Extensions to the JobKeeper Payment

The government has announced extensions to the JobKeeper Payment. Once legislated, these changes take effect from 28 September 2020.

The required fall in GST turnover percentages will remain the same

• 30% for an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or less
• 50% for an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or more
• 15% for ACNC-registered charities other than universities and schools.

There will be a tier 1 and a tier 2 JobKeeper rate.

• Tier 1 rate applies for:
  • eligible employees who were working for 20 hours or more a week on average in the four weeks of pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020, and
  • eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 20 hours or more per week on average.

• Tier 2 rate applies for other eligible employees and business participants.
• Employers and businesses will need to nominate the rate they are claiming for the eligible employees and/or eligible business participants.

The first extension period is from 28 September 2020 until 3 January 2021.

You will need to demonstrate that your actual GST turnover has fallen in the September 2020 quarter (July, August, September) relative to a comparable period (generally the corresponding quarter in 2019).

The tier 1 rate will be 1,200$ per fortnight.

The tier 2 rate will be 750$ per fortnight.

The second extension period is from 4 January 2021 until 28 March 2021.

You will need to demonstrate that your actual GST turnover has fallen in the December 2020 quarter (October, November, December) relative to a comparable period (generally the corresponding quarter in 2019).

The tier 1 rate will be 1,000$ per fortnight.

The tier 2 rate will be 650$ per fortnight.