Support for Apprentices and Trainees
Last updated 23rd April 2020
The Australian Government is supporting business to retain their apprentices and trainees.
What is available
Eligibly employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50% of an apprentice or trainee’s wage during the 9 months from 1st January 2020 to 30th September 2020.
Employers will be reimbursed up to $7,000 per quarter, up to a maximum of $21,000 per eligible apprentice or trainee.
Eligibility Criteria for businesses
Small businesses employing fewer than 20 employees who retain an apprentice or trainee.
Eligibility Criteria for employees
Apprentice or trainee must have been in training with a small business at 1st March 2020.
Key Dates
Employers can register for the subsidy from 2nd April 2020 and final claims for payment must be lodged by 31st December 2020.
How to apply
Apply for the subsidy by contacting an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.
JobKeeper Payment Scheme
Last updated 16st April 2020
The JobKeeper Payment Scheme is available to small business owners to subsidise wages for each eligible employee at $1,500 per fortnight.
What is available
The JobKeeper payment is open to eligible employers, to enable them to pay their eligible employee’s salary or wages of at least $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight, via a reimbursed fixed amount of $1,500 per fortnight for each eligible employee.
Businesses have been given until 31st May 2020 to enrol for the JobKeeper scheme. The subsidy will start on 30th March 2020, with the first payment to be received by employers in the first week of May 2020.
Eligibility Criteria for businesses
Eligible employer’s must be Australian businesses who employed at least one eligible employee on 1st March 2020 and who’s eligible employees are currently employed by your business for the fortnights you claim (including those who are stood down or re-hired).
Eligible business have faced; 30% fall in turnover (revenue $1 billion or less), 50% fall in turnover (revenue of more than $1 billion), 15% fall in turnover (ACNC registered charities) and is not located in one of the ineligible categories.
Eligibility Criteria for employees
Your employee is eligible if they; are employed by you (including those stood down or re-hired), permanent full-time or part-time employee at 1st March 2020, casual employee for at least 12 months as at 1st March 2020, were at least 16 years of age on 1st March 2020 and were an Australian resident as at 1st March 2020.
The JobKeeper scheme operates on a one-in all-in policy. Meaning employers must offer this payment to all of their employees or offer it to none of their employees.
How to apply
From 20th April 2020, you can enrol in the JobKeeper scheme on the ATO website using an online form. Click here to enrol.
Read more from the Prime Ministers media statement.
Refer to ABJ Solutions Blog
Covid-19 and the JobKeeper Payment Scheme Updated
Covid-19 and the JobKeeper Payment Scheme Updated – Rules and Guidelines/
NSW Payroll Tax Waiver
Last updated 2nd April 2020
NSW Payroll tax customers will have their annual tax liability reduced by 25% when they lodge their annual reconciliation for 2019/20 (by 28th July 2020). If you pay monthly, you will not be required to make payroll tax payments for the three months April to June 2020.
What is available
NSW payroll tax customers have the option of deferring payroll tax payments until October 2020, although they are still required to lodge the annual reconciliation by the due date.
Customers will have the option of paying their outstanding liability in full or entering into an instalment plan after October 2020.
NSW payroll tax customers whose total grouped Australian wages are no more than $10 million will have their annual tax liability reduced by 25% when they lodge their 2019/20 annual reconciliation.
The NSW Government have increased the tax-free threshold from $900,000 to $1 million for the financial year commencing 1st July 2020.
Eligibility Criteria
This discount applies to payroll tax customers whose total grouped Australian wages are no more than $10 million for the 2019/20 financial year.
How to apply
You are not required to register or apply for the discount. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the discount will be automatically applied to your tax liability when you lodge your annual reconciliation.
JobSeeker Allowance
Last updated 26th March 2020
Centrelink benefits are available to eligible applicants at $1,100 per fortnight plus two $750 stimulus payments.
What is available
The COVID-19 JobSeeker allowance is available to individuals unemployed or stood down due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Eligible individuals are entitled to $1,100 per fortnight plus two $750 stimulus payments.
How to apply
Individuals new to Centrelink can create a Centrelink account online. Click here for more information on creating a Centrelink account.
Individuals with a Centrelink CRN that is linked to their MyGov account. Log onto your MyGov account and click claim a payment.
Have you registered intention?
If you’ve registered an intention to claim, you don’t need to wait for Centrelink to contact you. You can go online to set up your Centrelink online account and then start a claim.
Standing Down Employees
Last updated 26th March 2020
There are avenues available for a business impacted by Covid-19 to stand down employees to manage cashflow. Employees will continue to accrue annual leave and other entitlements and at the same time apply for Centrelink allowances.
Standing down employees
An employer may stand down an employee during a period in which the employee cannot usefully be employed because of a number of circumstances including:
- industrial action (other than industrial action organised or engaged in by the employer)
- a breakdown of machinery or equipment, if the employer cannot reasonably be held responsible for the breakdown, or
- a stoppage of work for any cause for which the employer cannot reasonably be held responsible.
COVID-19 restrictions fall under the category of “a stoppage of work for any cause for which the employer cannot reasonably be held responsible”.
What is employee entitled to
Stood down employees will continue to accrue entitlements to annual leave and personal/carer’s leave under the National Employment Standards, as well as entitlement to a public holiday that falls on a day the employee has ordinary hours of work.
Stood down employees can apply to the JobSeeker payment of $1,100 per fortnight and applications may be completed online via MyGov, phone or in person at a Centrelink branch.
