Here at Balanix Solutions we have tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions of us in relation to the JobKeeper Payments.

Do I have to have paid eligible employees the $1,500 per fortnight before claiming the payment?

Answer: Yes, the payment is a reimbursement to the employer.

What happens if an eligible employee leaves your employment?

Answer: Must notify the ATO the employee is no longer eligible.

Under the Jobkeeper Scheme can you pay a nominated employee less than the $1,500?

Answer: No, you must pay the $1,500 to all eligible employees.

Is the $1,500 taxable in the hands of the employee?

Answer: Yes, the employer must deduct tax (PAYG) from the payment.

If I am nominated as an individual to receive a payment as an eligible business participant is the partnership, trust or company required to pay me the $1,500?

Answer: Unlike the wording relating to employees there is no requirement to pass on the $1,500 to the nominated person. So, in the case of a partnership with three partners they could take $500 each.

What if I am a new business and cannot compare with a compatible time last year e.g. March or April?

Answer: The ATO will be making a legislative instrument to deal with new businesses in operation less than a year, and some other circumstances such as businesses who had a temporary fall in turnover in 2019 due to drought. This will be available soon.

Do I have to satisfy the turnover test every month going forward?

Answer: Each month, you must reconfirm the eligibility of your business and your reported eligible employees to the ATO.

You must also provide information as to your current and projected GST turnover. This is not a retest of your eligibility, but rather an indication of how your business is progressing under the JobKeeper Payment scheme.  (This is directly from ATO website)

I have a rental property and my rent drops by more than 30%, can I claim the JobKeeper payment?

Answer: In short it is very unlikely the ATO would consider you to be running a business therefore you would not meet the criteria to claim Jobkeeper. 

If you wish to discuss your specific needs please contact Balanix Solutions on 07 3264 4783

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced a temporary simplified method for individual taxpayers to claim deductions for additional expenses incurred as a consequent of working from home due the Coronavirus.

Based on the announcement, the ATO will allow individuals to claim a deduction for all running expenses incurred during the period 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020, based on a rate of 80 cents for each hour an individual carries out genuine work duties from home.  This is an alternative method to claiming home running expenses under existing arrangements, which generally require an analysis of specific running expenses incurred and more onerous record-keeping.

So, what will it cover?

• Electricity expenses associated with heating, cooling and lighting the area at home which is being used for work.
•  Cleaning costs for a dedicated work area.
•  Phone and internet expenses.
•  Computer consumables (e.g., printer paper and ink) and stationery.
• Depreciation of home office furniture and furnishings (e.g., an office desk and a chair).
•  Depreciation of home office equipment (e.g., a computer and a printer).

Therefore, if you claim the 80 cents for each hour you cannot claim any separate claims for these costs.

Under this announcement, there is no requirement to have separate or dedicated area set aside for working.  Also, multiple people could claim where a number of people share the same house.

So, each individual will only need to keep a diary of the number of hours they have worked from home as a result of the Coronvisa during the period 1 March to 30 June 2020.

This new announced method may not give the best result for everyone therefore please contact  Balanix Solutions on 07 3264 4783 for the appropriate professional advice for your individual circumstances.

Please Note: The comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.

With more and more people isolating and working from home during the current crisis (some experiencing working from home for the first time), a question being asked is “what can I claim as a tax deduction if I have to work from home?”

If you’re an employee and temporarily work from home due to recent events, such as COVID-19 (coronavirus), bush fire and drought, you may be able to claim a deduction for expenses you incur relating to that work.

You may be able to claim a deduction for additional running expenses you incur such as heating, cooling and lighting. You can also claim the work-related proportion of the decline in value of office equipment.

Employees are generally not able to claim occupancy expenses. Occupancy expenses include:

• rent
• mortgage interest
• property insurance
• land taxes
• rates.

However, you can only claim the work-related proportion of your occupancy expenses in two very limited circumstances which are a bit complex to explain here so we suggest you contact Balanix Solutions on 07 3264 4783 for more detail.

In most cases, there are no capital gains tax (CGT) implications for your home if you work from home as an employee and claim working from home expenses

It is strongly recommended that you always keep receipts for expenditure and how you calculated the claim you have made.

Click Here for the Australian Taxation Office information relating to Employees Working from Home.

Please contact Balanix Solutions on 07 3264 4783 if you require assistance in this matter.

Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.

The Australian Federal Government announced today the JobKeeper payment support which helps businesses significantly impacted by the Coronavirus cover the costs of their employees’ wages, so more Australians can retain their jobs and continue to earn an income.

The payments are for six (6) months compared to the UK & NZ which are for three (3) months

Who will it apply to?

• Full-time employees;
• Part-time Employees;
• Includes employees stood down;
• Casual employees who have been with their employee for at least the last 12 months;
• Sole traders.

Employees will need to have been on your books as at 1 March 2020.

What if you are not an Australian citizen?

You will need to consult your employer as there are exemptions e.g. Special Category (Sub-class 444) Visa holder.

Which employers will be affected by the payment?

Businesses who have seen the turnover drop by more than 30% for a business with a turnover of less than $1 billion or 50% for those with a turnover of greater than $1 billion.

When will it be paid?

From first week of May 2020 backdated to 30 March 2020.

What if I earn less than $1,500 in a fortnight?

The payment is a flat amount therefore you will receive the full $1,500 before tax. 

Does the payment apply to Not-For-Profit Organisation?

YES

If I receive the $1,500 per employee as an employer do, I need to pass it on to employees?

YES, you must pass the full $1,500 on to each employee entitled to the payment.

This payment equates to 70% of medium wage or 100% of medium wages for those in retail, hospitality and tourism.

Your employer must notify employees if they intend to claim the fortnightly payment of $1,500 on your behalf.

For more information on this support click here

For more information on support available to business and households call Balanix Solutions on 07 3264 4783 or CLICK HERE

If you as an eligible individual are effected by the Coronavirus you can access your superannuation for up to $10,000 in the current financial year and a further $10,000 in the 2020-2021 financial year.  This will be effective from mid-April 2020.

So, who is eligible?

• You are unemployed;
• You are eligible to receive job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment, special benefit or farm household allowance; or
• On or after 1 January 2020
  • You were made redundant;
  • Your working hours were reduced by 20% or more;
  • If you are a sole trader, your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20% or more.

NOTE THERE WILL BE NO TAX PAYABLE ON THE AMOUNTS WITHDRAWN

If you meet the criteria and wish to access your superannuation then you need to apply directly to the Australian Taxation Office through the myGov website.

Further you will need to certify that you meet the criteria.

If successful the ATO will issue you with a determination to your superannuation fund which will provide them with the authority to release your payment.  So you wont need to apply to your superannuation fund

When can you apply?  ANSWER MID-APRIL 2020

Please call the Balanix Team if you need assistance navigating this very trying time 07 3264 4783.

To access information on more assistance on offer to business go to https://balanixsolutions.com.au/business-support-through-covid-19-coronavirus/