Revenue advice for employers who wish to operate TWSS for rehired employees

The operational phase of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) has been in place since 4 May 2020. Revenue, as planned, initially provided employers with information that would enable them to calculate the correct subsidy amount due for all eligible employees that were on the employer payroll as at 30 April 2020. Revenue outlined that thereafter the necessary system developments would be made to provide employers with information in respect of eligible employees rehired after that date.

Today (21/05/2020) Revenue confirmed that, as scheduled, information relating to the calculation of the correct subsidy due for employees who were laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis and subsequently rehired by their employer, from 1 May 2020, has now been provided to employers. This information can be downloaded via Revenue’s Online Service (ROS). Any retrospective subsidy payments due to employers will be made automatically by Revenue.

The latest Revenue statistics in relation to TWSS can be found on the Revenue website. Over 38,000 people have moved from the COVID Pandemic Unemployment Payment into the Wage Subsidy Scheme since these Government support measures were implemented at the end of March.

As sectors begin to reopen and staff return to work over the coming weeks, employers should ensure that a Revenue Payroll Notification (RPN) has been received (from Revenue) for any rehired employees at least one working day before running the first payroll that includes those staff members. This will ensure that the rehired employee’s information is provided to employers in advance of running the payroll and the correct wage subsidy paid. 

Detailed information in relation to operating the TWSS can be found on the Revenue website.

 [Ends 21/5/2020]