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  • COVID-19 support: tax quick guide

    A quick guide to COVID-19 support payments available to individuals and business from the Australian Government.

    On this page

    Individuals

    Table: Individuals

    Support

    For

    Taxable

    Next steps

    High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment

    Eligible individuals unable to earn income due to COVID-19 that work in a high-risk setting

    Yes

     

    COVID-19 Disaster Payment

    Closed

    Individuals unable to earn income because state or territory health orders prevent them from working in their usual employment

    No

    • do not include in your tax return

     

    Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

    Closed

    Eligible individuals unable to earn income because they:

    • self-isolated or quarantined at home
    • cared for someone with COVID-19
     

    Yes

     

    JobKeeper

    Closed

    Employees of eligible businesses and not-for-profits significantly affected by COVID-19 that receive an amount of JobKeeper

    Yes

    • include as assessable income in your tax return    
      • at 'salary or wages', or as an 'allowance' (or top up) for employees
       

     

    Business

    Table: Business

    Support

    For

    Taxable

    Next steps

    Recovery loans to support businesses

    Eligible applicants

    No

    • do not include as 'business income' in your tax return

     

    JobMaker Hiring Credit

    Eligible employers

    Yes

    • Include as 'business income' in your tax return
    • GST does not apply
     

    Payments to support businesses affected by COVID-19 (for example the NSW 2021 COVID-19 JobSaver payment)

    Eligible businesses affected by COVID-19

    Read more

    • payments are taxable, unless eligibility criteria are met that will cause the payment to be non-taxable, read more
    • GST does not apply

     

    State government voucher subsidy scheme

    Participating businesses affected by COVID-19

    Yes

    • include as 'business income' in your tax return
    • GST reporting applies

     

    Payroll tax relief

    Eligible businesses

    Read more

     

    Land tax relief

    Businesses provided land tax relief in states and territories impacted by COVID-19

    Read more

    • there are a range of factors you will need to consider, see Land tax relief

     

    Rent relief

    Commercial tenants in government-owned properties in some states and territories

    Read more

    • there are a range of factors you will need to consider, see Rent relief

     

    Electricity rebates

    Businesses offered the rebate

    No

    • do not include as 'business income' in your tax return
    • reduce deductions for electricity by the rebate

     

    Grants to support the creative economy

    Eligible organisations in the arts sector

    Yes

    • include as assessable income in your tax return
    • GST does not apply

     

    Concessional loans to support the creative economy

    Eligible organisations in the arts sector

    No

    • do not include this loan as assessable income in your tax return
    • GST does not apply

     

    Cash flow boost

    Eligible small and medium businesses and not-for-profits

    No

    • do not include in your tax return, read more

     

    JobKeeper

    Closed on 28 March 2021

    Eligible businesses, sole traders and not-for-profits significantly affected by COVID-19

    Yes

    • include as 'business income' in your tax return

     

    Child care Transition Payment

    Closed on 27 September 2020

    Approved early childhood education and care providers for 13 July 2020 to 27 September 2020

    Yes

    • include as 'business income' in your tax return
    • the payment is for a GST-free supply

     

    Consumer Travel Support Program

    Applications closed 13 March 2021

    Eligible travel agents and tour arrangement service providers

    Yes

    • include as 'business income' in your tax return
    • GST does not apply

     

    Last modified: 11 Apr 2023QC 66891