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NSW COVID19 Stimulus July – December 2021
2020 and Prior Tax Return Preparation Checklist
July 5, 2021
What do you choose?
July 25, 2021
NSW Stimulus Relief Programs such as Jobsaver made its final payments to employers on 30th November 2021. Applications can be longer be made to enter the scheme. Support is still available, in different forms focused on reopening the economy safely. Read more below:
For continuing business support, please contact us. You can apply for the programs below if applicable:The Service NSW Website has a summary page which is constantly updated. Please bookmark this:
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses/grants-loans-and-financial-assistanceSmall business fees and charges rebate
Program status: OpenAs part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus and recovery plan, small businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations may apply for a rebate worth $2,000 to help pay for government fees and charges.The rebate is available until 30 June 2022.For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Apply for the small business fees and charges rebate.Alfresco Restart Package
Offering $5,000 rebates for hospitality businesses to get their outdoor dining ventures in a park or public space off the ground. Registrations are now open via Service NSW.https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/alfresco-restart-rebateFee waivers and tax assistance
Source > https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses/fee-waivers-and-tax-assistance * Payroll tax extensions and deferrals * Payroll tax concessions * Backing business incentives – accelerated depreciation * ASIC COVID-19 reliefATO COVID-19 helpline
If you are experiencing difficulties meeting your tax and superannuation obligations because of COVID-19, phone the ATO Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218.First Lap learn to swim voucher program
Program status: OpenThe First Lap voucher program provides a $100 voucher to parents, guardians and carers of children aged 3 to 6 years towards the cost of swimming lessons. The program is also for children who are in kindergarten in 2021 and children who are starting kindergarten in 2022.If your business provides in-person weekly or intensive learn-to-swim programs over a minimum of 5 lessons, you may be eligible to register.For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Register as a First Lap provider.Jobs Plus program
The Jobs Plus program provides support to Australian and international businesses that want to start or expand their operations in NSW. Program support will help reduce the costs and financial risks of growing a business or moving its operations to NSW.To be eligible for the program, Australian businesses must currently employ at least 20 workers and overseas businesses must employ at least 80 workers. All businesses must be able to create at least 30 net new full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in NSW before 30 June 2024. Further conditions apply.For more information about eligibility criteria, as well as details about funding, visit Jobs Plus program.Find out moreExport assistance grant
An export assistance grant of up to $10,000 is available to eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19, bushfires or drought, to help them access new global markets or re-enter old ones.Eligible exporting businesses can apply for 50 per cent reimbursement of certain export-enabling expenses, such as marketing and e-commerce, for expenses already paid since 1 January 2020.For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit Service NSW website.Lockdown Stimulus Measures - July - November 2021 - Start Here
Familiarise yourself with the Business Grants Comparison provided by Service NSW, and then:A. CLOSED - If eligible, we hope you applied for the Covid19 Business Grant (applications now closed) by visiting Service NSW. Applications opened on July 19. The relevant period for this grant is 26 June to 17 July. Grants between $7,500 and $15,000 are available to eligible businesses depending on the decline in turnover experienced during the restrictions. Criteria applies and applications closed on 1 October 2021
B. - CLOSED - Apply for the Jobsaver Grant by visiting Service NSW as applications are now open. JobSaver will provide cash flow support to impacted businesses to help maintain their NSW employee headcount on 13 July 2021. Applications close 18 October 2021 Criteria applies.
OR
C. Applications for the Covid 19 Micro Business Grant is if your turnover is between $30,000 and $75,000 by visiting Service NSW as applications are CLOSED.
The relevant period at the time of writing is 26 June to 28 August 2021.Criteria appliesContact us to let us know you intend to make a claim. We need to prepare a letter on your behalf for you to send to Service NSW in support of your applications for various relief. We may also need to analyse your turnover to see if it meets the criteria before providing the letter, or request specific reports from your accounting software.
In anticipation of lodging an application, it’s recommended that business owners Update your business details on the Australian Business Register and within the Service NSW app.
What should I do if I can't work?
Employees who are out of work or have had their hours reduced by more than 8 hours per week because of the Pandemic should contact Services Australia for access to Covid19 disaster payment relief. If you have had to reduce your staff's working hours because of the lockdown, or stand them down, please send them the information relating to individuals in our post below.
Individuals with reduced hours can claim the COVID-19 disaster payment
The payment helps workers who are unable to earn money due to a COVID-19 lockdown or hotspot. Available to eligible people in a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot.
Individuals forced to isolate can claim the Pandemic leave disaster payment
You may be eligible for financial support if you can't earn money because NSW Health has directed you to self-isolate or quarantine for 14 days or you are caring for someone who has COVID-19.
FOR EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES
NSW State Government Support available as at 30th October 2021. Please note you may be eligible for more than one grant.
COVID-19 Business Grants - APPLICATIONS CLOSED
A one-off payment to help businesses with cashflow support for the first 3 weeks of lockdown.
$7,500 for at least a 30% Decline , $10,500 for at least a 50% or more decline, and $15,000 for a decline of 70% or more
Click to read the detailed eligibility guidelinesThe Decline in turnover must exceed 30% in the periods defined in the following table to be eligible:
Over a minimum two-week period (commenced 26 June and 17 July 2021), compared to the same period in 2019, 2020, or the period immediately before lockdown commenced (11-25 June)
Applications opened 19 July 2021 and closed on 1 October 2021.
Apply online at the Service NSW website and then request your Accountant provide you a supporting letterJOBSAVER - APPLICATIONS CLOSED
- To receive the payment, eligible entities will be required to maintain their full-time, part-time and long-term casual staffing level as of July 13, 2021.
- Eligible entities, which includes not-for-profits, will receive payments of between $1,500 and $100,000 per week based on the level of their payroll.
- For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
- The entity must have experienced a Decline in Turnover of 30 per cent or more due to the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 over a minimum two-week period (commenced 26 June and due to end 28 August 2021), compared to the same period in 2019, 2020, or the period immediately before lockdown commenced (11-25 June)
Turnover between $75,000 and $250 million.
Fortnightly retesting will be required from 26th September 2021
Following the extension of the JobSaver program, you'll need to reconfirm your eligibility each fortnight to continue receiving your payments. This means you will need to confirm that you experienced a turnover decline of 30% or more in the past fortnight due to the impact of the public health order and that you are maintaining your employee headcount. You must notify Service NSW if your headcount has declined over the payment period.
70% DOUBLE DOSE -
80% DOUBLE DOSE
-Payments will change to 15% of weekly payroll after NSW reaches 80% double vaccination. If you receive a request to reconfirm eligibility from Service NSW and want us to assist with the decline in Turnover test, please forward the email to your accountant and we''ll come back to you within 24 hours.Applications now open.COVID-19 Micro Business Grants for SOLE TRADERS AND MICRO BUSINESSES
A fortnightly payment for businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $75,000
Payment is $1,500 per fortnight
Eligibility - Turnover between $30k and $75k and Revenue decline of 30% or more
The Businesses must provide the primary income source for a person associated with the business (not hobbies or part time work) Applications now open.
Apply for the small business fees and charges rebate
If you are a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $2000.
This rebate helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourages growth by reducing the cost of running a business. Eligible businesses with a Payroll of less than $1.2million and an active Trading ABN or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $1500 is reached.Payroll tax deferrals
Businesses can opt in to defer payments on the 2020-21 annual reconciliation return and wages paid in July and August.
Interest free repayment plans for up to 12 months will be available.
Deferral of 2020-21 reconciliation (due 28 July) and payments due on 7 August and 7 September until 7 October 2022
Eligibility - Any business paying payroll tax.Payroll tax concessions
Concessions to help reduce overheads for eligible businesses with a 30% decline in turnover.
A 25% reduction in 2021-22 payroll tax where there is a 30% decline in turnover
Eligibility - A revenue decline of 30%
For businesses with Australian wages up to $10 million
For more information visit Revenue NSW
Support for residential and commercial landlords and tenants
Eviction moratorium for residential tenants
A tenancy moratorium to restrict when landlords can evict tenants due to rental arrears is in place until 11 September 2021.
Residential landlords who decrease rent for impacted tenants can apply for a grant or land tax reductions depending on their circumstances.
Landlords leasing residential properties
For landlords with tenants in financial distress. Landlords with eligible properties may be eligible for a land tax concession if they provide rent reductions to their tenants.
Either $1500 grant to residential landowners to pass onto their tenants, or Concession of up to 100% of 2021 land tax
Eligibility - For landlords who provide at least that much rental relief
Tenants must have lost 25% or more of their income
Available for rent reductions made from now until 31 December 2021
Landlords leasing Commercial properties
For landlords with tenants in financial distress. Landlords with commercial properties may be eligible for a land tax concession if they provide rent reductions to their tenants.
Payment up to 100% of 2021 land tax
Eligibility - For landlords who provide at least that much rental relief to tenants who are eligible for the
- Micro-businesss
- COVID-19 Support Grant
- 2021 COVID-19 NSW Business Grant and/or
- JobSaver scheme
Available for rent reductions made from now until 31 December 2021. For more information visit NSW Govt.
Other support is available for :
Gaming Machine Tax deferrals Accommodation providers Performing arts relief package Extension of Dine & Discover NSW programMore details will be shared when it becomes available to us. Stay turned and contact us if you need urgent advice
FOR INDIVIDUALS
Visit the NSW Government support landing page
From week four of a lockdown declared a hotspot by the federal government, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase substantially if a person has lost 20 or more hours of work a week, and to a lesser extent if a person has lost between eight and less than 20 hours of work a week.
Support for individuals and households
The NSW Government and the Australian Government provide financial assistance and support if you have been impacted by COVID-19 and you are experiencing financial difficulty.
1. COVID-19 Disaster Payment
The payment helps workers who are unable to earn money due to a COVID-19 lockdown or hotspot.
Available to eligible people in a Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspot.
2. Pandemic Disaster Leave Payment
You may be eligible for financial support if you can't earn money because NSW Health has directed you to self-isolate or quarantine for 14 days or you are caring for someone who has COVID-19.
How can our choices help and protect others in this latest lockdown? Click the Logo to read Alexanders blog post
More details will be shared when it becomes available to us. Contact us if you need urgent advice
If you are struggling with your mental health; the federal and NSW governments will deliver a $17.35 million mental health support package for NSW including for services through Lifeline, Headspace and Kid’s Helpline. Please call them, or Beyond Blue. Help is available.
Additional Resources from our Professional Partners
* NTAA - Stimulus Summary 17 July 2021
Tax Institute Summary of Stimulus - Authored by Robyn Jacobson - 15 July 2021
