COVID-19

18 December NEWSStaying JobKeeper compliant with bring-forward payments for the holiday season The ATO says that where an eligible employer with a regular fortnightly pay cycle (or shorter) makes additional payments to its employees in the JobKeeper fortnight immediately before its holiday closure, and those additional payments relate to a future JobKeeper fortnight or fortnights

The latest in the Federal Government’s COVID-19 support measures, the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme is now open for registration. But one of the first issues to settle, before any “paperwork” is commenced, is to determine which employer is eligible and which is not. The eligiblesThe ATO says to be eligible for JobMaker Hiring Credit payments,

The fringe benefits standing of car parking was being looked at by the ATO until being “parked” by COVID-19 earlier this year, with proposed changes deferred until 2021. But now the ATO has re-started discussions on draft taxation ruling TR 2019/D5 dealing with car parking benefits. The final ruling will update taxation ruling TR 96/26 Fringe

Tax & Super Australia (TSA) has welcomed the ATO’s announcement that employers will be given until 28 January 2021 to complete their JobKeeper December reporting. The ATO has said employers must complete the December business monthly declaration between 4 January 2021 and 28 January 2021. This is an extension of two weeks past the usual due date

The Inspector-General and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) reports in its latest IGot News that over recent months its office has received an influx of complaints from a number of small businesses (as well as their representatives in the accounting and tax profession) around their eligibility for JobKeeper and Boosting Cash Flow payments.   Ombudsman Karen Payne

On the 9 October, the Commissioner introduced a new class of alternative decline in turnover test for the JobKeeper extension. This new class is available where the entity has temporarily ceased trading and the cessation occurred during some or all of the relevant comparison period. The cessation must have been for a week or more

23 October NEWSABS: Less reporting fall in turnover in October compared to JulyThe Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just published a report that shows the proportion of businesses reporting a fall in their monthly revenue decreased from 47% in July to 31% in October. Its latest Business Impacts of COVID-19 Survey also showed that almost

Data matching and the reporting of asset disposals for CGTIs ATO being put on a cost-of-operation diet?FFC hands decision win in Healius appeal to CommissionerSTP reporting: ATO has compiled a troubleshooting pageWithholding schedule update released post budget rates changesGuideline on SMSF penalty administrationChange made so super providers do not re-use payment reference numbersSMSF auditors reminded

16 October NEWSWA to introduce extended pay roll legislationWest Australia will introduce urgent legislation that will allow the Government to provide additional payroll tax support for Western Australian businesses impacted by COVID-19, if they are needed after the March State election. Current laws that give the Government the power to introduce payroll tax support measures

Legislation to facilitate payments relating to the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme has been introduced, called the Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020. The bill amends existing legislation that will allow the Treasurer to make rules for an additional kind of COVID-19 economic response payments, and to facilitate payments in relation to the