Information about the business grant review process
About the review
The Chancellor announced that certain businesses qualified for grants to support them through the Coronavirus crisis during the national lockdowns and tier restrictions between November 2020 and March 2021.
More information and eligibility criteria on these grants can be found on the GOV.UK website
We are now reviewing grant payments to ensure businesses have fully met the eligibility criteria and that State Aid and/or Subsidy limits have not been exceeded. Some businesses may have received grants from other local authorities as well as grants administered by Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk so it is important we capture this information.
Eligibility
Please use this short online form to declare that your business has met the eligibility criteria and has not exceeded Sate Aid and/or Subsidy Allowance limits.
If you do not meet the criteria, or if you think you should not have received the grants for any other reason, you must contact us on 01553 616200.
Refusal of grant
If you were eligible for the grants but wish to return them (or part of) please contact us on 01553 616200 to arrange repayment.
Tax
The grants are taxable income and must be declared to HMRC either as part of a business or personal tax return. You should seek your own tax advice in relation to the grants.
Fraud
The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud. Checks will be carried out both before and after payment to ensure that only those who qualify receive the money.
Anyone who is caught falsifying records to gain Business Grant money will face prosecution and any funding will be subject to claw back, as will grants that have been paid in error. This includes falsifying statements regarding State Aid and Subsidy Allowances.
Data on individuals and business receiving the grant will be shared with Central Government and any other agencies as allowed by law for the purposes of preventing and detecting fraud.
State and Subsidy Allowances
For grants paid before 4 March 2021
The Local Restrictions Support Grant is classed as State Aid for businesses. If you are receiving the grant the award must comply with EU law on State Aid, even though the UK has now official left the EU.
The maximum level of aid that a company may receive is generally €800,000. This is across all UK schemes under the terms of the European Commission’s Temporary Framework. You will not qualify for the grants if your business was an Undertaking in Difficulty on 31 December 2019.
For grants paid from 4 March 2021 onwards
The grants are classed as government aid and are paid under Subsidy Allowances. Allowances are calculated per economic actor under the provisions for either:
- Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance (up to £325,000),
- The COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance (for a further £1,600,000), or
- The COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance (for a further £9,000,000)
Guidance on Subsidy Allowances is available in the grant guidance documents on the GOV.UK website
If you have any queries regarding State Aid or Subsidy you should seek your own legal advice.
You are responsible for checking that you comply with the limits and allowances and you must inform us immediately if you believe you may have exceeded these limits.
Privacy and data sharing
Data regarding payment of the grants will be shared with other government departments and third parties as allowed by law.
Our privacy notice gives full details on how we manage your data. Please view our business grants privacy notice if you wish to find out more.