Job Saver Government Grant

With the current state-wide lockdown in effect we wanted to remind everyone of the Government assistance available.

 

The first grant is the Job Saver Grant.

Introduction

If you’re a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you’ve been impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible for the 2021 COVID-19 JobSaver payment.

JobSaver will provide cash flow support to impacted businesses to help maintain their NSW employee headcount from 13 July 2021.

Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations with employees will receive automatic fortnightly payments backdated to cover costs incurred from week 4 of the Greater Sydney lockdown (from 18 July 2021 onwards) if their application is successful. The 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant covers businesses impacted during the first 3 weeks of the Greater Sydney lockdown.

The payment will be equivalent to 40% of the weekly payroll for work performed in NSW:

  • minimum payment will be $1,500 per week
  • maximum payment will be $100,000 per week.

Weekly payroll should be determined by referring to the calculations underlying the most recent Business Activity Statement (BAS) provided to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) prior to 26 June 2021 for the 2020–21 financial year.

If you’re a non-employing business, such as a sole trader, you may be eligible to receive a payment of $1,000 per week.

Eligible businesses can use JobSaver to cover business costs incurred from 18 July 2021. These costs may include:

  • salaries and wages
  • utilities and rent
  • financial, legal or other advice
  • marketing and communications
  • perishable goods
  • other business costs.

A qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent may apply for the JobSaver payment on behalf of your business.

Your accountant will need to provide a Letter of Authority from you to show that they are authorised to act on behalf of your business if they are not listed as an associate on the Australian Business Register. 

Applications will close after 11:59pm on 18 October 2021.

Eligibility

To be eligible for JobSaver your business or not-for-profit organisation should:

  • have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • have been operating in NSW on 1 June 2021
  • have had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $250 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020
  • 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 (began 26 June and due to end 28 August 2021) compared to:
    • the same period in 2019, or
    • the same period in 2020, or
    • the 2-week period immediately before lockdown began (12 June to 25 June 2021)
  • for employing businesses, maintain your employee headcount from 13 July 2021 while you continue to receive JobSaver payments
  • for non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, show that the business is the primary income source for the associated person. If you have more than one non-employing business, you can only claim payments for one business.

Ineligible businesses

Certain entities, such as those earning passive income (rents, interest, or dividends), government agencies, local governments, banks, and universities are not eligible for JobSaver.

Non-employing businesses are not eligible for the JobSaver payment if anyone associated with and deriving income from the business has received a Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment since 18 July 2021.

What you need

  • a MyServiceNSW Account – you can create one when you start your application
  • your proof of identity
  • your valid ABN/ACN number
  • your business banking details for payment
  • evidence of your annual turnover and loss of income
  • Australian income tax return
  • qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent details, where required.

Evidence to support eligibility

If your business is on the highly impacted industries list and you’re applying for a maximum weekly payment of $10,000 or less, you’ll be required to:

  • declare that you meet the eligibility criteria
  • submit an Australian income tax return or other documentation demonstrating the business had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $250 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2020
  • provide details of your qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent
  • provide evidence of how the weekly payroll amount was calculated and other supporting documents as outlined in section 6 of the guidelines
  • lodge other supporting documents as required to demonstrate you meet the eligibility criteria.

If your business is not on the highly impacted industries list and/or you are applying for a weekly payment of more than $10,000, in addition to the evidence requirements outlined above, you’ll need to:

  • submit a letter from a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent, using the template provided, to demonstrate that you experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more over a minimum 2-week period within the Greater Sydney lockdown (commenced 26 June and due to end 28 August 2021) compared to the same period in 2019, or the same period in 2020, or the 2-week period immediately before lockdown commenced (12 June to 25 June 2021)
    • alternatively, if you have previously submitted a letter from a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent to Service NSW to verify decline in turnover for other COVID-19 business support grants, you can resubmit this letter as evidence of a decline in turnover up to the percentage previously attested
    • if you are a non-employing accounting business (for example, sole trader) you must submit a letter from a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent that is not an employee or director of your business, an associated entity of your business, or a director or employee of an associated entity of your business. 

Alternative circumstances

If your business does not meet all the eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply for JobSaver if you can provide evidence to support the alternative circumstances outlined in the guidelines.

Auditing requirements

Successful applications may be subject to an audit.

A public reporting channel will be established to allow people to report businesses not adhering to JobSaver guidelines.

Service NSW can request a combination of the following documents to support its determination of eligibility and use of funds in accordance with JobSaver Terms and Conditions including:

  • accountant’s letter
  • prior BAS statements
  • income tax declarations
  • audited profit and loss statements
  • receipts and invoices from purchases
  • NSW payroll tax reconciliation returns.

You’ll need to keep all documentary evidence relied upon in your application for a minimum of 5 years.

Proof of identity

Two proof of identity documents are required. They may include:

  • Australian driver licence
  • Medicare card
  • Australian passport
  • Australian birth certificate
  • Australian travel visa
  • Australian citizenship certificate
  • Australian certificate of registration by descent
  • Australian ImmiCard.

If you can’t verify your identity, you can call a Business Concierge on 13 77 88 to help with your application. 

How to apply

  1. Check you meet the eligibility criteria.
  2. Have your documentation and evidence ready for uploading.
  3. Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
    Note: You can save and resume your application, but if you have not submitted it within 7 days, any details you’ve entered will be deleted.
  4. Log in, or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
  5. Select and verify your identity documents.
  6. When your identity is verified, select ‘Continue’.
  7. Confirm your personal details.
  8. Enter your business details and answer the eligibility questions, then select ‘Next’.
  9. Provide information about your decline in turnover and upload your supporting documentation, then select ‘Next’.
  10. Enter your bank details, then select ‘Next’.
  11. Review your application.
  12. Check the declaration boxes.
  13. Select ‘Submit’ to complete your application.

When you submit your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your application reference number. If you do not receive this email after completing your application, please check your junk mail folder.

After your application is received, it will be reviewed by Service NSW. We’ll contact you if we need additional information to support your application. If your application is approved, we’ll transfer funds to your specified bank account within 5 to 7 business days from the approval date.

If you’re not able to complete your application online, please call us on 13 77 88.

More information

  • Each ABN can apply for JobSaver only once.
  • Separate businesses under one ABN will not be eligible separately.
  • The relevant COVID-19 restrictions are:
    • Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 issued on 26 June 2021
    • stay-at-home order issued on 25 June 2021
    • stay-at-home order issued on 27 May 2021.
  • Employees can receive Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payments if their employer is receiving JobSaver.

 

If you feel your business is eligible please contact our office to assist with your application. If you are unsure if you are eligible it is recommended you contact our office so we can review your file and check if you are eligible or not.

 

Stay safe everyone.

Get in touch with Advisory One

Providing individual and small businesses with a complete financial service.

Call 02 6324 5888