How to apply for the JobKeeper payment
Step 1 – Check that you are an Eligible Employer and which of your employees are Eligible Employees.
Step 2 – Register your interest on the ATO website.
Step 3 – Notify any eligible employees that you will be claiming the JobKeeper payment on their behalf and provide them with an Employee Nomination Notice. They must complete this and return it to you before 30th April 2020 if you intend to claim any April wages for them. This notice should be kept on file.
Step 4 – Continue to pay employees a minimum of $1,500 per fortnight (or $750 per week) before tax.
- The first fortnight was 30 March – 12 April, so you will need to ensure that all eligible employees were paid at least $1,500 for that fortnight. The ATO will allow you to back pay employees for that fortnight if necessary.
- You will also need to pay your employees the minimum $1,500 for the current fortnight.
- All eligible employees must have been paid at least $3,000 by 30 April or you won’t qualify for the JobKeeper payment for April. It can only be done as a reimbursement of wages already paid by you.
Step 5 – Ensure you have a MyGovID and are registered to use the ATO Business Portal.
Step 6 – From 20th April onwards, you can actually enroll for JobKeeper payments on the Business Portal. This step must be completed prior to 31st May 2020 (new extended date) if you want to claim payments for that month. You will need to confirm you have suffered the minimum fall in turnover, supply bank details and a number of other details including the number of eligible employees paid in April.
Step 7 – Starting from 4 May 2020 you will be required to log into the ATO Business Portal each month and confirm your eligible employee details for that monthly payment. You will do this by either using the pre-populated information that will be available on the form (sourced from your STP reporting) or you can manually enter the information.
If you have further questions, or are seeking assistance with the registration and application process, please contact our office and we are happy to help.