Has COVID-19 devalued your business? If you are selling your business, merging, acquiring, or inviting in new investors, you need to understand the value of your business. But, to what degree does the pandemic impact on value? Should you discount or hold firm to pre COVID-19 performance on the basis that ‘we’re going to come [...]
JobKeeper Alert With the employee test date for JobKeeper moved to 1 July 2020, some additional employees might have become eligible for JobKeeper. The August JobKeeper monthly business declaration is due by 14 September and is different to the previous form as it covers three JobKeeper fortnights. Employers need to ensure that they identify all [...]
COVID-19 and your SMSF COVID-19 has had an impact on many SMSFs. We look at the key issues. Early release of superannuation When a member of your fund wants to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation early under the COVID-19 measures, there are some additional steps that trustees need to take. Trustees will need [...]
What now? Where to get help if you need it Help for business JobKeeper 2.0 The Government has announced further changes to the JobKeeper scheme. The good news is that employees that missed out on JobKeeper because they were not employed on 1 March 2020 might now be eligible. The proposed changes would enable employees [...]
Your questions answered During lock down I have had to work from home. I’ve set up a full home office with paintings, plants, a desk, computer equipment, a water tower and a sculpture. I presume I can claim everything I have purchased for this office and claim part of my mortgage and running costs? [...]
The ATO on COVID-19 fraud warpath We always knew that a Government scheme swiftly distributing cash during a crisis was going to come with equally swift compliance and review measures, particularly when eligibility was self-assessed. Two major Australian Taxation Office (ATO) initiatives are searching out fraud and schemes designed to take advantage of the Government’s [...]
JobKeeper and termination payments (breakout box) An employment termination payments (ETP) is a lump sum payment made to an employee when their job is terminated. ETP’s are generally made up of unused sick leave or unused rostered days off, payment in lieu of leave, genuine redundancy payments, etc. For some employers, JobKeeper will not [...]
Funding for the arts: what’s available and how can you get it Will the Prime Minister’s targeted $250 million package of funding to support cultural and creative projects and initiatives save the industry? The arts funding is aimed at kick starting the sector with funding preferencing commercial initiatives that generate jobs and are expected [...]
Increased flexibility for Parental Leave Pay for self-employed From 1 July 2020, parents accessing the Government’s parental leave pay (PPL) scheme will have greater flexibility and options. Targeting the self-employed and small business owners, the changes introduce a new flexible paid parental leave pay period of 30 days. Previously, new parents could apply [...]
Minimum wage increases by 1.75% An increase to the minimum wage of 1.75% will start rolling out for the first full pay period from 1 July 2020. The increase applies to minimum rates in awards in 3 stages: Group 1 Awards - from 1 July 2020 Frontline Heath Care & Social Assistance Workers Teachers [...]