As part of the energy support program in Budget 2023, the new €1.25bn Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to help businesses cope with rising energy costs. The first payment is aimed to be issued in November 2022 and will be backdated to September. The scheme is expected to run until at least February 2023.
The scheme will pay out eligible businesses with up to 40pc of the increased cost of electricity or gas bills up to a limit of €10,000 per premises per month.
Eligible Companies
To be eligible to apply for the TBESS, the business must be able to show that the unit cost on their electricity or gas bills has gone up by 50pc or more this year compared to the same period last year. The scheme will be operated on a self-assessment basis and administered by the Revenue Commissioners, drawing on its experience of administering various Covid support schemes since 2020.
Additional funding of €4 million for local businesses
The Local Enterprise Office network will be given an additional €4 million to include a new grant for microenterprises for energy efficiency. The Small Firms Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme will provide a grant to companies to encourage capital investment in projects to reduce carbon emissions.
Manufacturing and International Traded Services
A €200 million Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme is targeted to assist viable but vulnerable businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which are suffering the broader effects of the war in Ukraine. One strand of the scheme will provide up to €2 million in grant aid for energy intensive companies impacted by the exceptionally severe increases in gas and electricity costs.
Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta will be monitoring all companies that avail of it. Companies must produce an energy efficiency plan showing how they will get their energy costs down.
Get ready to apply
To apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme, companies must obtain copies of their energy bills for 2021 and 2022 and have Tax Clearance in place. Revenue will be monitoring all companies that avail for this scheme.
This scheme is designed to help businesses of all sizes in all sectors to cope with rising energy costs. However, this is contingent on getting legislation through the Dáil and Seanad in October and having the Revenue’s systems up and running to administer.
One other potential fly in the ointment is that the scheme is being designed to be compliant with the EU State Aid Temporary Crisis Framework means that there is a cap on the amount of support a government can provide to any one business and will require approval by the EU Commission in the advance of making payments.
Ensure you have the following documents ready to make your application:
Tax Clearance Certificate
Copies of energy bills for 2021 and 2022
Our Tax Team can assist you in making your claim and applying for a Tax Clearance Certificate where required. For more information, contact:
Jane Jackson, Head of Payroll and Tax Compliance, UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited janejackson@fdw.ie
+353 42 933 9955