The undisputed benefit of the industry shield is the fact that it continues to be updated and adapted to the changing situation. The final step in the direction of an even more efficient assistance to the entrepreneurs is the extension of the applicability period of the shield, as well as the extension of certain forms of support.

The government has extended the period of functioning of the industry shield by another month and extended its scope. The support is also going to be available to companies, who demonstrate a loss of revenue in relation to September of 2020. A possibility to receive idle-time benefit or a second idle-time benefit have also been introduced. The entrepreneurs will also be eligible for an idle-time benefit, regardless if they have received that type of support in the past. These instruments will be available for use once, twice or three times - depending on the Polish Code of Classification of Business Activities (PKD) granting the right to a specific number of idle time benefits. In the event of gaining the right for another idle time benefit, based on the so-called Shield 7.0, the number of idle time benefits defined in the new regulation will be decreased by the number of additional idle time benefits used under the previous regulation.

The Entrepreneurs (contribution payers) also have the right to file an application to be exempt from contributions for December 2020, January 2021, and February 2021. The total exemption period depends on the industry in which the given entrepreneur operates. The time limit for filing an application for the exemption, and for submitting tax settlement declarations or personal monthly reports to the Social Insurance Institution has also changed: the application may be filed at the latest until 30 March 20201, and the social security documents may be fined until 31 March 2021, unless the payer is exempt from the obligation of filing the exercise declaration and the individual reports.

Both the contribution exemption and the idle time benefit, or repeated idle time benefit constitute state aid, that is why it is mandatory to submit the information on the economic situation of a specific entrepreneur and the state aid received up to date with respect to the prevention, counteraction and combating COVID-19 epidemic.

Additional revenue decrease period

We wish to inform you, that the main prerequisites to use the support instruments involves conducting business activity labelled with the correct PKD code as the main area of activity as at 30 November 2020, and demonstrating an income decrease by at least 40 percent in the appropriate comparative periods. The new provisions have introduced an additional period for demonstrating income loss – persons who file the applications can now refer not only to the month immediately prior to the settlement month or an analogous month of the year prior, but also by comparison to September of 2020. The introduction of an additional period of revenue decrease (for September of 2020) meets the demands of the entrepreneurs.

Extended funding for remuneration and subsidies

Subsidies for employee salaries granted under the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, and the subsidies to cover current costs of economic activity for micro and small entrepreneurs have also been extended by one month; the subsidy will be able to be granted a maximum of two or three times, depending on the type of predominant economic activity that the entrepreneur in question carries out.

“– A year ago, after the outbreak of the pandemic, the government took quick and effective measures to counter its effects – Minister Marlena Maląg said at a press briefing. – For that reason, today the Polish economy is in a position to make a dynamic return to normality. The anti-crisis and financial shields, with a total value of allocated funds exceeding PLN 190 billion have saved 6.5 million jobs. In terms of expenditures, we are the leader in Europe – the government allocated a record 9.4 percent of the GDP to support entrepreneurs and employees. GDP."