ATO extends JobKeeper deadlines ahead of Christmas, New Year

The Tax Office has announced that the completion of the December business monthly declaration, for employers to be reimbursed for JobKeeper payments between 23 November 2020 to 3 January 2021, has been extended from the usual lodgement date of the 14 January 2021 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 to their employees between 21 December and 3 January 2021 to be made by 4 January 2021.

From 4 January, the second extension period for JobKeeper will begin, this means payment rates are reducing 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 30% shortfall for the December 2020 quarter, with the ATO to make the new decline in turnover form available on its online systems from 4 January.

New employers enrolling for the first time in JobKeeper, and existing employers, will be required to submit their 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 (fortnights 21 & 22), meaning any top up payments must be paid to employees by 31 January 2021 to be eligible for the JobKeeper reimbursement for these fortnights.