Important changes to JobKeeper commence

Sep 28, 2020 | Government COVID-19 Stimulus, Payroll

The Australian Taxation Office advises that employers will need to pay eligible employees a different rate of JobKeeper starting from Monday 28 September. These rates are dependent on the number of hours worked by employees, and will change again from Monday 4 January.

It is important for employers to inform eligible employees what rate of JobKeeper payment they can now expect to receive.

Deputy Commissioner James O’Halloran stated:

Although you do not need to re-enrol in JobKeeper, you do need to notify us of your eligible employees and what rate you are paying them as part of your normal payday reporting in October. This can easily be done through Single Touch Payroll. Employers will also need to nominate any new employees if they are applying for a JobKeeper payment for them for the first time.

My Business

For the extension period commencing today, employers will need to show that their actual GST turnover has declined in the September 2020 quarter relative to a comparable period. This will need to be done before 31 October 2020.

Other key dates in the extension period include:

  • 28 September 2020: employers to start paying eligible employees tier 1 and tier 2 JobKeeper rates based on their hours worked. 
  • From 28 September: if using Single Touch Payroll to notify the ATO of eligible employees, employers must provide each eligible employee’s tier as part of their normal payday reporting. Those enrolling for the JobKeeper payment for the first time can do so from 28 September.
  • Between 1– 14 October 2020: employers to complete their October JobKeeper monthly business declarations to receive reimbursement for the September fortnights.
  • Between 1–31 October 2020: employers to prepare and submit their business’s actual decline in turnover to the ATO.
  • Before 31 October 2020: employers to ensure they meet the wage condition for all eligible employees included in the JobKeeper scheme for the JobKeeper fortnights starting 28 September 2020 and 12 October 2020.
  • From 1 November 2020: employers to complete their monthly business declaration and confirm what payment tier they are claiming for each employee.

Source: My Business