The Government yesterday announced the future of JobKeeper and JobSeeker along with other income support measures. We’ve created a client update to help with the changes.
“We will do what is practically needed”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
JobKeeper 2.0
The second tranche of the JobKeeper scheme changes the eligibility test for employers and the method and amount paid to employees.
If your business currently receives JobKeeper, your arrangements will generally remain unchanged until 27 September 2020. From 28 September 2020, employers seeking to claim JobKeeper payments will need to reassess their eligibility and prove an actual decline in turnover.
Eligibility
To continue receiving JobKeeper payments, employers will need to reassess their eligibility with reference to actual GST turnover for the June and September 2020 quarters (for payments between 28 September to 3 January 2021), and again for the June, September and December 2020 quarters (for payments between 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021).
Eligible employers
The broad eligibility tests to access JobKeeper remain the same with an extended decline in turnover test.
- On 1 March 2020, carried on a business in Australia or was a non‑profit body pursuing its objectives principally in Australia; and
- before the end of the JobKeeper fortnight, it met the decline in turnover test*:
- >15% for an ACNC-registered charity (excluding universities, or schools within the meaning of the GST Act – these entities need to meet the basic turnover test)
- > 50% for large businesses:
- aggregated turnover for the test period is likely to be $1 billion or more, or aggregated turnover for the previous year to the test period was $1 billion or more (a small business that forms part of a group that is a large business must have a >50% decline in turnover to satisfy the test).
- >30% for all other qualifying entities.
- And, was not:
- on 1 March 2020, subject to Major Bank Levy for any quarter ending before this date, a member of a consolidated group and another member of the group had been subject to the levy; or
- a government body of a particular kind, or a wholly-owned entity of such a body; or
- at any time in the fortnight, a provisional liquidator or liquidator has been appointed to the business or a trustee in bankruptcy had been appointed to the individual’s property.
- before the end of the JobKeeper fortnight, it met the decline in turnover test*:
1 March 2020 is an absolute date. An employer that had ceased trading, commenced after 1 March 2020, or was not pursuing its objectives in Australia at that date, is not eligible.
*Additional tests apply from 28 September 2020.
Additional decline in turnover tests
To receive JobKeeper payments from 28 September 2020, businesses will need to meet the basic eligibility tests and an extended decline in turnover test based on actual GST turnover.
DECLINE IN TURNOVER
30 March to 27 September 2020
Projected GST turnover for a relevant month or quarter is expected to fall by at least 30% (15% for ACNC-registered charities, 50% for large businesses) compared to the same period in 2019.*
28 September to 3 January 2021
Actual GST turnover in the June and September 2020 quarters fell by at least 30% (15% for ACNC-registered charities, 50% for large businesses) compared to the same periods in 2019. The decline for both of the quarters needs to be met to continue receiving JobKeeper payments.
4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021
Actual GST turnover in the June, September and December 2020 quarters fell by at least 30% (15% for ACNC-registered charities, 50% for large businesses) compared to the same periods in 2019. The decline for all three of the quarters needs to be met to continue receiving JobKeeper payments.
* Alternative tests potentially apply where a business fails the basic test and does not have a relevant comparison period.