**UPDATE** COVID-19 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
Business Support Grant – What you need to know!
The grant aims to provide a quick cashflow boost to assist Queensland businesses affected by of the lockdown that commenced on the 31st July 2021.
Who is eligible?
Large businesses
You may be eligible if you are a large business financially impacted by lockdown, operating within the hospitality and tourism sector, and located in one of the recognised eleven Queensland Local Government lockdown areas.
Small to medium businesses
You may be eligible if you are a small to medium business and have experienced 30% or more reduction in turnover because of the lockdown, irrespective of whether your business resides in one of the recognised eleven Queensland Local Government lockdown areas.
To be considered a small to medium business you must be able to demonstrate an annual turnover of $75, 000 per annum and an annual payroll in Queensland of up to $10 million.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a one-off payment of $5,000.
How do I make a claim?
Information on how to apply for a grant, is expected to be made available shortly on the Queensland Government website. You will be able to apply for a grant online from mid August. The exact date is expected to be announced in the next few days.
Supporting evidence will be required to accompany all applications. Once a grant application has been approved, funds will be available within two weeks.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for the Queensland Business Support Grant, click here.
Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant (Regional) – What you need to know!
Applications for the Small Business COVID-19 Adaptation Grant (Regional) are now closed.
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 New South wales businesses, sole traders, and not-for-profits 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 between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020.
Have an annual Australian wages bill of no more than $10 million, as at 1st July 2020.
Be able to demonstrate a revenue decline of 30% or more.
Have business costs for which there is no other government support available.
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?
Applications are now open and will close on the 13th September 2021. For more detailed information regarding eligibility and the application process for Covid-19 Business Grant, click here.
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.
Have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more due to the Public Health Order over a minimum 2-week period within the Greater Sydney lockdown (commenced 26 June 2021 and due to end 28 August 2021), compared to the same period in 2019, the same period in 2020, or the 2-week period immediately before the Greater Sydney lockdown commenced (11 June 2021 to 25 June 2021)
Have business costs for which no other government support is available
Maintain your employee headcount from 13 July 2021 while receiving payments from this grant, if you're an employing business
Have this business as your primary income source, if you're a non-employing business such as a sole trader.
It is important to note that you are not eligible to receive this grant if you have already applied for either the 2021 COVID-19 business grant or the JobSaver payment.
How much can I claim?
The available grant amount is a fortnightly payment of $1,500.
How do I make a claim?
Applications are now open and will close on the 18th October 2021. For more detailed information regarding eligibility and the application process for Covid-19 Micro Business Grant, click here.
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 $250 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 $100,000 per week (40% of weekly payroll).
Businesses with no employees can claim up to $1,000 per week.
How do I make a claim?
Applications are now open and will close on the 18th October 2021. For more detailed information regarding eligibility and the application process for JobSaver, click here.
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 by the end of 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!
Applications for the Northern Territory Not-for-Profit Tourism Attraction Survival Payment are now closed.
Western Australia
Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grant: Round 2 – 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?
Applications are now open and will close on the 31st August 2021.
For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application process for Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grant, click here.
