I just applied for the 40k loan - the information they asked for was:
1. Payroll account number
2. T4 summary total payroll amount paid in 2019
3. business info legal names standard info about ur business
Im still waiting for CEWS portal to open up but I imagine they will ask you to report your earnings for 2019 and be a bit of an honour system, and cross compare 2020 numbers at a later date when they do audits? same as for CERB.. right now its honour system but im sure a bunch who didnt actually qualify will be asked to return the money once all auditing comes through.
EDIT: here is a new update article on the topic of CEWS
https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/insights/tax/tax-alerts/covid-19-wage-subsidy-programs/
"This subsidy is to help businesses of all sizes faced with a significant decline of revenue to either keep their workforce on payroll or re-hire them. Doing so will keep these workers off Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits and the $2,000 monthly payments under the recently announced Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
Revenue Eligibility Requirements
Two benchmarks are being provided to measure the revenue decline. First, as a general year-over-year approach, the revenue decline can be measured by comparing the applicable month in 2020 to the same month in 2019. For example, comparing March 2020 to March 2019. Alternatively, the revenue of the applicable month in 2020 can be compared to the average of January and February 2020 revenue. The employer can choose only one approach to use throughout the program period.
Eligible employers will have to reapply for the subsidy each month and has to attest to the decline in revenue when they apply.
Application for the 75% CEWS
Entitlement to the subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. Therefore, employers will need to pay the salary or wages to their employees, and, if eligible, will be repaid for those salaries or wages by the government through this subsidy program."
Gosh darn lol. I guess closed businesses don't qualify.