COVID-19 Business Relief Payments

This program provided direct payments to eligible businesses required to temporarily close or reduce services in November 2020 under Executive Order 20-99.

Businesses in the following categories — as reported by the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance program — were eligible if they met the other program requirements: 

• Full- and limited-service restaurants
• Cafeterias and buffets
• Caterers
• Bars
• Breweries with taprooms
• Family wineries with tasting rooms
• Distilleries with tasting rooms
• Bowling centers
• Gyms and fitness centers

We sent payments to eligible businesses that met the rest of the program requirements:

• Located in Minnesota
• Had at least $10,000 in taxable sales in 2019
• Filed monthly or quarterly Sales Tax returns in 2019 and 2020 (annual filers are not eligible)
• As of November 1, 2020, had filed all sales tax returns due through September 2020
• Experienced a 30% drop in year-over-year taxable sales (April-September)
• Required to temporarily close or reduce services by Executive Order 20-99

Eligible businesses received a payment based on their Unemployment Insurance data. The amount depended on their average number of employees for the period of November 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020. 

The payments are considered taxable income. If we're collecting a tax or other debt from your business, we will not take (offset) these payments to apply to the debt.

Eligible small businesses not in the state Unemployment Insurance program received $10,000.

1. We determined what businesses are eligible and their aid amount based on their sales tax and unemployment records as of November 1, 2020. Businesses did not need to apply for this program.

2. We notified eligible businesses though their e-Services account and by mail.

3. We mailed payments to eligible businesses, to the mailing address on their Sales Tax account. Electronic payments were not available for this program.

Note: To verify or update your mailing address, log in to e-Services. For questions about your business category or number of employees, contact Minnesota Unemployment Insurance.