Youth NERO Activity Grant

Tax Instructions: How to Report the Youth NERO Activity Grant

1. If the grant is paid to an individual person

If the NERO grant was paid to your personal bank account (even if it was used for a group activity), you must report it on your pre-filled tax return both as income and as an expense.
This shows the tax authority that the money was used entirely for the event costs and is not your personal income.

Here is how to fill in your pre-filled tax return:

OTHER INCOME: Other earned income

Field: Description of other earned income: Write: Nuorten NERO activity grant from the City of Oulu. Also write the name of the event and what the grant was used for. Example:
Family Spring Event: The grant was used for venue rent, refreshments, and supplies.

Also write the names of the group members who worked on the event with you. Explain that you were the contact person and that the grant was paid to your account for this reason. 👉 This helps the tax authority understand that this is not salary, but money used for the event.

Field: Amount of income: Write the exact amount of the grant you received. Example: 300 €

OTHER DEDUCTIONS: Income-earning expenses for other than wages

Field: Expenses related to benefits and other earned income. Write the same amount as the NERO grant you received. 👉 Why the same amount? Because the entire grant was spent on event costs, so it should not be taxed as your income. Example: If you received 300 €, write 300 € here.

Remember: Keep all receipts (copies are fine) in case the Tax Administration asks for them later.

2. If the grant is paid to an association or organization

The association records the grant as income in its own bookkeeping.
The association uses the grant according to the decision and its rules.

1. Start Early: Begin preparing your application well in advance of the event or project deadline. Note that the application processing time is over a month.
2. Check the Grant Criteria: Ensure that the activity for which you are seeking funding meets the NERO grant criteria.
3. Create an Action Plan
   1. What will be done?
   2. Why will it be done?
   3. Who will do it?
   4. With whom will it be done?
   5. Where will it be done?
   6. What is the timeline?
   7. What results are expected?
4. Make a Realistic Budget: Prepare a budget for all the activities for which you are seeking NERO funding. The granted funds must be used exactly for the purposes specified in the application.
5. Familiarize Yourself with the Guidelines: Read the NERO grant criteria and guidelines carefully in advance.
6. Fill Out the Application: Go to easiointi.ouka.fi and fill out the application.
7. Submit the Application: Submit the application through eAsiointi.
8. Application Processing: The application will be processed. The application will be approved, requested for additional information, or rejected. The decision will be sent to the applicant’s email.
9. Approved Application: Once the application is approved, the processing begins. The processing time is about four weeks.
10. Payment: After the decision, the funds will be transferred to the account specified in the application.
11. Implementation: After this, the activity or project can be carried out.

What kind of project can receive Youth NERO activity grant?

• The applicant is a group of young people.
• Funding is granted for projects where young people are active in coming up with ideas, planning, and implementing them.
• The project benefits other young people besides the core group.
• The project theme is free.
• Young people themselves evaluate and report on the realised activity.
• The project must be concrete and feasible.
• Funds must be accounted for at the end of the project.
• The funds can be used for purchasing services, acquiring goods, travel costs, marketing, etc.
• NERO operational funds are not typically granted for administrative costs or fixed assets.
• Funding can only be granted once for the same purpose.
• If you apply for NERO operational funds from Oulu City, you cannot apply for funding for the same activity from other city funding sources.

NERO is not granted for:

• Activities that are contrary to good manners and offensive.
• Activities of schools, educational institutions, youth centres, or institutions.
• Activities of university and other educational institution student associations.

Allocated NERO funds cannot be used for anything other than the applied and granted purpose. The funds can be reclaimed if general terms are not met.

• You can apply for NERO mostly throughout the year, but please note that there is no processing during the summer months (June and July).
• To apply for the Youth NERO Activity Fund, go to easiointi.ouka.fi -> select youth grants -> Youth NERO Activity Fund. By applying through eServices, you speed up the processing time.
• The group applying for the funds must have an adult contact person. The person filling out the application form must use strong authentication (online banking credentials).
• Please remember to allow time for the NERO Activity Fund processing. The processing generally takes about 1.5 months.
• You can get support for filling out the electronic application form from Oulu10 customer service by phone at 08 558 558 00, by email at oulu10@ouka.fi, and in person at service points.
• If you have any questions, please send a message to anu.puolanne@ouka.fi

Approved projects are always required to submit written reports.

The report, along with receipts (copies of receipts), should be submitted to easionti.ouka.fi within three months of project completion.

The report should include the following:

• Event details (same as in the application)
• Name of the activity or event
• Implementation time and place
• Group name
• Responsible person and phone number mentioned in the application
• Description of the activity (implemented)
• Number and age distribution of participants
• Were the objectives achieved?
• How were the allocated NERO funds used (always attach receipts (copies of receipts))

If receipts are not submitted on time, the granted funds will be fully reclaimed. Funds must be accounted for at the end of the project. If you need assistance filling out the application form or have any other questions,