How to deal with the economic slowdown when you are self-employed? The question is tapping many of them in these times of coronavirus. " If big companies and the public service have cash and guarantees, it is different for us freelancers, " regrets a photographer in a long post on Facebook.
In his speech devoted to the coronavirus, Thursday evening, Emmanuel Macron mentioned the specific case of the independents: " I want us to be able to protect our independents too, and therefore we will take all the necessary measures to give this guarantee on the economic level. "
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The statement is vague to say the least, but a few measures have been announced to allow independents to absorb the shock. Le Figaro takes stock.
- No Urssaf deadline in March
The Urssaf first suspended the samples which were to take place on March 20. Be careful, however: the amount must still be paid. Its amount will simply be smoothed over the maturities to come this year, from April to December.
- Payment deadlines can be requested
On the Bercy side, the Directorate General of Public Finance (DGFiP) has put online a form allowing to request a deferral of the payment of corporate tax (IS) as well as income tax (IR ). Freelancers subject to IR must apply for deferral before the 22nd of each month on the impots.gouv.fr site. The independents therefore have a little over a week to request the postponement of their payments for the month of March.
- When the child is kept at home, the independent parent can request a work stoppage
Like employees, the self-employed can request sick leave to care for their children whose school is closed, provided that they are under 16 years of age. This also applies to workers who depend on the agricultural scheme or those who fall under special schemes. Support takes place " without a deficiency day and without examining the conditions for opening rights, " says the site ameli.fr.
Freelancers can, of course, make this request if they themselves have coronavirus. A sick leave for these two reasons requires filling out a form on the site https://declare.ameli.fr. The worker will then receive daily allowances.
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Additional measures are being studied to support the independents, according to Les Échos. An extension of the " exceptional and massive " system of partial unemployment, hammered out by Emmanuel Macron, would in particular be envisaged.
While France is gradually coming to a standstill, the Syndicate of independents (SDI) calls for its part to put insurance to contribution. The organization notably requests the creation of an emergency compensation fund for very small businesses.