Canada Emergency Business Account now open to businesses using personal banking accounts

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland announced that as early as October 26, 2020, the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account.

October 26, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada The Government of Canada is providing continued support to small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them adapt and position their businesses for recovery. Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland announced that as early as October 26, 2020, the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account. To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020. CEBA is part of the Government of Canada’s economic response plan to help Canadians and Canadian businesses deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures under this plan are helping businesses keep their doors open, keep their employees on payroll, protect the jobs that Canadians depend on, and recover quickly when the time comes.

Quotes

“Our government is unwavering in its support for Canadian businesses of all sizes and we know that small businesses are facing particular adversity right now. The CEBA loan has supported over 774,000 Canadian small businesses and not-for-profits and with this change an even greater number of small business owners will be able to access this important financial lifeline. Small business owners are resilient and our government will continue to be there to help them. Their survival is key to a robust economic rebound once we defeat the coronavirus. ” - The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

“Small businesses owners make incredible contributions to our communities in every corner of the country. The next phase of the CEBA loan launched today will help even more of these hard-working Canadians. We’ll continue to deliver the extra support small businesses need to bridge through to better times.” - The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Quick facts

• CEBA provides zero-interest loans up to $40,000 to small business and non-profit organizations that have experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19 but face ongoing non-deferrable costs, such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes and wages. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).
• Since its launch, the government has made modifications to CEBA to help even more small businesses, including:
  • increasing the payroll eligibility range from between $50,000 and $1.0 million to between $20,000 and $1.5 million;
  • making CEBA available to owner-operated small businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll.
  • An active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number with an effective date of registration on or prior to March 1, 2020;
  • meet the payroll eligibility criteria; or
  • demonstrate a minimum of $40,000 in eligible non-deferrable expenses, and have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.

  Associated links

  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
  • Government announces new, targeted support to help businesses through pandemic
  • More small businesses can soon access the Canada Emergency Business Account
  • Prime Minister announces expansion of support for workers and small businesses
  • Launch of the Canada Emergency Business Account
  • Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

  Contacts

  Media may contact:

  Katherine Cuplinskas
  Press Secretary
  Deputy Prime Minister's Office
  Katherine.Cuplinskas@dpmo-cvpm.gc.ca
  

  Media Relations
  Department of Finance Canada
  fin.media-media.fin@canada.ca
  613-369-4000