State government describes early relief measures for small business owners

With the state government shutting down bars, theaters, gyms, hair and nail salons, barbers, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants — apart from take-out and delivery — for at least two weeks, many small business owners across Washington state are panicking.

Retail shops are allowed to remain open provided they adhere to safety guidelines, but would-be customers have been told to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We recognize that this is going to have a profound impact on many Washington businesses, and we’re going to do everything we can to help businesses stay in business,” said Mikhail Carpenter, communications manager with the Washington State Department of Revenue. “Our plan is really to give customers extra grace during the State of Emergency.”

Nick Demerice, public affairs director for the Washington State Employment Security Department, said his phone has been ringing off the hook for the past several days with questions from concerned store and restaurant owners. Many of these messages, he said, are truly heartbreaking.

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He said while things are in the earliest days in terms of planning relief strategies, state government departments have already taken actions to lend a hand, and are expected to do more in the coming weeks and months.

Currently, the Employment Security Department is relaxing the fines for late reporting and having to suddenly lay off staff.

“This is a very dynamic situation, and things are changing literally day by day,” Demerice said. “And so, just because you may not qualify for a particular program, or resources may not be available for you today, that could easily change quickly, and so continue to come back, continue to check.”

He also recommends that small business owners who may have to shut down their businesses for a period of time — or permanently — try to get unemployment insurance. While unemployment normally just applies to employees in Washington, Demerice said it is decided on a case-by-case basis, and could perhaps benefit a business owner.

“What we encourage folks to do is to go onto the website, research unemployment insurance, and apply,” he said. “The best way to find out if you qualify is to apply. Everybody’s individual circumstances are different.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Revenue is offering extensions for filing tax returns, billings, and tax assessments, as well as adding flexibility to audits and business owners on payment plans.

Carpenter said when in doubt, contact the department with your individual situation — they want to help as much as they are able.

“We want to help businesses stay in business — so if they’re having issues, or they’re having trouble, and there’s something that we can do about it, they should certainly reach out to us,” Carpenter said. “We will work with them.”

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