Businesses: Get help with COVID-19 costs
Get help and support for the impacts of COVID-19.
Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant: Applications now closed
Applications for the Ontario Small Business Relief Grant closed on Friday, March 11, 2022.
The Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant provided eligible small businesses that were required to close under the modified Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen with a grant of $10,000.
Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program: Applications now closed
Applications for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program in respect of December 2021 to February 2022 closed on March 14, 2022, and new applications are no longer being accepted.
The Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program supported eligible businesses most impacted by provincial public health measures in response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Eligible businesses were provided rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incurred while subject to these measures. Any applications submitted before the March 14th deadline are currently under review. Should the program need further information to complete your application processing, you will be contacted directly.
Improving cash flows for Ontario businesses
We are providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This will:
- support businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place
- provide the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning
The six-month period started on January 1, 2022 and will end on July 1, 2022.
This measure will make available up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. Businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes:
- Employer Health Tax
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
- Tobacco Tax
- Insurance Premium Tax
- Fuel Tax
- International Fuel Tax Agreement
- Gas Tax
- Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
- Mining Tax
- Race Tracks Tax
Property tax and energy cost rebates (October 2020 – July 2021): Program now closed
Applications for property tax and energy cost rebates in respect of October 2020 to July 2021 closed on July 30, 2021.
The property tax and energy cost rebates program provided support to businesses that were required to close or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures. Eligible businesses were able to apply for rebates, provided in the form of grants, to help with their fixed costs.
Ontario Small Business Support Grant: Applications now closed
Applications for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant closed on April 7, 2021.
The grant provided help to small businesses that were required to close or significantly restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown effective December 26, 2020.
Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant provided businesses with funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown.
On March 24, the government announced a second round of support through this grant. Small businesses who were determined as eligible recipients for the grant automatically received a second payment in an amount equal to the first payment they received. No additional application was required.
With this additional round of support, eligible businesses received a minimum of $20,000, up to a maximum of $40,000, over the two Ontario Small Business Support Grant payments. To be eligible, a business had to demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20% when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.
Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant: Applications now closed
Applications for the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant closed on July 9, 2021. Applications received before the deadline will be reviewed.
The Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant provided one-time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small businesses in the tourism and travel sector.
Businesses that applied for the program before the deadline can check the status of their application online.