Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program: applications opening January 2022
We are introducing the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program to support businesses that are most impacted by public health measures in response to the Omicron variant.
Eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these measures. Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs, while businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs.
A full list of eligible business types will be available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022. Payments to eligible businesses will be retroactive to December 19, 2021.
Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
If you have questions about the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, call 1-866-668-8297 (1-866-ONT-TAXS).
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 will begin on January 1, 2022 and end on July 1, 2022.
This measure will provide 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): Applications now closed
Applications for property tax and energy cost rebates in respect of October 2020 to July 2021 closed on July 30, 2021. Applications received before the deadline are being reviewed.
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.
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.
Questions about the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program or cash flow support should be directed to 1-866-668-8297 (1-866-ONT-TAXS).
Our call centres are open:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tel: 416-325-6691
Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090
TTY: 416-325-3408
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095
Access to this information can be found here
