ATO extends JobKeeper deadlines ahead of Christmas, New Year
December 7, 2020
Employers given longer to enrol, pay and report over holidays
JobKeeper deadlines for the second extension period have now been extended by the ATO ahead of the festive season.
Completion of the December business monthly declaration, for employers to be reimbursed for payments between 23 November 2020 to 3 January 2021, has also been extended from the usual 14th of each month to 28 January 2021.
To account for the New Year weekend, the Tax Office will also allow employers to meet the wage condition for payments between 21 December and 3 January 2021 by 4 January 2021.
From 4 January, the second extension period for JobKeeper will kick in, reducing payment rates to $1,000 per fortnight for those on the Tier 1 rate, and $650 per fortnight for those on Tier 2.
Entities will be required to demonstrate that their actual GST turnover has declined by the requisite shortfall for the December 2020 quarter, with the ATO to make the new decline in turnover form available on its systems from 4 January.
New employers enrolling for the first time, and existing employers, will be required to submit the decline in turnover form by 31 January.
Employers will also be given until 31 January 2021 to meet the wage condition for fortnights starting on 4 January and 18 January 2021.
JobKeeper figures
The new dates come as statistics released by the government show that 450,000 businesses stopped accessing JobKeeper after eligibility was tightened at the end of September.
The number of Australian workers on JobKeeper also fell from 3.6 million recipients at the height of the program to 1.5 million by the end of November.
Around 86 per cent of workers are now on the Tier 1 payment of $1,200 per fortnight, with around 14 per cent on the Tier 2 payment of $750 per fortnight.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the lower-than-forecast take-up of JobKeeper was evidence that economic recovery was well underway in Australia.
Are you using data insights to drive your operational efficiency? We’ve got the lowdown on five ways that data-based decision-making takes your business to new levels of productivity.
Putting data at the heart of your growth strategy is a no-brainer. We’ve broken down five ways that data-based decision-making helps you grab the best opportunities and grow at pace.
Analysing your customer data is a no-brainer in our data-driven times. We’ve shared five ways that data can help your sales, marketing and social media activity.
Data-based decision-making helps you take informed action and keep your cash in a positive position. We’ve signposted five key ways that data can improve your cashflow.
The 2025 Federal Budget was handed down on 25 March. Here's what it says.
Do you have direct debits and online payments set up to make it easy for your customers to pay you? Talk to us today about implementing online payment systems to reduce admin time, improve the accuracy of your accounts and get paid quicker.
Becoming the successor to the family business is an honour – but it can also be a daunting role to take on. We’ve summarised five of the core skills you need as the head of the business.
You may be ready to hand your family business onto the next generation. But what’s the best time to initiate this transition from one generation to the next. We have the lowdown.
The Aussie construction industry is facing a growing number of business failures. But don’t worry. We’ve set out seven key ways to keep your small construction business on track.
Happy Holidays to our valued clients. We wish you health, happiness, and new beginnings for the year ahead.
