New Covid Support Package to address the impact of the Omicron variant of Covid-19
The NSW government has made an announcement regarding the availability of the $1billion COVID rescue package. The government has introduced four new emergency measures to support business including the Small Business Support program for payroll assistance; the Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant and extended Commercial Leasing Relief ; the Increased Small Business Fees, Charges and New RAT Rebates; and the expanded Performing Arts package.
Small business support program
Criteria for eligible businesses
- Aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million for the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020; and
- Decline in turnover due to either public health orders or the impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 of more than 40 percent during both:
- the month of January 2022, compared to January 2021 or 2020; and
- 1-14 February 2022, compared to the same fortnight in February for the two years prior to 2022
- For employing business, you need to maintain employee headcount from the date this scheme was announced (30 January 2022);
- For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, show that the business is the primary income source (50% or more of the total income) for the associated person.
Support eligible business will receive:
- 20 percent of weekly payroll for the month of February as a lump sum payment
- Minimum payment of $750 per week and maximum payment of $5,000 per week
- Businesses without employees will receive a flat rate of $500 per week ($2,000 for the month of February)
- Businesses can apply through Service NSW from mid-February
Small business Fees, Charges and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Rebate
- The existing small business rebate has increased from $2,000 to $3,000
- The rebate has been expanded to cover half the cost of RATs
- The funds can be used not only to offset the cost of RATs, but also other Government fees and charges such as food authority licences, liquor licences, tradesperson licences, event fees, outdoor seating fees, council rates and road user tolls for business use
- Businesses that are already registered to this rebate will receive an automatic top up of $1,000 and new applicants will receive a rebate of $3,000.
To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:
- have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020–21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.
This is to help business owners to recover the cost of running the business. Only one rebate is available for each ABN. Here is the link to view the full list of eligible fees and charges.
When making a claim
- For each claim you make, you'll need to provide an invoice or receipt showing that you've paid the eligible fee or charge.
- Each claim must be made separately, and you can only upload one receipt or invoice per claim.
- You can submit each receipt or invoice only once.
- If you pay an invoice in instalments, please wait until you've paid it in full for all the quarters you wish to claim. For example, if you’ve paid council rates for one quarter, but wish to claim the rebate for the remaining quarters of the same year, please wait until you’ve paid in full for the year before submitting your claim.
- If you're claiming road tolls for business use, you must include a statement from the corporate E-Toll or Linkt account associated with the business.
Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant
- The protections under the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2021 (the Regulation) for small retail and commercial tenants will be extended for an additional two months, to 13 March 2022
- Grants of up to $3,000 per month (GST inclusive), per property, are available for eligible landlords who have provided rental relief waivers to affected tenants. Rent relief waived must comprise at least half of any rental reduction provided
- Landlords who claimed the 2021 land tax relief can claim it for the 2022 year
- Under the Regulation stated above landlords are prohibited from certain actions (such as lock out or eviction) unless they have first renegotiated rent with tenants and attempted mediation.
For further information, please reach out to us.