requirement to account for the subsidy claimed, possibly when T4 slips are prepared and filed in early 2021.

The legislation does not prevent salaries to the owners (or related persons) from being eligible for the subsidy. Note, however, that a proprietor or partner is not an employee of their unincorporated business, so no subsidy would be available for their work. 

75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (75% WS)

On March 27, 2020 the government announced a 75% wage subsidy program for eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020. Unlike the 10% WS, the 75% WS is not limited to smaller businesses. However, a significant reduction of revenue is generally required to be eligible. The 75% WS also differs from the 10% WS in that it will be paid in cash to the employer.

Eligible Employers

Eligible employers include individuals, taxable corporations (large and small), partnerships consisting of eligible employers, as well as non‑profit organizations and registered charities. Unlike the 10% WS, individuals were not noted as “other than trusts”, however it was not specifically stated that trusts would qualify, leaving the eligibility of trusts which have employees uncertain. Public bodies would not be eligible (including municipalities and local governments, Crown corporations, public universities, colleges, schools and hospitals).

Revenue Decrease

This subsidy would be available to eligible employers that see a drop of at least 30% of their revenue. However, only a 15% drop is required in respect of March 2020 as only some sales during that month were generally affected. The employer will be required to formally attest that the required decline in revenue occurred. An employer’s revenue for this purpose would be its revenue from its business carried on in Canada earned from arm’s-length sources. Revenue would be measured either on the basis of accrual accounting (as they are earned) or cash accounting (as they are received), but the selected method would be required to be used for the entire duration of the program.

The taxpayer would have two options for comparing revenues. Option 1 is to compare the 2019 to 2020 revenue for the calendar month in which the period began. Option 2 is to compare the applicable month’s revenue to the average revenue earned in January and February 2020. The selected method would be required to be used for the entire duration of the program. The wage subsidy received by the employer in a given month would not be considered revenue for purposes of these calculations.

Non-profit entities and charities will have the option to include or exclude government funding in calculating revenue, but again, the selected method must be used for all applicable months.

Qualifying revenue for charities and non-profits was further defined to include gifts and other amounts received in the course of its ordinary activities. For non-profits this includes membership fees and other amounts received in the ordinary course of its activities. The calculation of qualifying revenue excludes revenues from non-arm’s length persons. Revenue from extraordinary items and amounts on account of capital are also excluded.

The table below outlines each claim period and the month for which a decline in revenue would be required:

Once an employer is eligible for a specific period, the employer automatically qualifies for the next period.

On May 8, 2020 the Prime Minister announced the 75% wage subsidy program will be extended beyond June 6, 2020. More information on the extension is be release in the next week.

Subsidy Amounts

The subsidy for most employees based on eligible remuneration paid between March 15 and June 6, 2020 would be the greater of:

• • 75% of remuneration paid, up to a maximum of $847 per week; and
  • the full remuneration paid, up to a maximum of $847 per week or 75% of the employee’s pre-crisis weekly remuneration, whichever is less.

“Baseline remuneration” will be the average weekly remuneration paid to the employee between January 1 and March 15, excluding any seven-day periods in respect of which the employee received no remuneration (so if an employee was hired on February 1, the lack of any remuneration in January would not reduce their pre-crisis remuneration).

In effect, employers may be eligible for a subsidy equal to 75% of the employee’s pre-crisis wages or salaries, to a maximum of $847 per week, provided the employee is paid at least that amount during the subsidy period. Employers would be expected to make “best efforts” to maintain existing employees’ pre-crisis employment earnings, however the documents acknowledge that some employers will be unable to top wages up to pre-crisis levels.

Eligible remuneration may include salary, wages, taxable benefits and other remuneration for which employers would generally be required to withhold or deduct amounts. However, it does not include severance pay, or items such as stock option benefits or the personal use of a corporate vehicle.

There will be no overall limit on the subsidy amount that an eligible employer may claim.

New Employees

 For new employees, the subsidy will be 75% of salaries and wages paid, not exceeding $847 per week.

Business Owners and their Family

The subsidy amount for these and other non-arm’s length employees will be limited to the eligible remuneration paid up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week or 75% of the employee’s pre-crisis weekly remuneration.

In other words, if there was no pre-crisis weekly remuneration, no 75% WS would be available for these employees, regardless of whether wages were paid after March 15, 2020.

Application Process

The Application is available through CRA’s My Business Account portal and authorized representatives can also submit the application. CRA recommends that businesses that haven’t already registered for My Business Account should do so as soon as possible at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services businesses/business-account.html). Employers would have to keep records demonstrating their reduction in arm’s-length revenues and remuneration paid to employees.

CRA is now accepting applications and subsidy applications must be filed before October 2020.

Should you need to make a correction to your application you will need to contact CRA via its general inquiries line. CRA is currently working on an online method to correct applications.

Multiple Payroll Accounts

The test to determine whether revenue declined by 15 or 30 percent is done at the eligible entity level. However, the eligible wages must be computed and reported on a payroll program account basis.

CPP, EI, QPP

Employers eligible for the 75% WS will be entitled to receive a 100% refund for certain employer-paid contributions to EI, the CPP, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. This refund would recover the entire amount of employer-paid contributions in respect of remuneration paid to furloughed employees (no work whatsoever is done in the relevant week) in a period where the employer is eligible for the 75% WS in respect of that employee.

This refund would not be subject to the weekly maximum benefit per employee of $847. There would be no overall limit on the refund amount that an eligible employer may claim.

Repayments/Penalties

New legislative penalty provisions are:

• • Ineligible claims would be subject to repayment of the amount;
  • Employers that engage in artificial transactions to reduce revenue for the purpose of claiming the CEWS will be subject to a penalty equal to 25% of the value of the subsidy claimed. In addition, to the requirement to repay in full the subsidy that was improperly claimed;
  • Employers subsequently found to be ineligible and grossly negligent maybe liable to a penalty equal to 50% of the overpayment.

Pre and Post Payment Verification

The CRA expects to begin to release funds for approved applications starting on May 5, 2020. Their goal is to process most applications within 10 business days of receipt. All applications will undergo an initial validation process, with CRA’s main objective to ensure the subsidy’s integrity while quickly releasing funds.

Post-payment verification work will start as early as June or July 2020. The CRA recognizes the importance of providing certainty to businesses on their subsidy claims as soon as possible.

As part of this pre- or post-payment verification work, the CRA may contact applicants by telephone to verify information on the application. The CRA is aware that taxpayers will want to verify that they are really speaking to a CRA employee and will take steps to minimize this problem.

Interaction with the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy

For employers that are eligible for both the 75% WS and 10% WS for a period, any benefit from the 10% WS would generally reduce the amount available to be claimed under the 75% WS in that same period. Therefore, reducing income tax withholdings on employee payroll remittances will allow businesses to benefit from a portion of the 75% WS earlier.

It is important to note that the 10% wage subsidy amount applies automatically, even if the employer has not reduced payroll withholding to take that subsidy into account. Thus, we recommend you retroactively apply for the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy.

Interaction with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Government has indicated that the 75% WS is not intended to be available for periods when the employee has also collected the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Adjustments to how these programs interact are being considered to encourage recently laid off workers to be re-hired.

Interaction with the Work-sharing Program

 For employers and employees that are participating in a Work-sharing Program, EI benefits received by employees through the program will reduce the 75% WS that their employer is entitled to receive.

Employment Insurance Work-sharing Program

The Work-sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours (from a 10% to 60% reduction) as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers, is not a new program. However, it has been broadened as a consequence of COVID-19.

In general, the employer must have experienced a recent decline in business activity of at least 10% to be eligible for the program, which means that many businesses who are experiencing a downturn due to COVID-19 should be eligible. Effective March 15, 2020, the maximum duration of such agreements was extended from 38 weeks to 76 weeks, eligibility requirements were eased, and the application process has been streamlined.

Eligibility

 Employers and employees must agree to participate in work-sharing and apply together. The employer must:

• • be a year-round business in Canada in operation for at least 1 year;
  • be a private business or a publicly held company; and
  • have at least 2 employees in the work-sharing unit.

Also note that eligibility was also extended to:

• • Government Business Enterprises; and
  • not-for-profit employers experiencing a shortage of work due to a reduction of business activity and/or a reduction in revenue levels due to COVID-19.

Employees must:

• • be year-round, permanent, full-time or part-time employees needed to carry out the day-to-day functions of the business (“core staff”),
  • be eligible to receive EI benefits, and
  • agree to reduce their normal working hours by the same percentage and to share the available work.

Employee eligibility was also extended to:

• • employees considered essential to the recovery and viability of the business, which would include, for example:
    • technical employees engaged in product development;
    • outside sales agents; and
    • marketing agents.

Employee Earnings

The employer pays the wages to employees for the hours they worked, as per normal, and then notifies the government through a utilization report of the work hours that employees missed. The employees are paid directly from EI for the percentage of their benefit rate that corresponds with the percentage of the work hours they missed.

For example, if the employee missed 50% of their normal weekly hours due to work-sharing, they would receive 50% of their benefit rate from EI. Their benefit rate will not be equivalent to their normal wages, as it is generally 55% of their average weekly earnings to a maximum of $573 per week (for 2020).

Also, the employer must maintain all existing employee benefits.

Application Process

A simplified process and set of forms have been introduced. Employers must complete these forms:

• • EMP5100 – Application for a Work-Sharing Agreement
  • EMP5101 – Attachment A: Work-Sharing Unit Attachment

Previously, a recovery plan was required, however, it was replaced by a single line of text within the application. Also, the requirement that the application be submitted at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the program has been eliminated.

Finally, weekly utilization reports must be submitted to ensure the appropriate EI benefits are calculated and paid.

For full details on the program and application process, go to:https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus/employers-factsheet.html

Layoff Considerations

Each of these programs assists employers to keep employees. This can be very useful in facilitating a quick restart or gearing-up of the business. Factors to consider when determining which program should be used, if any:

• • the need to have staff ready when the business is ready to re-start or gear-up;
  • the magnitude of revenue decline;
  • whether the business will be permanently closed;
  • the programs for which the employer is eligible;
  • whether there is any work available for the employee to do;
  • how much payroll needs to be reduced;
  • employment agreement conditions, restrictions, and costs of termination; and
  • staff and client morale.

In some situations, even the support provided may not be sufficient to avoid partial or complete layoffs. In such cases, terminated employees may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, discussed in the next section. Note that employees can be retained with no working hours and still be eligible for this benefit. This would afford an additional option for maintaining workers to be re-activated when the economy recovers.

Financing

On March 27, 2020, details of the Business Credit Availability Program were announced. It provides support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC). Both organizations will work with private lenders to extend credit for businesses. In many cases, financial institutions will reach out to their clients with details and the specific application process. In general, three programs are available:

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

• This provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover operating costs during a period where revenues have been temporarily reduced. To qualify, organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. 25% of the loan will be forgiven where the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022. Applications through the borrower’s financial institution should be available on April 9, 2020.

Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

• EDC is working with financial institutions to issue new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium enterprises.

Co-lending Program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

• BDC is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans to small and medium enterprises for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts of up to $6.25 million through the program.

Interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions.

Deferral of tax payment and filings

Income Tax

Deadlines for payment of corporate income tax payable under Part I of the Income Tax Act that become due on or after March 18, 2020 (also including installments) and before September 2020 are deferred to September 1, 2020. No interest will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

Taxpayers may defer a number of other administrative tax actions required under the Income Tax Act that are due after March 18, 2020, until June 1, 2020. These include filing of income tax returns, forms, elections, designations, and responses to information requests. This includes corporate income tax returns.

Payroll and Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED)

Payroll deductions and all related activities must continue to be done on time. As well, the extension does not apply to SR&ED prescribed forms and investment tax credits including the apprenticeship job creation tax credit. These claims cannot be accepted if they are submitted later than 12 months after the due date of the related income tax return. CRA has no discretion in this regard.

 GST/HST

 A GST/HST remittance deferral is offered which would extend until June 30, 2020 the time for:

• monthly filers to remit amounts collected for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods;
• quarterly filers to remit amounts collected for the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period; and
• annual filers, whose GST/HST return or installment are due in March, April or May 2020, to remit amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and installments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year.

In other words, any GST/HST which would otherwise become payable at the end of March, April or May will instead be payable by June 30, 2020.

Finally, in respect of customs duty and sales tax for importers, the payment deadlines for statements of accounts for March, April, and May are being deferred to June 30, 2020.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.

The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will administer and deliver the CECRA, a collaboration between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.

To qualify for CECRA for small businesses, the property owner must meet the following requirements:

• You own property that generates rental revenue from commercial real property located in Canada;
• You are the property owner of the commercial real property where the impacted small business tenants are located;
• You have a mortgage loan secured by the commercial real property, occupied by one or more small business tenants; *
• You have entered or will enter into a rent reduction agreement for the period of April, May, and June 2020, that will reduce impacted small business tenant’s rent by at least 75%;
• Your rent reduction agreement with impacted tenants includes a moratorium on eviction for the period of April, May and June 2020;
• You have declared rental income on your tax return (personal or corporate) for tax years 2018 and/or 2019.

* For those property owners who do not have a mortgage must contact CMHC for their options. Further information will be outlined in the near future. Commercial properties with a residential component and multi-unit residential properties with commercial tenants are also eligible.

What is an impacted small business tenant?

Impacted small business tenants are businesses, including non-profit and charitable organizations who:

• pay no more than $50,000 in monthly gross rent per location (as defined by a valid and enforceable lease agreement);
• generate no more than $20 million in gross annual revenues, calculated on a consolidated basis (at the ultimate parent level); and
• have temporarily ceased operations (i.e. generating no revenues) or has experienced at least a 70% decline in pre-COVID-19 revenues.**

** To measure revenue loss, small businesses can compare revenues in April, May and June of 2020 to that of the same month of 2019. They can also use an average of their revenues earned in January and February of 2020.

The program offers assistance for the months of April, May and June 2020.

• It can be applied retroactively;
• Property owners may still apply for assistance once the 3-month period has ended if they can prove eligibility during those months;
• Property owners must refund amounts paid by the small business tenant for the period.*

*If rent has been collected at the time of approval, a credit to the tenant for a future month’s rent (i.e. July for April) is acceptable if agreed upon by both the property owner and the tenant. This can be a flexible 3-month period.

The deadline to apply is August 31, 2020 and details of how to apply are expected to be available soon.

CMHC will provide forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners.

• The loans will cover 50% of the gross rent owed by impacted small business tenants during the 3-month period of April, May and June 2020;
• The property owner will be responsible for no less than half of the remaining 50% of the gross rent payments (paying no less than 25% of the total);
• The small business tenant will be responsible for no more than half of the remaining 50% of the gross rent payments (paying no more than 25% of the total).

CECRA for small business loans will be forgiven if the property owner complies with all applicable program terms and conditions including to not seek to recover rent abatement amounts after the program is over.

Program details including how funds will be disbursed and how to apply are being finalized and will be available soon.

See Appendix 2 of this document for a summary of deadlines and due dates.

INDIVIDUALS

A number of measures have been offered to individuals based on the number of individuals in their family, employment/business status, and income levels. These can be divided into the following categories: one-time payments, tax deferrals, employment insurance sickness benefits, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and other supports.

One-time Payments

Special GST Credit payment

A one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC) was to be made on April 9, 2020. This will double the maximum annual GSTC and result in an average payment for those benefiting by close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples. Some individuals or families whose “adjusted income” was too high to qualify for any quarterly GSTC payments will be eligible for this one-time payment. No application was required to receive the benefit.

Special Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment

An additional Canada Child Benefit payment amount of $300 per child will be added to the May 2020 benefit cheque. Some families with children under age 18 who do not receive monthly benefits will be eligible for a one-time benefit in May.

Tax Deferrals

Payment deadlines for income tax amounts that become due on or after March 18, 2020 and before September 2020 are deferred to September 1, 2020. This includes the June 15, 2020 installment. No interest will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefit

EI sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury or quarantine. The government has enhanced access to this benefit by:

• waiving the one-week waiting period for new claimants who are quarantined that claim EI sickness benefits, effective March 15, 2020; and
• waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate.

Note that sickness and regular EI benefits will be rolled into the Canada Emergency Response Benefit discussed below.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

The CERB will provide a taxable benefit for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but are not eligible for traditional EI. It will also cover sickness and regular EI claims made for periods commencing on or after March 15, 2020.

Amounts

These income support payments can be made for a maximum of 16 weeks. $2,000 would be provided per 4-week period. The first 4-week period goes from March 15 to April 11, 2020. The CERB is taxable although tax will not be deducted at source. It must be reported as income for the 2020 tax year. CRA has indicated an information slip will be issued.

Eligibility

To receive the CERB, the applicant must be an “eligible worker”, meaning they must:

• be at least 15 years of age;
• be resident in Canada;
• have stopped working because of COVID-19 or be eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits;
• be or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the four-week period; and
• for 14 consecutive days during the 4-week payment period, you do not expect to receive more than $1,000 (before taxes) from employment or self-employment;
• you do not expect your situation to change during this 4-week period and you do not expect to receive more than $1,000 (before taxes) from employment and self-employment income, and
• for 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make an application, have had a total income of at least $5,000 from:
  • employment;
  • self-employment;
  • certain EI benefits (maternity and parental benefits); and
  • honoraria;
  • royalties;
  • non-eligible dividends; and
  • allowances, money or other benefits paid to the person under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or in respect of the care by the person of one or more of their new-born children or one or more children placed with them for the purpose of adoption.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not considered employment income and should not be included.

On April 6, 2020, the date applications for the CERB commenced, the government announced that non-eligible dividends would also count towards the $5,000 prior income eligibility requirement. Therefore, owner-managers or their family members compensated only by non-eligible dividends may be eligible for the CERB provided that the other requirements are met. Further, the minimum $5,000 income does not have to be earned in Canada, but the taxpayer needs to reside in Canada.

The worker, whether employed or self-employed, must cease to work for reasons related to COVID-19 for at least 14 consecutive days within the four-week period (required to commence on a Sunday) in respect of which they apply for the payment. Specific examples of people who would be eligible were:

• workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support;
• workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19;
• working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures;
• workers who are still employed but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work; and
• wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for EI; and.
• workers who have received regular EI for a least one week since December 29, 2019 and are no longer eligible for EI benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work due to COVID-19.

For the period of work cessation, the applicant cannot receive income from the sources listed above and cannot receive any other EI benefits. Further, workers that quit voluntarily are not eligible.

Workers who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents – including temporary foreign workers and international students – may be eligible to receive CERB if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Interaction with the EI System

If an individual became eligible for EI prior to March 15th, the claim will be processed under the pre-existing EI rules. If the individual applied for EI regular or sickness benefits on March 15, 2020 or later, the claim will be automatically processed through the CERB. The CERB will pay $500 per week, regardless of what the individual may have been eligible to receive through EI. If still eligible for EI after the completion of CERB payments, individuals can receive normal EI benefits.

If the individual was eligible for EI benefits that started before March 15, 2020, and these benefits end before October 3, 2020, the individual may then apply for the CERB if they meet the eligibility requirements, including having stopped work because of reasons related to COVID-19. EI benefits and the CERB cannot be paid for the same period.

Application Process

 Applications commenced on April 6,2020, and can be made through My Account or by using a dedicated automated phone line (1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041). Applicants need to provide their contact information and Social Insurance Number, and confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements. Individuals who have never filed a Canadian tax return must apply through CRA’s General Enquiries Line, 1-800-959-8281. Additional documentation to verify eligibility may be required at a future date. Payments by direct deposit can be expected within three business days after application.

For the first week of applications, CRA requested that applications be made on specific days of the week, based on month of birth, in order to minimize delays.

Other Support

Mortgage/debt Support

The government has stated that Canada’s large banks have confirmed that support will include up to a 6-month payment deferral for mortgages and the opportunity for relief on other credit products. Banks have affirmed their commitment to working with customers to provide flexible solutions, on a case-by-case basis, for managing through hardships caused by recent developments. This may include situations such as pay disruption, childcare disruption, or illness. Further, some banks have begun to offer reduced credit card interest rates.

Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad

 This provides the option of an emergency loan to Canadians in need of immediate financial assistance (of up to $5,000) to return home or to temporarily cover their life-sustaining needs while they work toward their return. Each application will be assessed according to their specific situation and needs. Eligible Canadians currently outside Canada and needing help to return home can contact the nearest Government of Canada office (https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates), Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available), or email sos@international.gc.ca.

 Student Loans

 A six-month interest-free moratorium, from March 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020, has been provided on the repayment of loans under the Canada Student Act, Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, and Apprentice Loans Act for all individuals currently in the process of repaying these loans.

The Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) is delivered in collaboration with 10 participating jurisdictions. Students in Quebec, Northwest Territories and Nunavut do not receive CSLP support as these jurisdictions run their own student financial assistance programs. Additional compensation will be offered to provinces and territories that do not participate in the CSLP.

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

Canada Student Service Grant

To encourage students to participate in the COVID-19 response, the government will launch a new national service initiative to recognize students’ significant contributions to the COVID-19 efforts, and provide support through a new Canada Student Service Grant which will provide up to $5,000 to support student’s post-secondary education costs in the fall.

International Students

The Government of Canada will remove the restriction that allows international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, provided they are working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.

International students and their employers should consult Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada’s Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada during the COVID-19 Outbreak to determine if the work the student is doing would allow them to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic session. This temporary rule change will be in place until August 31, 2020.

Minimum RRIF Withdrawal

 In recognition of the substantial recent value declines in the investment markets, the minimum withdrawal from a RRIF or a money purchase pension plan for 2020 (computed as a percentage of its value on January 1, 2020) has been reduced by 25%. No similar reduction is available for defined benefit individual pension plans.

This reduction will not be considered in determining whether withdrawals from a spousal RRIF attribute back to the other spouse or for purposes of certain benefits available to non-residents of Canada under income tax treaties.

OTHER FILINGS AND ADMINISTRATION

The following summarize administrative changes aimed at easing or delaying filing obligations and other CRA related activities. A summary of filing and payment deadlines is included in Appendix 2.

Employer Health Tax (EHT)

On March 25, 2020, the Ontario Government announced it is increasing the EHT exemption for 2020 from $490,000 to $1 million retroactive to January 1, 2020. Only the exemption amount is changing; eligibility, tax rates and everything else remains the same. For more information visit: https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/guides/eht/foremployers.html.

EFILE Signatures

In order to reduce the necessity for taxpayers and tax preparers to meet in person, CRA will recognize electronic signatures as a temporary administrative measure. This provision applies to authorization forms T183 and T183CORP.

CRA Audit and Verification Activity

On March 18, 2020, CRA stated that they will not contact any small or medium businesses to initiate any post-assessment GST/HST or income tax audits for the next four weeks. For the vast majority of businesses, CRA will temporarily suspend audit interaction with taxpayers and representatives. Interaction with taxpayers will be limited to high risk and exceptional cases, or cases of high-risk GST/HST refund claims which require some contact before they can be paid out. Other audits are temporarily suspended.

CRA Collections

Collection activities on new receivables have been suspended until further notice, and flexible payment arrangements will be offered. As well, CRA has noted that, where payments or other tax obligations have been missed due to COVID-19, the usual process of requesting penalties and/or interest be waived is available. CRA has also temporarily suspended requirements to pay (RTP) sent to employers to require they withhold amounts for unpaid taxes from employees’ remuneration.

CRA Objections and Appeals

Any objections related to Canadians’ entitlement to benefits and credits have been identified as a critical service which will continue to be delivered. As a result, there should not be any delays associated with the processing of these objections.

With respect to objections related to other tax matters filed by individuals and businesses, CRA is currently holding these accounts in abeyance. No collection action will be taken with respect to these accounts during this period of time.

On March 27, 2020, CRA stated that for any objection request due March 18 or later, the deadline is effectively extended until June 30, 2020.

CRA Call Centres

The individual and benefit CRA call centres will continue to be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays (local time). Hours will be reduced for April 10-13 due to the holidays.

As fewer agents are available, assistance will only be provided for calls from those having issues filing their 2019 income tax and benefit return, getting their benefit payments, or those looking to register for My Account. Similarly, fewer staff will be available on the other call centre lines. Further, the call centres for debt management, charities, and national leads have been closed indefinitely.

FUTURE CHANGES

In many situations, the legislation behind these programs have been constructed in ways that allow the government to make quick modifications to criteria, amounts and timing. Further, over the next days and weeks, the specifics on some programs will be released.

Most of the details for these initiatives will be released on one of these four government webpages:

• General – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/canadas-reponse.html
• CRA – https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update.html
• Travel – https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-info/financial-assistance/covid-19-financial-help
• Employment and Social Development Canada –https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html

APPENDIX 1 – Federal Government Financial Relief Measures Related to COVID-19

This summary should be read in conjunction with the rest of this document (COVID-19 – Financial Relief for Canadians). It is only intended to be a general overview of the programs – specific details should be reviewed. Further, it should be noted that clarifications or modifications to the supports may have been released by the government since publication on April 30, 2020.

BUSINESSES

INDIVIDUALS

APPENDIX 2 – Tax Deadlines & Payments – Summary of Extensions*

Provincial Income Tax Filings

Other Administrative Deadlines

*As of May 8, 2020

If you have any questions or require further information, reach out to your McCay Duff advisor.