2021 COVID-19 JobSaver: Cashflow Support of up to $100,000
If your business is adversely impacted by NSW lockdowns, support is available.
JobSaver is a weekly payment between a minimum of $1,500 and maximum of $100,000 based on 40% of the NSW payroll payments of your business (including not-for-profits).
Eligible businesses without employees that meet the eligibility criteria (such as sole traders with no employees), will be able to access a payment of $1,000 per week.
JobSaver applies from week four of the lockdown (from 18 July for Greater Sydney) and will cease when lockdown restrictions are eased or when the Commonwealth hotspot declaration is removed.
Funding is limited to specific purposes such as salaries and wages, utilities and rent, financial and legal support, marketing and perishable goods, etc.
Eligibility
To access JobSaver, you must:
- Have an active ABN; and
- Demonstrate that your business was operating in NSW as at 1 June 2021; and
- Have an aggregated turnover between $75,000 and $250 million for the year ended 30 June 2020 (for businesses that were not in operation for the full year or where conditions were not usual in 2019-20, see For new business and businesses where 2019-20 was not a normal year above); and
- Have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% over a minimum 2-week period from the start of the Greater Sydney Lockdown (from 26 June 2021), compared to:
- The same period in 2019, or
- The same period in 2020, or
- The 2-week period immediately before the start of the lockdown period (26 June 2021).
- And, maintain employee headcount as at 13 July 2021 – the number of people you employed in NSW including full time, part time and long-term casuals that have been employed by the business for more than 12 months.
Some businesses are ineligible for JobSaver. These include businesses predominantly earning passive income (rent, interest, or dividends), businesses owned by sovereign entities (foreign Governments), businesses in liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings, businesses that did not have an ABN as at 1 June or backdated their ABN, government agencies, local governments, banks, and universities.
How to apply
Applications can be made online through Service NSW and close at 11:59pm on 18 October 2021.
If your business has successfully applied for the COVID-19 business grant, your business will be automatically eligible for JobSaver but will need to provide the additional information on payroll and headcount.
To apply for JobSaver, you will need the following for the business:
- Australian income tax return, Notice of Assessment or other documentation demonstrating the business had a national aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2020.
- Weekly payroll – W1 amount excluding amounts withheld for contractors on the most recent BAS submitted prior to 26 June 2021 for the 2020-21 financial year, 2019-20 payroll reconciliation for those without a W1 amount (see How is the 40% of payroll calculated?)
If your business is not on the highly impacted industries list, you will also need to submit a letter from your accountant demonstrating that that you meet the decline in turnover test.
How is the 40% of payroll calculated?
Payroll is based on your most recent Business Activity Statement (BAS) lodged with the ATO prior to 26 June 2021 for the 2020-21 financial year. Use the figure at item WI, removing any amounts withheld on behalf of contractors. To determine weekly payroll, divide the amount by the number of days in the BAS period and multiply this by 7.
For businesses with employees outside of NSW, you will need to calculate the amount based on just the NSW employees using the same method you use to report on your BAS.
If your business does not submit a BAS with a W1 amount, use your 2019-20 NSW payroll tax reconciliation return. If your business does not submit a BAS, you will need to contact ServiceNSW to discuss alternatives.
Where an employer’s headcount changed because of circumstances outside the control of the employer (such as voluntary resignations, death of an employee) it will not be taken as a reduction in employee headcount on 13 July.
Common Questions
I don’t have employees; can I still qualify?
If your business does not have employees (such as sole traders) but meets all the other eligibility tests, you can apply for JobSaver but only if the individuals associated with and deriving income from the business have not received a Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment since 18 July 2021. You also need to ensure that the business is the primary income source for the associated person.
I have stood down my employees, do they still qualify for the headcount test?
Yes. If you have stood down your full time, part time or long-term casual employees, they are counted in the headcount. During a stand down the employment relationship remains (their role has not been terminated), the employee is not paid (unless they are taking paid leave), and they continue to accrue annual leave. See the FairWork website to clarify how and when an employer can stand down employees.
An employee has resigned, does this impact my headcount?
No. If the employee is no longer with the business due to circumstances outside of your control, such as resignation or death, this will not impact the headcount test.
If, however you forced the employee to resign or terminated their employment, this will impact on your headcount and eligibility for JobSaver and the COVID-19 business grant. Any actions taken by the business that reduce headcount will need to be reported to Service NSW.