If you are a business owner (sole trader, partnership, trust or company) and your business has been affected by the Coronavirus, the JobKeeper payment is available to your business if you meet the eligibility requirements. Here are the steps to apply if you determine that you are eligible:
- Step 1 – Register your interest and subscribe for JobKeeper payment updates.
- Step 2 – Check you and your employees meet the eligibility requirements. This step is vital.
- Step 3 – Continue to pay at least $1,500 to each eligible employee per JobKeeper fortnight (the first JobKeeper fortnight is the period from 30 March to 12 April).
- Step 4 – Notify your eligible employees that you are intending to claim the JobKeeper payment on their behalf and check they aren’t claiming JobKeeper payment through another employer or have nominated through another business.
- Step 5 – Send the JobKeeper employee nomination notice to your nominated employees to complete and return to you by the end of April if you plan to claim the JobKeeper payment for April. Keep it on file and provide a copy to your registered tax agent if you are using one.
The following steps can be followed from tomorrow:
- Step 6 – From 20 April 2020, you can enrol with us for the JobKeeper payment using the Business Portal and authenticate with myGovID. You must do this by the end of April to claim the JobKeeper payments for April.
- Step 7 – In the online form, provide your bank details and indicate if you are claiming an entitlement based on business participation, for example if you are a sole trader.
- Step 8 – Specify the estimated number of employees who will be eligible for the first JobKeeper fortnight (30 March – 12 April) and the second JobKeeper fortnight (13 April – 26 April).
As you will need to make a declaration that you meet the eligibility requirements to receive these payments, you must keep a thorough record of how you determined your eligibility. If incorrect declarations are made and you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you will need to repay the JobKeeper Payments.
If you require any assistance when you prepare your applications, please do not hesitate to get in touch.