COVID-19 Response Plan - Quebec Government - Support for Canadians

QC Support for Businesses

Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines

Eligibility

• Normal filing deadlines apply

Emergency Assistance to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (PAUPME)

Eligibility

• Companies from most sectors of activity are eligible for the program, as well as social economy enterprises (including cooperatives and non-profit organizations carrying out commercial activities)
• To be eligible, the business must:
  • Have been in business in Quebec for at least six months
  • Be closed temporarily, likely to close or show warning signs of closure
  • Be in a context of maintaining, consolidating or relaunching its activities
  • Have demonstrated a cause and effect link between their financial or operation problems and the COVID-19 pandemic

Benefit

• Loans of less than $50,000
• 3% interest rate, moratorium on principal and interest repayment until September 1, 2021
• Businesses subject to a closure order starting from December 20, 2021 can submit another application
• Moratorium on repayment of principal and interest related to PAUPME assistance is extended until March 31, 2022

Action Needed

• The following documents may be required when applying:
  • Most recent year-end financial statements
  • Most up-to-date interim financial statements
  • Cash budget or cash flow forecast
  • Supporting documents for other costs
• More information can be found here

Assistance for Businesses in Regions on Maximum Alert (ABRUMA) / Aide aux entreprises en régions en alerte  maximale (AERAM)

Eligibility

• Must first have obtained a loan through PAUPME program
• Be subject to a closure order for public health due to COVID 19

Benefit

• 100% of fixed expenses up to $15,000 per month, up to 80% of total PAUPME loan, granted as loan forgiveness
• Additional support for resumption of operations, additional $50,000 loan under PAUPME and maximum of $15,000 additional forgiveness (if closure less than 90 days) or $30,000 (if closure longer than 90 days)
• Eligible expenses are reduced by other support received (e.g. CERS)
• Starting from May 15, 2021, businesses may be eligible for loan forgiveness to cover fixed expenses incurred in 3-month period preceding application, and subsequent months; amount of loan granted will not cover needs extending beyond June 30, 2021
• Restaurants that received Assistance for Businesses in Regions on Maximum Alert (AERAM) that reopened since December 20, 2021 may be eligible for additional loan forgiveness to cover the cost of unused perishable items

Action Needed

• Contact local PME MTL office (Montreal regions) or regional economic development authority / Local Investment Fund (list here) 
• Submit financial statements, interim statements, cash budget or cash flow predictions, and documentation for monthly fixed expenses (lease, notice of assessment, property tax notices, mortgage contract, insurance contract, public services, telecommunications services, licences, invoices, etc.)

QC Support for Individuals

Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines

Eligibility

• Normal filing, instalment and payment deadlines apply for 2020 tax year.  However interest relief for 2020 balance will be granted if both the following conditions are met:
• Taxable income for 2020 is $75,000 or less
• Received benefits under either the IPREW, CERB, CESB, EI or any of the Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB, CRSB, or CRCB)

Benefit

• Relief from interest on unpaid tax balances for the 2020 year, until April 30, 2022
• Solidarity credit will not be withheld to pay down unpaid balance 
• Late filing penalties will still apply if income tax return is filed after April 30, 2021

Action Needed

• Automatically applies if conditions are met

Refundable Tax Credit for Childcare Expenses

Eligibility

• Individuals may be entitled to refundable tax credit if all of the following requirements met:
  • Resident in Québec on December 31, or resident in Canada, outside Québec, on December 31, and carried on business in Québec
  • Qualifying childcare expenses incurred

Benefit

• Refundable tax credit calculated by multiplying qualifying expenses by tax credit rate for family income

Action Needed

• To claim the credit, complete Schedule C of your income tax return or apply for advance payment here

Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for Seniors

Eligibility

• Seniors who already receive this tax credit and normally would have filed an application to renew advance payments on March 17, 2020, or later

Benefit

• Extension to April 30, 2021 to file the application for advance payments

Federal Support for Canadians

• For our summary of the Federal support programs for businesses and individuals, please visit HERE

For closed programs, click here