Tax

Updates to the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (“TBESS”)

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The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) is extended until the end of April 2023. The monthly limit on payments that can be made under the scheme is enhanced. These changes featured in the Government’s Cost of Living package of supports announced in February 2023.
Contents

Other changes are proposed to the scheme, pending State Aid approval. These changes should bring relief to a greater number of businesses in the coming months as:

  • the scheme itself and the time limits to make a claim will be extended further
  • the threshold to access the scheme is to lower; and
  • the level of relief will increase.

Scheme Extension

TBESS is extended to 30 April 2023 from the originally planned expiry date of 28 February 2023. It is proposed that it will be further extended to 31 May 2023 subject to State aid approval. 

Monthly limit

For periods from 1 March 2023 onwards, the monthly limit on payments under the scheme has increased from 10,000 to 15,000 per trade or profession. In line with this change, where the trade or profession is carried on across multiple locations, the monthly limit has increased from 30,000 to 45,000.

Time Limit to make a claim

The original time limit to make a claim under the scheme was 4 months from the end of the claim period. In a significant move, the time limit for making all claims is set to be 31 July 2023. This is to apply retrospectively meaning that a business that is eligible to make a claim from the first month of scheme - September 2022, will have until the end of July to submit a claim.

Energy costs threshold

The energy cost threshold, which acts as a gateway to the scheme, is set to be reduced from a 50% increase in average unit price of electricity or gas, to a 30% increase. It is proposed that this will apply retrospectively from 1 September 2022. Businesses that did not previously meet the thresholds will now be able to access the scheme if they satisfy the 30% threshold.

Revenue have stated that they will reassess claims using the revised parameters of the scheme. Businesses who have already submitted claims will not need to revise the claims to take account of the new 30% qualification threshold.

Increase in the level of relief

The amounts payable under the scheme are based on a percentage of a business eligible costs (in short the uplift in the electricity or gas bill as compared to a bill amount in a reference period). Subject to State aid approval, this percentage to be increased from 40% to 50% from 1 March 2023.

Other Fuels

The Minister for Finance announced that there is to be a new grant for businesses using oil and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) or kerosene. This scheme will be developed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as these energy supplies are not covered under TBESS. 

Contact us

For additional information on any of the energy supports available to business and to discuss your eligibility and how you can make claim, please contact or expert team or your usual Grant Thornton contact.

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