Germany’s government has moved swiftly and decisively to confront the potentially devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.
The country’s economy is in a strong position to introduce measures supporting the economy over a prolonged period. By providing businesses with sufficient liquidity, the government measures will help ensure that enterprises emerge from the crisis intact.
The economic stimulus and crisis management package
The German federal government has agreed on an economic stimulus package worth EUR 130 billion. The program (Future Package) includes a number of measures to foster economic growth and investment in Germany.
Foreign investors wishing to invest in Germany can benefit in particular from funding in the areas of mobility, medical devices, CO2 reduction, digitalization and artificial intelligence.
All measures will improve the general environment for companies, ensuring Germany remains highly attractive to foreign investors.
Support for small and medium-sized companies
As of September 1 2020, small and medium-sized companies and freelance workers from all areas of business are entitled to non-repayable liquidity aid grants - called a "bridging allowance" - from the German government for the months up to June 2021.
Companies must apply using a registered accountant or tax advisor. The aid is designed to cover fixed costs of businesses which remain locked down, or remain significantly impacted despite the partial opening of some economic sectors.
The bridging allowance reimburses a share of:
- 90 percent of fixed costs for companies with more than 70 percent decline in revenue,
- 60 percent of the fixed costs for companies with a decline in sales between 50 percent and 70 percent,
- 40 percent of fixed costs for companies with a decline in sales between 30 percent and less than 50 percent
in the month of aid distribution compared to the revenues of the corresponding month of the previous year, up to a maximum of EUR 50,000.
Companies directly affected by the second lockdown in November and December who were forced to stop operating, or their suppliers who lost more than 80 per cent of revenue from the stop in operations, may claim up to 75 percent of year-on-year revenue.
In December 2020, the bridging allowance has been revised (bridging allowance III):
All companies that show a decline in sales of at least 50 percent in two consecutive months in the period from April to December 2020 or in the entire period of an average of at least 30 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2019, will receive a subsidy for fixed costs of up to EUR 200,000 per month for any month between December 2020 and June 2021 in which there was a decline in sales of at least 30 percent.
Alternatively, there are different rules for companies that are affected by closings and those that are not affected:
Companies affected by closings in any month from December 2020 to June 2021 who show a drop in sales of at least 30 percent, will receive a fixed cost allowance retrospectively for any affected month of up to EUR 500,000.
Companies not affected by closures who, in any month between November 2020 and June 2021, suffer sales declines of at least 40 percent will receive a fixed cost subsidy for the respective month of up to EUR 200,000 per month.
Applications for the bridging allowance III will be available during January 2021.
Further information, including exclusion criteria, is provided here (in German only).
Liquidity aid loan programs
The federal development bank KfW has expanded and eased access and terms on two existing loan programs:
- the ERP-Universal Start-up Loan
- the KfW-Entrepreneur Loan
KfW has introduced a variety of special programmes to suit companies of different sizes and ages. These programmes include generous terms and conditions on consortial financing for larger projects, as well as emergency liquidity aid for SMEs, micro-enterprises and freelancers/self-employed persons experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the corona crisis.
Please refer to the KfW website for details on loan program conditions. Applications for all these can be made through high-street banks.
At the same time, both federal and state governments are setting up a variety of aid programs to support companies in Germany. The range of services is continuously being updated and expanded. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy provides an overview of all state programs (so far in German only). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
More flexible rules for short-time allowance schemes
The Federal Employment Agency pays the short-time allowance as partial compensation for a loss of earnings caused by a temporary cut in working hours. This reduces the costs faced by employers in the context of employing workers, and enables companies to continue to employ their workforce even in the event of a loss of orders. In other words, short-time allowances help to prevent dismissals.
Currently short-time allowances schemes can be granted on a more flexible basis for a limited period until December 31, 2021. For instance, companies are eligible to apply, if 10 percent of the employees are effected by shorter working hours. Moreover, social security contributions which have to be paid solely by employers for employees working short-time are reimbursed in full until June 2021.
Tax policy measures
Tax measures improving companies’ liquidity situations have been decided. For instance, options for deferring tax payments and reducing prepayments will be enhanced. Enforcement rules will also be adapted - there will be no foreclosures or late payment fines, if the debtor of a pending tax payment is directly affected by the coronavirus.