Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. We hope you and your family are safe and doing well. Read on for this week’s updates.

State-by-State Guide to COVID-19 Restrictions Ahead of Holidays

As Australia plans to reopen in time for Christmas and the New Year, authorities are reminding people to follow the COVID-19 restrictions that remain in place. Over the months, states and territories have continuously changed travel and social restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. You may check this guide for a state-by-state breakdown of which restrictions remain in place in your particular state.

Can The JobMaker Hiring Credit Help Your Business?

The JobMaker Hiring Credit could mean that your business will receive payments for new positions you create.

Eligible employers will receive payments of up to:

• $200 a week – for each eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years old
• $100 a week – for each eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years old.

To be eligible, your business must meet criteria including:

• holding an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• being registered for pay as you go (PAYG) withholding
• reporting through Single Touch Payroll
• being up to date with income tax and GST lodgement obligations
• not falling into any of the exclusion categories.

You can register for the JobMaker Hiring Credit using ATO online services or the Business portal or contact us so we can help you with your application.

JobKeeper Payment Extension Starts Soon

The second JobKeeper Payment extension starts from Monday 4 January 2021.

It means:

• if you are eligible for JobKeeper extension 2 you will need to complete a new decline in turnover test
• the payment rates for your eligible employees will change
• if you are new to JobKeeper you can enrol in the program to participate in the remaining fortnights.

For JobKeeper fortnight 20 (Monday 21 December 2020 to Sunday 3 January 2021):

• You will have until the end of Monday 4 January 2021 to pay your employees (meet the wage condition).
• Business monthly declarations for JobKeeper fortnights 18, 19 and 20 are now due 28 January 2021.

For JobKeeper fortnights 21 and 22 (starting Monday 4 January 2021 and Monday 18 January 2021):

• You will have until Sunday 31 January 2021 to meet the wage condition for your eligible employees.

Key Dates

21 December 2020

• November Monthly BAS is due – You need to lodge and pay your November monthly BAS. If you will have difficulty paying, still lodge the BAS and contact the ATO to work out a payment plan.
• JobKeeper fortnight 20 starts

Changes in Casual Employment

There have been significant changes for Casual Employment, which involves overtime pay rates in some awards. If your award has been affected by these changes but you failed to update your systems, you run the risk of underpaying your staff.

You may check if your award was updated by accessing the Fair Work Commission’s Schedule of Determinations here.

If you find a mistake has been made, you need to work out how long the employee has been underpaid, how much was actually paid and should have been paid, and back pay the employee. Make sure to include the overtime, penalty rates, and superannuation when paying the variance.

Contact us if you have any questions.

We hope these tips can help you enjoy a profitable holiday season! Get in touch with us for more personalised business tips.

Have you downloaded our App?

• Digitally sign your documents. No more printing, signing, scanning, and emailing. So easy.
• Access your documents anytime, anywhere. So convenient.
• Be alert and informed about your due dates and important news and updates.
• Update your details on our system anytime. No need to call us for this purpose.
• Make appointments with us anytime. No need to call us anymore.
• Pay your accounts and even refer your friends and loved ones to us anytime.
• Access to latest news on “Australian Financial Review” and “Australian Stock Exchange”
• Check how much Stamp Duty you should pay on a property purchase in any state in Australia.
• More features are also available in one beautiful, secure, and easy to use App.

1. Download “Countax” App from App Store or Google Play;
2. Click on “i” symbol at the top right-hand side of the screen to register as a user;
3. Enable “Push Notifications” and subscribe for one or more categories;

Office Closure for Christmas Period

Countax Financial Group will be closing on Friday, 18^th of December 2020 at 12.00 PM and will re-open on Monday, 11^th of January 2021.

The team at Countax Financial Group wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Have a nice weekend