How to apply for Partial Exemption from Employers’ Contributions

As part of the Principality's economic recovery plan, the Government has decided to extend the Partial Exemption from Employers' Contributions (EPCP) measure. From now on, new sectors of activity that have been affected over a significant period will be included, and the maximum turnover has been increased to EUR 5 million achieved in 2019, instead of 1 million as previously. 

In accordance with Décision Ministérielle du 1er octobre 2020 , the aim of this scheme is to enable companies that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis over an extended period to benefit from partial exemption from the employer's share of CAR and CCSS contributions for for a given period.

This measure is valid for the months of August to December 2020.

For beneficiaries of the EPCP

Important information:

Employers who benefitted from the EPCP in July and/or August do not need to make a renewed application to the Welcome Office.  However, they do have to make the usual declarations to the Monaco Social Security Funds within the applicable deadlines.

For new applicants

Eligibility Conditions 

• Be duly registered in the Principality’s Trade and Industry Registry or hold a ministerial authorisation
• Belong to one of the EPCP - secteurs d'activités ciblés  i.e. shops, catering, tourism, culture, sport and events
• Have resumed economic activity (i.e. no longer subject to administrative closure due to COVID-19)
• Have had a turnover, excluding taxes, of no more than €5 million in 2019 (including tax refunds)
• Be able to prove a 20% loss of turnover in September 2020 compared to September 2019
• Undertake not to dismiss employees for one year, except in the case of serious misconduct or incapacity, and failing this, reimburse the amount of employers' contributions paid by the State

It should be noted that the EPCP can be combined with other specific aid received under the support measures for companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis (such as RME, AS, Guarantee Fund and the CTTR).

State-owned companies, as well as Associations and Federations that receive a State subsidy during the year, may not benefit from the EPCP.

Period covered by the measure 

The Partial Exemption from Employers’ Contributions covers contributions from August to December 2020.

Should this measure be extended beyond October by decision of the Government, the information will be published on this page.

Date and conditions for receipt of applications 

Employers who are applying for partial exemption from employers' contributions must send their application to the Welcome Office, by email only, to the address covid19entreprises@gouv.mc , as follow:

• Before 3 November 2020 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from October 2020
• Before 3 December 2020 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from November 2020
• Before 4 January 2021 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from December 2020

Employers who are now eligible as a result of the addition of new sectors of activity (publishing magazines and periodicals, public relations and communications consultancies, the activities of advertising agencies, the organisation of trade fairs, professional exhibitions and congresses) or as a result of the increase of the maximum turnover to 5 million, may apply for the EPCP retrospectively by sending the following form, duly completed, to the Welcome Office, by email only: EPCP – demande de rétroactivité accompanied by a recent bank statement showing the business activity.

Applications that are incomplete or do not comply with the requirements cannot be considered.

1. Download and complete the initial application form electronically: EPCP - Requête initiale  The following information is required:

• Information on the representative authorised to submit the application
• Information on the company or business experiencing difficulties that is the subject of the application

2. A sworn statement, duly completed and signed: EPCP - Attestation sur l'honneur

• Proof of belonging to the EPCP - secteurs d'activités ciblés by providing the corresponding NIS number; The NIS number or statistics are available at www.rci.gouv.mc/rc/ for companies in the Trade and Industry Registry category 
• Have had a turnover, excluding taxes, of no more than €5 million in 2019 (including tax refunds)
• Be able to prove a 20% loss of turnover in September 2020 compared to September 2019
• Be up to date with tax payments
• Be up to date with social security payments
• Undertake not to dismiss employees for one year, except in the case of serious misconduct or incapacity, and failing this, reimburse the amount of employers' contributions paid by the State

3. The last VAT return for 2020 and the 2019 VAT return for the same period.

Completed applications must be sent by the employer’s legal representative to the COVID-19 Businesses Unit of Welcome Office, by email only, to the following address: covid19entreprises@gouv.mc as follow :

• Before 3 November 2020 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from October 2020
• Before 3 December 2020 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from November 2020
• Before 4 January 2021 at the latest in order to benefit from the EPCP as from December 2020

The Welcome Office team will acknowledge receipt of the full application by email to the email address provided in the application, and inform the applicant of their eligibility.

If any changes are required, the application will need to be fully updated and resubmitted using the same procedure.

Applications that are incomplete or do not comply with the requirements cannot be considered.

Beyond this date, the Covid19 Businesses Unit remains available for businesses (covid19entreprises@gouv.mc  - Phone: 98 98 98 99).