Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan is a relief as government recognises impact on small businesses

Brian Palmer, tax policy expert and former AAT President, comments on the new coronavirus Bounce Back Loan, helping the UK’s smallest businesses.

"Responding to pressure from small business, chancellor Rishi Sunak has at last announced guaranteed access to loans of up to £50,000 within 24 hours of SMEs applying. These will be available from next Monday, 4 May.

"The loans underline the crisis many small firms are currently facing and therefore the Chancellor has guaranteed generous repayment terms. Loan terms are for up to six years, no repayments will be due during the first 12 months and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first year.

"However, small businesses should note that you can only apply for a loan if your business was not an 'undertaking in difficulty' as of 31 December 2019. Equally, you’re excluded from qualifying if you’re already claiming under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). That said, if you’ve already received a loan of up to £50,000 under CBILS and would like to transfer it into the Bounce Back Loan scheme, you can arrange this with your lender between now and 4 November 2020.

"The launch of the Bounce Back Loan, supported by government guarantees, a low rate of interest, no arrangement fees and a 24-hour turnaround is just the sort of thing that small businesses have been crying out for. The loan amounts aren’t huge, but are significant enough to be of immediate help. However, there will be some fears that when lockdown is eased, the bounce back may not be robust enough to enable small businesses to meet the repayments.”