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Support for businesses and employers

Financial support and assistance programs to help you during the COVID-19 period.

Last updated 3 May 2023

Support meeting your obligations

We have a range of free webinars about starting and running a business.

If you’re worried you won’t be able to pay on time or you’ve already missed a due date, we can help with paying. There's also additional support during COVID-19.

COVID-19 business support – NSW

For information on the financial support available to businesses impacted by the recent NSW COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders, visit Service NSWExternal Link.

Rent or lease payment changes due to COVID-19

There may be tax implications when you give or receive rent concessions as a result of COVID-19. See Rent or lease payment changes due to COVID-19.

JobKeeper Payment

The JobKeeper Payment scheme finished on 28 March 2021. The scheme has been amended so we can make a JobKeeper payment to some entities in limited circumstances after 31 March 2022.

JobMaker Hiring Credit

You can no longer register employees in the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme. The final JobMaker period ended on 6 October 2022. Claims for eligible employees employed during this period needed to be made before 31 January 2023 with STP reporting for the period due on 28 January 2023.

Boosting cash flow for employers

We will provide tax-free cash flow boosts of between $20,000 and $100,000 to eligible businesses, delivered through credits in the activity statement system, when eligible businesses lodge their activity statements. See how to Access cash flow boosts.

Increasing the instant asset write-off

From 12 March 2020 until 31 December 2020, the instant asset write-off:

  • threshold is $150,000 (up from $30,000)
  • eligibility range covers businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million).

Businesses with a turnover of $500 million or more are not eligible to use instant asset write-off.

From 1 January 2021, the instant asset write-off will only be available for small businesses with a turnover of less than $10 million and the threshold will be $1,000.

For more information see Instant asset write-off for eligible businesses

Backing business investment

Businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $500 million are able to accelerate their depreciation deductions on the purchase of certain new depreciable assets.

This applies to eligible assets acquired and first used or installed ready for use from 12 March 2020 until 30 June 2021.

Flexible lodgment support for Victorians

Eligible activity statements due to be lodged in August 2020 or September 2020 can be lodged late without incurring late lodgment penalties or affecting your lodgment record.

This does not apply to:

  • instalment notices (Forms R, S, T and N)
  • large market clients
  • significant global entities
  • large withholders
  • large excise clients.

Our large business specialists can consider requests for large entities not included in the flexible lodgment arrangement.

The general interest charge (GIC) will continue to apply to any late payments. If you're worried you won’t be able to pay on time, or have already missed a due date, contact our large business support team or your tax professional as early as possible to discuss your situation.

Companies with substituted accounting periods

If your company has an approved substituted accounting period (SAP) for an early balance date and is entitled to a refund, you can lodge your company tax return before the lodgment due date and receive a refund immediately if the company both:

  • is a full self-assessment taxpayer
  • has an approved SAP with a balancing period that has concluded.

For example, if you have an approved SAP with an early balancing period ending on 31 December 2019, your ordinary lodgment due date would be 15 July 2020. If you choose to lodge your 2020 tax return before that date, you can receive your refund immediately.

However, if you have a debt with us and you are due to receive a refund, we are required by law to use the refund or credit to reduce your debt. If you don’t want this to happen, contact us to discuss your circumstances.

Tools and services for small businesses

We have a range of tools and services to help make it easier for you to get your tax and superannuation right. This includes our Tax Time 2020 toolkit for small business, calculators and learning resources. For more information, see Supporting your small business.

Check if your fringe benefits tax obligations may have changed for benefits you've provided employees due to COVID-19.

Employers may have to pay fringe benefits tax if they provide their employees or family members with COVID-19 tests.

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