Blog
COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan repayment period extended
8 Feb

The Government has announced changes to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) available to small businesses in the UK that will give companies longer to repay what they have borrowed.
Around 1.4 million small and medium-sized businesses have taken out a loan since they were introduced last year, amounting to around £45 billion of financial support.
Under the current scheme, firms get interest-free loans for the first year. However, many businesses that took out a loan last year will have to begin repaying the money lent to them in May.
With large parts of the country likely to remain in lockdown for many weeks to come, the Government is making changes to its existing ‘Pay as you Grow’ (PAYG) initiative that are designed to give small businesses greater support to repay their loan, without it adversely affecting their recovery.
Under the new arrangements, businesses will have the option to:
- Extend the length of the loan from six years to 10
- Make interest-only payments for six months, with the option to use this up to three times during the life of the loan
- Pause repayments entirely for up to six months.
The Treasury has said that the PAYG scheme gives borrowers the flexibility to tailor their repayment schedule to meet the needs of their business.
The initiative will now be available to all borrowers from their first repayment, rather than after six repayments have been made.
This will mean that businesses can choose to make no payments on their loans until 18 months after they originally took them out.
Applying for a Bounce Back Loan
Although the Government is already looking at how existing borrowers can repay the money that they have borrowed, the BBLS remains open to new claims until the end of March.
It enables small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to 25 per cent of their turnover (capped at £50,000).
The BBLS is 100 per cent backed by the Government, which means that only minimal checks are required by lenders. Following the first interest-free year, a fixed interest rate of 2.5 per cent a year applies.
If you already have a loan but borrowed less than you were entitled to, you can still top up your existing loan to your maximum amount.
Businesses that intend to use the BBLS must make an application or top up an existing loan by the 31 March 2021.
If you haven’t yet made an application for the scheme or would like help with the PAYG scheme, please contact us.
Archive
- Make sure you are making the correct PAYE payments to HMRC
- Could Government-backed business loans become permanent?
- Working from home tax relief continues, but fewer employees likely to be eligible this year
- Our top tips for hiring your first employee
- Revenue updates guidance on tipping apps
- Expansion of the Trust Registration Service – What you need to know
- Don’t ignore the warning signs that you or a customer’s business is in trouble
- Keeping a lid on business expenses
- How can you finance a new business?
- Getting to grips with the new National Insurance and Dividend Tax Rates
- Looking to start a new business? You aren’t alone
- R&D Tax Credits – What is changing next year
- HMRC to launch new mandatory P87 expenses form
- Spring Statement 2022
- Are you making the most of super-deduction tax relief?
- Retain key staff with salary sacrifice schemes
- Cash flow statements – How to avoid errors that damage your business
- How to make the most of cloud-based accounting software
- Avoid the pitfalls of the SEISS scheme
- Company tax returns must include COVID-19 grants says HMRC
- HMRC focuses on backlog of work by shuttering telephone services
- Top tax tips to help your business save money
- Nearly half a million SMEs at risk of failing due to late payments crisis
- Fears over move to MTD, as few take part in income tax pilot scheme
- Company directors banned for Bounce Back Loan fraud
- New tax rules on holiday lets – What does it mean for owners?
- Most popular options available when setting up a new business
- Can you avoid the P11D process?
- Give yourself Time to Pay
- Cash no longer king as card payments surge in lockdown
- Be prepared for changes to Corporation Tax in 2023
- Accountants critical to the success of SMEs
- How the penalty system for late tax submissions is changing
- Income tax basis periods – What unincorporated businesses need to know
- New COVID financial support announced
- Prepare now for the final stage of MTD for VAT
- Eight New Year’s resolutions that businesses should follow
- Homes price boom sparks a big rise in Inheritance Tax receipts – What can you do to save tax?
- PAYE Settlement Agreement can save time and costs
- Self-Assessment taxpayers warned over fraudsters trying to steal information
- Should payments made by an employee for vehicle and uniform rental be treated as reductions when calculating the National Minimum Wage (NMW)?
- Plan B – What does it mean for you and your business?
- Take advantage of the extension to the Recovery Loan Scheme
- Simple steps you can take to cut business costs and maximise profits
- Is your business struggling with debt? Regain control today
- Top tips for filing your Self-Assessment tax return
- How businesses can avoid becoming the victims of fraud
- Need Help to Grow? Learn about the latest Government-backed support for SMEs
- Business rates reform – How will it affect you
- What Is the Best Cloud Accounting Software for UK Restaurants?
- Autumn Budget 2021
- Worried COVID Plan B may affect you or your business?
- I have been sent a nudge letter by HMRC – What should I do next?
- Received a CJRS compliance check? Act now!
- MTD for Income Tax delayed – What it means for you
- Buying a business – Top tips to secure the best deal
- Six steps to secure finance for your business
- Managing business costs – what the energy and supply crisis may mean for your company
- Kickstart Scheme and apprenticeship incentives extended
- Final SEISS deadline – Submit your claim by 30th September!
- SME confidence is on the rise as employers make plans to expand their workforce
- Minimum wage non-payment excuses ‘outrageous’
- Couples could be missing out on tax breaks
- New weapons in the war on cybercrime
- Beware of rising house prices increasing Inheritance Tax liability
- Frustrated SMEs turning to unsecured loans to grow businesses
- How will the National Insurance and dividend tax increases affect me?
- Beware of exceeding your pension pot allowance
- Draft legislation published for next Finance Bill
- Super-deduction gives businesses confidence to grow
- Taxman says help available as debt collection resumes
- SMEs optimistic and frustrated as economy set to thrive
- HMRC auto-correcting 2020-21 SEISS tax returns
- The fifth round of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is now open
- Government updates self-isolation rules with limited exemptions for 16 sectors
- Freedom Day – What does it mean for businesses?
- Time to prepare for Corporation Tax changes
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – Get ready now!
- Points-based system for HMRC late payment penalties
- Take account of your year-end tax liabilities
- Director’s ban a warning to others to keep proper company records
- Don’t miss the deadline for renewing tax credits
- A helping hand with the cost of children’s summer activities
- CJRS – Upcoming changes to payments and the furlough scheme
- Preparing for the end of the Stamp Duty Holiday
- Government extends ban on commercial evictions until March 2022
- Fifth round of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to launch in late July
- Businesses can still access the Recovery Loan Scheme
- Make sure to include SEISS grants on your next tax returns
- Beware of the HMRC scammers, but ignoring calls can be costly
- Carry back scheme brings welcome relief for business
- New recommendations in sweeping CGT review
- Tax saving strategies for landlords
- Bank of England and CBI expect the biggest rise in economy for decades
- Financial Reporting: GRC, Governance Risk and Compliance Tools
- HMRC unveils penalty regime for VAT deferral scheme
- COVID forces businesses to change direction
- Workers can continue to claim home working tax allowance in the new tax year
- Reimbursed expenses – What you need to know
- HMRC to tackle SEISS abuse with new penalty regime