Important December Updates
Important updates for individuals and businesses
This newsletter includes a range of information, including:
NSW opening up on 15 December
SME Recovery Loan Scheme
Payroll Tax NSW - NSW Payroll Tax – 50% Covid Reduction 2021-2022
Mouse Plague Rebate Program Update
Natural Disaster Declarations – Loans, Transport Subsidies and Hardship Assistance
Free coaching from workplace mental health experts
Cyber security hotline and new learning resources to help your small business
Gifting
Was your electricity supply impacted during an extreme weather event?
Storms and floods Service NSW customer care
Single Touch Payroll Phase 2
Fair Work Ombudsman: Rules and entitlements during the end of year holiday season
Season's greetings and B&C office shutdown dates
NSW opening up on 15 December 2021
Restrictions will ease further in NSW on 15 December 2021.
Find out about how NSW will be opening up.
SME Recovery Loan Scheme
In recognition of the continued economic impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Government announced on 13 December 2021 that it proposes to amend the Scheme Rules to extend the SME Recovery Loan Scheme (under varied terms) to provide support to SMEs adversely economically affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Under the proposed Scheme extension, loans will be available from 1 January 2022 until 30 June 2022, with a Government guarantee of 50 per cent.
Payroll Tax NSW - NSW Payroll Tax - 50% COVID Reduction 2021-2022
NSW businesses that are eligible for the NSW Business Grant or JobSaver program may have their 2021 – 2022 payroll tax liability reduced by 50%. To be eligible for these grants your annual payroll must be less than $10 million and have experienced a 30% decline in turnover.
Mouse Plague Rebate Program Update
RAA - NSW Mouse Control Program – Zinc Phosphide rebate for Primary Producers
Primary producers impacted by the 2021 mouse plague may be eligible to claim a rebate for the purchase of zinc phosphide.
Claim: If you are a primary producer in an eligible Local Government Area, you may be eligible to:
a rebate of 50 per cent on zinc phosphide purchases, up to $10,000.
multiple claims can now be made (up to $10,000).
The rebate covers multiple purchases of zinc phosphide bait between 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2022.
Applications can be made through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) and are open until 31 January 2022. All invoices must be submitted to the RAA by 28 February 2022.
NSW mouse control rebate – Service NSW
Grants are available to help manage the cost of baiting in rural and regional NSW.
Households are eligible to claim up to $500.
Small businesses, including primary producers and sole traders, are eligible to claim up to $1,000. These are businesses that are classified as having less than 20 employees.
You can provide multiple receipts either online or in person through Service NSW for a one-off payment. Applications can be made until 31 January 2022.
To be eligible to claim a rebate:
your mouse baits, traps or cleaning materials must have been purchased on or after 1 February 2021
your household, business or farm must be located in one of the Local Land Services regions
Natural Disaster Declarations - Loans, Transport Subsidies and Hardship Assistance
Visit the Rural Assistance Authority website for details on how to apply for these Disaster Relief Loans.
Free coaching from workplace mental health experts that can help to boost morale, productivity and profitability
Get free mental health coaching to help your business create a mentally healthy workplace.
This service focuses on providing you hands-on guidance to help you make changes in your workplace. Transitioning Well have partnered with the NSW Government to deliver this initiative.
Cyber security hotline and new learning resources to help your small business
To find out how to keep yourself and your business cyber safe, visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Gifting
If you give away your income or assets, they may still count towards your income and assets tests. This also applies if you sell them for less than they’re worth.
Was your electricity supply impacted during an extreme weather event?
Join a study about people's experiences with power during extreme weather events to help improve knowledge about energy resilience.
Energy Sustainability through Knowledge and Information Exchange and Sharing (ESKIES) is a project of the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund (BCRRF).
Storms and floods Service NSW customer care
Service NSW is here to help people and businesses impacted by the severe storms and floods.
Single Touch Payroll Phase 2
The Government announced in the 2019 – 2020 Budget that Single Touch Payroll (STP) would be expanded to include additional information.
The expansion of STP, also known as STP Phase 2, will reduce reporting burden for employers who need to report information about their employees to multiple government agencies. It will also help Services Australia’s customers, who may be your employees, get the right payment at the right time.
The mandatory start date for Phase 2 reporting is 1 January 2022. Please see the below link for further details.
Fair Work Ombudsman: Rules and entitlements during the end of year holiday season
As the end of year holiday season approaches, many businesses get busier and need their employees to work more hours and on public holidays. While other businesses may shut down or reduce their staff numbers.
Find out about the rules and entitlements during the end of year holiday season that may affect you.
Our office closure dates
This year we are closing from Thursday 12:30pm, 23rd December and
reopening Monday, 10th January at 8:30am.
