With numerous employers and their intermediaries beginning to take leave over the Christmas and New Year periods, the ATO has informed the community that specific requirements for the JobKeeper Payment have been extended. These changes have been made to give employers more time to meet their JobKeeper obligations.
The extension of JobKeeper payments will begin on the 4th January 2021 and will cover fortnightly periods up to 28th March 2021. For eligible employers, you will be required to undertake a new decline in turnover test, where you must provide proof that a decline in GST has occurred. This test must be completed before you can submit your business monthly declarations from the 1st February 2021.
To receive JobKeeper payments, it’s necessary that you have:
Paid eligible employees the correct JobKeeper amount
Identified which tier payment rate applies to each employee or business participant.
Learn more about the extension here >>
Key date changes have also been made in January 2021, such as how employers will now be able to meet the wage condition for JobKeeper Fortnight 20 (21st December 2020 to 3rd January 2021) until 4th January 2021. The due date for the business monthly declarations for JobKeeper Fortnights 18, 19 and 20 has now been moved from 14th January 2021 to 28th January 2021.
Employers are also being given until 31st January 2021 to meet the wage condition for JobKeeper Fortnights 21 (beginning 4th January 2021) and 22 (beginning 18th January 2021).
This is to make sure that employers are given ample time to pay eligible employees prior to applying for JobKeeper payments in February.
For more information, visit the ATO website.