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Winter support package to cut Bounce Back Loan repayments

Andrew Meredith 24 September 2020
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© Guy Bell/Shutterstock© Guy Bell/Shutterstock

Farmers who took out the government’s Bounce Back Loans will see their monthly repayments fall by almost half after chancellor Rishi Sunak announced he was extending the loan term from six to 10 years.

There will also be the opportunity for struggling businesses to switch to interest-only payments or even defer all payments for up to six months.

This was part of a wider package of measures revealed today (24 September) to help businesses manage tight cashflow through the winter amid rising rates of Covid-19.

See also: Coronavirus: Advice for managing and keeping staff safe

The Treasury also said it would:

  • Extend the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from six years to 10 years.
  • Extend the application window for all loan schemes until 30 November.
  • Begin work on a new loan scheme to replace these products that will come into effect in January.
  • Allow businesses that had deferred VAT payments that would have fallen due in March to pay them in 11 monthly instalments without incurring any interest.
  • Allow the hospitality and tourism sector to retain its 5% VAT rate until 31 March 2021 instead of returning it to 20% on 13 January as previously announced.

Furlough scheme replaced

The furlough scheme, which allowed businesses to retain employees on the books by using government cash to pay their wages, is to be replaced by a six-month Job Support Scheme, Mr Sunak announced, starting on 1 November.

This will see employees have to return to work for at least 33% of their hours and businesses pay at least 33% of their wages.

For the remaining hours not worked, the government and the employer will split the cost.

This will prevent workers being frozen in jobs that will no longer exist in future, while supporting those who can get back to work, the chancellor said, noting that the coronavirus pandemic will cause a permanent adjustment to many jobs and services.

There will also be a parallel scheme for self-employed workers, which will pay viable businesses who are facing reduced demand 20% of their average monthly trading profits until the end of April.

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