The timing and methods of access to the non-repayable grant for startups are still uncertain, which was introduced by the conversion law of the Sostegni Decree, approved on May 21, but has not yet become operational.
The non-repayable contributions of the first DL Sostegni, in their standard formula, had already been paid starting from the beginning of April 2021. In the meantime, however, work had also begun on the text of the Decree DL no. 41/2021, which had expanded the number of aid beneficiaries – increased by about 370 thousand units – by introducing new access channels. Therefore, subjects with business income were also included who had not registered a decrease in turnover and fees equal to 30%, previously excluded from the contribution despite complying with the other requirements. Now all VAT numbers born in 2018, which started their activity in 2019, will be able to access the maximum contribution of one thousand euros. However, precise indications are still expected on this Covid aid.
The updating of the access criteria had been wanted by Draghi himself, who had defined it as “fairer” towards companies and VAT numbers and the Minister of Economy and Finance Daniele Franco had signed the text on 10 September. The implementing decree is therefore ready, but has not yet arrived in the Official Gazette. The wait does not seem short, given that the Revenue Agency will define the details on the times and methods for submitting an application and starting the procedure, unlocking access to resources from a practical point of view.
In this regard, the text states that: “To obtain the non-repayable grant referred to in Article 1 and in order to comply with the spending limit of 20 million euros referred to in Article 1-ter, paragraph 3, of the decree-law of 22 March 2021, n. 41, the interested parties submit an application to the Revenue Agency according to the procedures defined by the director of the same Agency, to be issued within 60 days of the publication of this decree in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic. The same provision also governs the information content of the application, the terms of presentation of the same and any other element necessary for the purpose of recognizing the contribution “.