Support for Businesses, Jobs and the Community impacted by COVID-19

The South Australian Government has announced its second economic stimulus package - The Jobs Rescue Package to provide support for businesses and households.

$10,000 Emergency Cash Grants for Small Businesses
Benefit:

  • $10,000 to support activities related to the operation of the business.

Who can receive this:

  • Small businesses and not-for-profits organisations including eligible sporting and community organisations (annual turnover of more than $75,000 GST exclusive).

Eligibility to access this:

  • Employ people in South Australia;

  • Have been subject to closure or highly impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions*

  • Have an annual payroll of less than $1.5 million;

  • Have an ABN and were carrying on the operation of the business in South Australia on 1 March, 2020;

  • Use the funds to support activities related to the operation of the business; and

  • Apply by 1 June , 2020.

What do you need to do to get the grant:

*Businesses eligible for the Commonwealth JobKeeper payment will be deemed to be highly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
 
 
Payroll Tax Relief
Businesses & Business Groups with wages below $4 million
Benefit:

  • Receive a six month payroll tax waiver for the period April, 2020 – September, 2020.

Who can receive this:

  • Business groups with annual Australian grouped wages of up to $4 million*.

Eligibility to access this:

  • Have annual Australian wages above $4 million; and

  • Demonstrate you have been significantly impacted by COVID‑19.

How much are you entitled to:

  • Maximum assistance of $84,150 over the six month period.

What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

  • If your business meets the criteria of Australian grouped wages of below $4 million for 2018-19, no application is required. RevenueSA will notify you through RevenueSA Online.

  • If your business was not registered for payroll tax for the 2018-19 financial year or did not complete the 2018-19 Annual Reconciliation, you will need to apply to RevenueSA  to see if you are eligible. You can access the application via the following link: https://forms.sa.gov.au/#/form/5e6b3be0ad9c5d09e8288d08/app/5e951def4d43343f886fcd54

Please note, you are still required to lodge your Monthly payroll tax returns to capture wages for the month, with no payment to be made. Monthly returns will be due as follows:

  • March, 2020       - Extension to 30 April, 2020, RevenueSA Online available from 20 April, 2020

  • April, 2020          - due 7 May, 2020

  • May, 2020           - due 7 June, 2020

  • June, 2020          - Incorporated into the annual reconciliation, due 21 July, 2020

  • July, 2020            - due 7 August, 2020

  • August, 2020      - due 7 September, 2020

*South Australian businesses whose employees qualify for the Federal Government’s $1,500-a-fortnight JobKeeper support payments will be exempt from paying any payroll tax on the wage subsidy.
 
Businesses & Business Groups with wages above $4 million
Benefit:

  • Defer payroll tax obligations for six months (April to September, 2020) until October, 2020.

Who can receive this:

  • Businesses with annual Australian (grouped) wages above $4 million.

Eligibility to access this:

  • Have been adversely impacted by COVID-19.

How much are you entitled to:

  • Deferral of payment for Payroll Tax until October, 2020.

What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

Please note, monthly payroll tax returns must still be lodged to capture wages for each month. Payments will be deferred until October, 2020.


Land Tax Package
Benefit:

  • Defer payment of your third and fourth quarter instalments for up to six months.

Who can receive this:

  • Businesses and individuals paying land tax quarterly in 2019-20.

Eligibility to access this:

  • You will be sent your land tax notices of assessment as usual, with information provided on how the deferral will be administered.

How much are you entitled to:

  • Deferral of payment for up to six months

What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

  • Follow the information provided on you land tax notices of assessment

Please note, the deferral does not relate to previous outstanding arrears.
 

Job Accelerator Grants
Benefit:

  • The government has relaxed the existing Job Accelerator Grant (JAG) criteria which required an employer to have maintained their overall employment levels for a full year to be eligible for their second anniversary payment.

Who can receive this:

  • Business with existing Job Accelerator Grant where the second year anniversary falls between 1 February, 2020 and 30 June, 2020.

Eligibility to access this:

  • If you have an existing Job Accelerator Grant in place. The business will be assessed based on the amount of full time equivalents as at 31 January, 2020.

How much are you entitled to:

  • Your full second anniversary payment:

    • Up to $7,500 for Job Accelerator Grant

    • Up to $4,500 for Job Accelerator Grant for Small Business & Start-up

What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

  • RevenueSA will send an email to your registered email address when your anniversary date approaches to advise you of the steps to take.
     

Liquor Licensing Grants
Benefit:

  • The Government will provide a waiver of annual liquor licencing fees for 2020-21.

Who can receive this:
The following liquor licence categories:

  • On Premises;

  • Residential ;

  • Restaurants & Catering ;

  • Club;

  • Liquor Production & Sales; and

  • Small Venue;

Eligibility to access this:

  • You will be eligible if you are a part of the above categories.

How much are you entitled to:

  • Waiver of annual liquor licencing fees.

What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

  • To apply for the wavier, email the licensing authority at liquorandgaming@sa.gov.au. You will need to state the reason and provide supporting evidence in your email

Please note: if you are a holder of a general and hotel licence who has a bottle shop will receive reduced fees. If you do not have a bottle shop, you may receive a full waiver.
 

Cost of Living Concession
Benefit:

  • Once-off boost of $500.

  • Current ConcessionSA customer will receive their payment in April 2020. New customers will be fast-tracked to receive their payment and boost as soon as possible.

Who can receive this:
You can receive this once-off boost if you hold one of the following cards:

  • Pensioner Concession Card;

  • Gold Card from Department of Veterans Affairs:

    • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI);

    • Extreme Disablement adjustment (EDA);

    • War Widow ; and

    • Issued to a person with 980 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (Cth).

  • Low Income Health Care Card;

  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

OR if you receive one of the following payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment;

  • Widow Allowance;

  • Youth Allowance;

  • Partner Allowance;

  • Parenting Payment;

  • Special Benefit ;

  • Community Development Project (CDP);

  • New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS);

  • ABSTUDY;

  • Austudy;

  • Farm Household Allowance (FHA);

  • War Widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand.

Eligibility to access this:

  • Eligibility is based on your living arrangements on 1 July.

  • On 1 July of the relevant financial year, you either :

    • Hold an eligible card;

    • Receive an eligible Centrelink payment; or

    • Meet low income provisions.

Please note: This concession is payable as a maximum amount per household and is only payable to one person per household.
 
What do you need to do to get your entitlement:

Please note: If you have previously received a Cost of Living Concession payment and your living and income arrangements have not changed, you do not need to reapply.
 
Please contact our office if you need to discuss any of these items in further detail.

We would like to remind you all that we are here to help you and will continue to be throughout this challenging time.

Stay safe and look after each other.

Sources:
https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/Growing-South-Australia/COVID-19
https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/$10,000-emergency-cash-grants-for-small-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19


Regards,
The Team at Milanese & Co Accountants   

Milanese & Co Accountants