JobKeeper Payment Bills passed but no detail yet
JobKeeper Payment details still not available
We would like to take this opportunity to update you on the JobKeeper Payment Scheme.
Bills passed but no detail yet
Yesterday, the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill 2020 was introduced and passed both Houses of Parliament. Unfortunately, it did not contain the finer detail of how the JobKeeper Payment Scheme (‘the Scheme’) will operate.
What it did was set up a framework including giving the Treasurer the power to make Rules, by way of Legislative Instrument, as to how the Scheme will work. These Rules are not currently available.
ATO’s role in the JobKeeper Payment Scheme
Further, as previously announced by Treasury, the Commissioner of Taxation will be given certain discretions relating to the operation of the Scheme, including the ability to provide alternative turnover tests that can be satisfied if the tests already announced by Treasury cannot be met (e.g., that businesses with a turnover below $1 billion must have had or will have at least a 30% reduction in their turnover due to the effect of COVID-19).
It is anticipated that the ATO will make this information available once Treasury has released the Rules.
We believe this information is imminent and as soon as it is available, we will be working quickly to provide you with all the information you need to assist your clients.
Are we expecting any major changes?
We believe the information we previously provided you with at the time the Scheme was first announced by the Government and contained in the factsheets on Treasury’s website will be, on the whole, representative of how the Scheme ends up operating.
To receive the subsidy Employers are required to:
- Register interest in the JobKeeper payment on the ATO website. The ATO website indicates that those who register will receive relevant updates: https://www.ato.gov.au/general/gen/JobKeeper-payment/
- Notify the Commissioner that you want to participate (in the approved form) by 26 April 2020 if you want to participate from the commencement of the scheme on 30 March 2020. Otherwise you must notify your participation before the end of the first JobKeeper fortnight for which you want to participate.
- Obtain a notification from each employee, confirming the employee’s consent to being included in the employer’s JobKeeper application.
- Provide details of eligible employees for each fortnight to the ATO in the approved form. The ATO will use Single Touch Payroll data to assist in this process by pre-population.
- Notify eligible employees within 7 days of each fortnightly claim for the subsidy.
- Report monthly to the Commissioner by the 7th of each month on your GST turnover for the previous month, and your projected GST turnover for the coming month.