Government owed £10 million in unpaid Covid relief funds

Jersey’s government has announced that it is seeking repayments totaling over £10 million from local businesses that benefited from Covid support measures.

During the pandemic, businesses were permitted to delay GST and social security contributions, which provided crucial financial relief at the time. The scheme allowed 216 businesses to defer GST payments amounting to £4.9 million, while approximately 1,400 businesses delayed social security payments worth £16.7 million.

However, recent figures revealed that as of the end of 2024, 163 businesses still owed £2.6 million in unpaid GST. Additionally, more than 800 businesses had not repaid their outstanding social security contributions, totaling £7.7 million.

In response, the government issued letters to businesses in January, reminding them of their obligations. It also offered to work with businesses experiencing financial hardship to establish a manageable repayment plan.