From Wednesday, 8 July, tax advisors, auditors and certified accountants can Register for the federal application platform, where they can then submit applications for the affected companies from July 10th. They can apply for up to 150,000 euros for the months June to August or 50,000 euros per month. For companies with up to five employees, this reimbursement amount is a maximum of 3,000 euros per month, and for companies with up to ten employees, it is a maximum of 5,000 euros per month. Applications must be submitted by August 31st at the latest. The prerequisite is that sales in April and May have fallen by at least 60 percent compared to the previous year. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria is responsible for processing the aid for all eligible applicants in Bavaria.
The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce emphasize that applications to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce can only be submitted by a tax advisor, auditor, or certified public accountant appointed by the applicant. This person must confirm the drop in sales and the eligible operating costs. This will prevent the misuse of funding. Prof. Dr. Hartmut Schwab, President of the Munich Chamber of Tax Consultants, explains
"Properly assessing revenue declines requires expertise and experience, which we tax advisors have. As tax law enforcement bodies, tax advisors can also confirm the existence and identity of the applicant companies. The legislature rightly relies on the 'tax advisor' seal of approval here. This effectively prevents the misuse of subsidies."
Bridging aid as an “urgently needed lifeline”
Dr. Eberhard Sasse, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria, says:
"The bridging aid will be a much-needed lifeline for thousands of struggling businesses, self-employed individuals, and institutions. Entrusted by the state with the self-administration of the economy, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria is following the request of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and will mobilize all resources to process the applications. The process will be entirely digital, from application through processing to payment."
According to the federal government, applications should be processed in the states starting July 20, and aid payments could begin on July 24, Sasse continued. Approximately 200,000 applications are expected.
The bridging aid follows on from the federal government's emergency aid program. Companies that have already received federal or state emergency aid but are still affected by revenue losses are eligible to apply again. However, if the funding periods for the emergency aid and the bridging aid overlap, the emergency aid will be credited pro rata toward the bridging aid.
The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs has compiled an information page on bridging aid.
The federal application platform can be accessed online here.
