COVID-19 State Government Assistance for Businesses
PLEASE NOTE; there have been recent updates and changes since date of publish. Please click here for the latest information on State Government Assistance for Businesses.
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have left their mark on many businesses with some regions and industries hit harder than others.
Some States and Territories are offering support for businesses and employers in the form of financial aid and grants.
Following is a state-by-state snapshot of the help currently available to businesses that have been financially affected by COVID-19.
All information is correct at time of publication but is subject to change. To stay up to date with the latest information, be sure to visit the relevant State Government website.
Queensland
Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant (Regional) – What you need to know!
The objective of this program is to support small businesses subject to closure or highly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown restrictions announced by the Queensland Government.
Who is eligible?
To be a 'regional business', your principal place of business must be in a local government area within Queensland that is not identified as a South East Queensland (SEQ) location.
In addition, your business must:
Have been subject to closure or otherwise highly impacted by current shutdown restrictions announced by Queensland’s Chief Health Officer on 23 March 2020
Have experienced a minimum 30% decline since 23 March 2020, over a minimum 1-month period due to the onset and management of COVID-19
Employ staff and have fewer than 20 employees at the time of applying for the grant (employees must be on your payroll and does not include the business owner(s))
Have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) active as at 23 March 2020
Be registered for GST
Have a Queensland headquarters
Have an annual turnover over $75,000 for the 2018–19 or 2019–20 financial year, or you can provide financial records that show this will be met for recently started small businesses
Have a payroll of less than $1.3 million
Not be insolvent or have owners or directors that are an undischarged bankrupt.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a minimum of $2,000 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business (conditions and restrictions apply).
How do I make a claim?
You will need to apply online via the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority's (QRIDA) application portal.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for Small Business COVID-19 Assistance Grant, Click here.
New South Wales
Small Business Fees and Charges rebate – What you need to know!
Sole Traders, Business Owners and not-for-profit organisations may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of up to $1500. Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:
Have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-2021 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW
How much can I claim?
Eligible businesses 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.
It is important to note:
The rebate will be available until 30 June 2022.
How do I make a claim?
Applications for the NSW 2021 COVID-19 Support Package can be made via your MyServiceNSW account.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for the NSW 2021 COVID-19 Support Package, click here.
NSW COVID-19 Business Grant – What you need to know!
This recently announced grant will be available to assist businesses by providing a cashflow boost during the first three weeks of lockdown.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for this grant, businesses must:
Have a turnover of more than $75,000 an annual Australian wages bill of below $10 million, as at 1st July 2020, and be able to demonstrate a revenue decline of 30% or more.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a one-off payment of between $7,500 and $15,000 depending on the decline in turnover.
How do I make a claim?
Information on how to apply for a grant is expected to be made available shortly on the New South Wales Government Website.
Applications open on the 19th of July. Businesses will need to register their interest at Service NSW.
NSW COVID-19 Micro Business Grant – What you need to know!
This recently announced grant will be available to assist small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for this grant, businesses must:
Have a turnover of between $30,000 and $75,000, be the primary income source for the person associated with the business, and be able to demonstrate a revenue decline of 30% or more.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a fortnightly payment of $1,500.
How do I make a claim?
Information on how to apply for a grant is expected to be made available shortly on the New South Wales Government Website.
Applications open late July. Businesses will need to register their interest at Service NSW.
NSW JobSaver – What you need to know!
This recently announced grant will be available to assist businesses by providing a cashflow boost and maintaining staff numbers.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for this grant, businesses must:
Have a turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million, and be able to demonstrate a revenue decline of 30% or more.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a fortnightly payment.
Businesses with employees can claim between $1,500 and $10,000 per week (40% of weekly payroll).
Businesses with no employees can claim up to $1,000 per week.
How do I make a claim?
Information on how to apply for a grant is expected to be made available shortly on the New South Wales Government Website.
Applications open in late July. Businesses will need to register their interest at Service NSW.
Coronavirus payroll tax relief – What you need to know!
The following payroll relief measures have been put in place by the New South Wales Government:
Payroll Tax Deferrals
Businesses paying payroll tax will have the option to defer payments on the 2020-21 annual reconciliation return and wages paid in July and August.
The date for lodgement and payment of the 2021 annual reconciliation has been extended until the 7th October 2021.
Payroll Tax Concessions
Businesses with wages up to $10 million and a revenue decline of 30% may be eligible for a 25% reduction in 2021-22 payroll tax.
Further information is expected to be made available sometime in August on the New South Wales Revenue Website.
Victoria
Industry specific grant, rebates and programs – What you need to know!
Victoria has put in place many industry-specific initiatives for businesses suffering the effects of COVID-19 related lockdowns and restrictions. Click on the links below for more detailed information on the grant, rebate or program including eligibility, application process and closing dates.
Coronavirus payroll tax relief – What you need to know!
The following payroll relief measures have been put in place by the Victorian Government:
1. Deferring 2020-21 payroll tax liability for eligible employers until the 2021-22 financial year
Employers with Victorian payrolls up to $10 million, based on their 2019-20 financial year annual reconciliation returns, can defer their 2020-21 payroll tax liability until the 2021-22 financial year.
This means they can pay their 2020-21 payroll tax liability as determined in their 2020-21 annual reconciliation return in four quarterly instalments in the 2021-22 financial year:
At least 25% of the 2020-21 liability will be due on 7 September 2021.
At least 50% of the 2020-21 liability will be due on 7 December 2021.
At least 75% of the 2020-21 liability will be due on 7 March 2022.
Any outstanding balance of the 2020-21 liability will be due on 7 June 2022.
Who is eligible and how do I claim?
This deferral relief applies to each employer. This means membership of a payroll tax group is not considered in determining whether or not the member’s Victorian taxable wages for the 2019-20 financial year exceeded the $10 million threshold.
To be eligible for this deferral measure, an employer must lodge their annual reconciliation return for the 2020-21 financial year by no later than 27 August 2021. Therefore, unless an employer lodges their annual reconciliation by 27 August 2021, they will not be eligible for the tax deferral and any tax owing will need to be paid immediately.
For more detailed information about deferring 2020-21 payroll tax liability for eligible employers until the 2021-22 financial year, click here.
2. Waiving of 2020-21 and 2021-22 payroll tax after applying for New Jobs payroll tax credit
Eligible employers will be entitled to a waiver of their 2020-21 and 2021-22 payroll tax after applying the New Jobs payroll tax credit against their liability for each of the financial years (designated financial year).
Eligible employers will receive a credit of 10 cents for every dollar of Victorian taxable wages paid in the relevant designated financial year that are above the previous financial year’s wages. The credit will be applied against the employer’s payroll tax liabilities at the end of the relevant designated financial year. The waiver may partially or fully extinguish the payroll tax liability for an eligible employer for the designated year.
Who is eligible?
An employer or a group of employers is eligible for the relief if their total Australian wages (i.e. Victorian taxable wages plus interstate wages) do not exceed $10 million in the financial year preceding the designated financial year.
There are other eligibility requirements which must be met, and this will depend on whether or not the employer is a member of a payroll tax group as at 30 June of the relevant designated financial year.
How do I make a claim?
If you are eligible for the credit, it will be applied against your payroll tax liability for the designated year after you have lodged your annual return for that year.
For more detailed information about waiving of 2020-21 and 2021-22 payroll tax after applying for New Jobs payroll tax credit, click here.
Northern Territory
Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Survival Payment – What you need to know!
The $500,000 Fund for the Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Survival Payment has been established to support not-for-profit tourist attractions such as non-government museums and historical sites significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Who is eligible?
To be deemed eligible, the business must be an established not-for-profit tourism attraction with a valid ABN, that has been actively operating in the Northern Territory in either owned or leased premises for at least 12 months prior to the date of announcement of this initiative.
The organisation should be able to demonstrate:
A minimum of 50% reduction in turnover experienced in October 2020 compared to October 2019
Provide valid evidence of workforce size and financial situation
Be a non-government entity
Be a registered incorporated not-for-profit organisation.
How much can I claim?
Eligible businesses need to apply for a once-off payment. The amount depends on the size of the impacted workforce:
$2,000 for sole traders
$5,000 for businesses with two to five full time equivalent employees (FTEs)
$10,000 for businesses with six to 19 employees (FTEs)
$20,000 for businesses with more than 20 employees (FTEs)
How do I make a claim?
Applications for the Territory Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Survival Payment can be made online via www.businessnt.smartygrants.com.au.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for the Territory Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Survival Payment, click here.
Western Australia
Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grant – What you need to know!
The grant program will support small businesses in industry sectors most impacted by the recent circuit-breaker four-day lockdown and interim restrictions, and will be made available to eligible small businesses across Perth, Peel and regional Western Australia.
How much can I claim?
The grant program will provide $3000 in cash flow support.
Who is eligible and how do I make a claim?
Information on how much you can claim and how to apply for a grant is expected to be made available shortly on the Western Australian Government Website.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grant and to register your interest, click here.
