The Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East is comprised of two grants:
- Employing Businesses, that meet the eligibility criteria, have access to a $3,000 grant; and
- Non-employing Businesses, that meet the eligibility criteria, have access to a $1,000 grant.
All businesses in eligible tourism and hospitality sectors that have received a grant under the COVID-19 Tourism and Hospitality Support Grant, and are based in eligible postcodes, will automatically receive a top-up payment of $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses. No additional application is necessary.
Other businesses based in eligible postcodes that have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more over the defined eligibility period are able to apply for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East through an application portal.
Businesses in all industry sectors are eligible for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East.
All businesses in eligible tourism and hospitality sectors that have received a grant under the COVID-19 Tourism and Hospitality Support Grant, and are based in eligible postcodes, will automatically receive a top-up payment of $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses. No additional application is necessary.
Businesses of other industry sectors based in eligible postcodes that have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more over the defined eligibility period will be able to apply for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East through an application portal.
All businesses in eligible tourism and hospitality sectors that have received a grant under the COVID-19 Tourism and Hospitality Support Grant, and are based in eligible postcodes, will automatically receive a top-up payment of $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses. No additional application is necessary.
Other businesses based in eligible postcodes that have experienced a decline in turnover of 30% or more over the defined eligibility period will be able to apply for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East through an application portal.
Yes, subject to meeting all the eligibly criteria for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East.
No. The Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South East does not have a minimum turnover requirement, but a business must be registered for GST as at 12:01am Monday, 4 October 2021 to be eligible.
To be considered an employee, staff must be under the control of the business, receive regular PAYG salary or wages, and have Pay As You Go Withholding amounts as well as superannuation paid by the employer.
Sole-traders that do not employ staff may apply for the $1,000 (non-employing business) grant.
Sole-traders that employ staff may apply for the $3,000 (employing business) grant. A business or not-for-profit must have employed staff as at 12:01am Monday, 4 October 2021 to be eligible for this grant. To be considered an employee, staff must be under the control of the business, receive regular PAYG salary or wages, and have Pay As You Go Withholding amounts and superannuation paid by the employer. An owner is not considered to be an employee for the purpose of the $3,000 grant.
The $1,000 (non-employing business) grant is open to partnerships that do not employ staff.
To be eligible for the $3,000 (employing business) grant a business or not-for-profit must have employed staff as at 12:01am Monday, 4 October 2021. Partners are not considered to be employees for the purpose of the $3,000 grant.
A trust structure does not prevent an applicant from applying or being eligible for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East. The trust will still need to meet all the criteria of the grant programs.
A beneficiary of a trust is not deemed an employee, just because they are a beneficiary. Being deemed an employee requires a genuine employer/employee relationship with Pay As You Go Withholding amounts and superannuation paid by the employer.
A company can employ a director or shareholder in a role other than a director or shareholder. The employee would receive regular PAYG salary or wages, and Pay As You Go Withholding amounts and superannuation would be paid by the employer. Where the company employs workers, including a director or shareholder, they may be eligible for the $3,000 (employing business) grant.
No, where multiple non-employing businesses meeting the eligibility criteria are controlled by one individual, company, partnership, or trustee, funding will be restricted to one grant for all non-employing businesses controlled by the individual, company, partnership, or trustee.
Turnover will be defined according to the current calculation for GST purposes and is reported on Business Activity Statements. It includes all taxable supplies and all GST free supplies but not input taxed supplies.
Under the GST law, only Australian based sales are included and therefore, only Australian based turnover is relevant.
Businesses will be required to declare a reduction in turnover due to restricted trading conditions. They will not be required to provide any supporting information at the time of application but will be required to retain supporting information for 2 years that could be made available if required such as:
- Turnover comparison data for the assessment periods;
- Emails or texts to or from clients or suppliers detailing cancelled orders or appointments;
- Receipts for refunds provided;
- Invoices or delivery dockets;
- Appointment/scheduling platform, demonstrating cancelled appointments or bookings; and / or
- Screenshots of cancelled events
Not-for-profit organisations may apply for a grant as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
The BAS registration threshold for not-for-profit organisations is $150,000 so it is possible to have annual turnover greater than $75,000 but not be registered. Not-for-profit organisations that are not registered for GST are asked to upload evidence with their application that annual turnover is greater than $75,000. In this instance, NFPs should answer “yes” to the statement “The business was registered for GST at 4 October 2021 or is a not-for–profit not registered for GST with an annual turnover in excess of $75,000 per annum.
To be eligible for the Regional COVID-19 Support Grant – Lower South-East your business must have had an active GST registration as at 12:01am Monday, 4 October 2021.
- Evidence must clearly indicate that the business activity statement has been lodged with the ATO (lodged Business Activity Statements are available on the ATO’s Business Portal or through your tax agent).
- Activity has occurred in FY2020-21 (can be either monthly or quarterly BAS, depending on how your business reports).
- If on an ATO letterhead – it should include the phrase “Activity Statement”.
- Multiple forms of evidence may make up an acceptable submission, as long as there is:
- Evidence it has been lodged with the ATO (could include payment confirmation).
- An ABN (first 11 digits of BPAY reference may include ABN if not stated elsewhere).
- Activity has occurred in the current financial year
No. The grants are provided to support eligible businesses that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19.
This may include expenditure on:
- Utilities, salaries and rent.
- Seeking financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning.
- Developing the business through marketing and communications activities.
- Other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.
JobKeeper payments are excluded from the calculation of total Australian payroll.
Yes.
Yes, it is permissible for an agent such as an accountant or lawyer to submit the application on behalf of business provided they have been instructed to do so by the following authorised people:
- In the case of a business that is a sole trader that employs, the sole trader
- In the case of a business that is a partnership that employs, a partner
- In the case of a business that is a body corporate that employs, a director, secretary, public officer or equivalent.
An application is being lodged with the ATO for the grants to be treated as Non Income Non Exempt in accordance with the treatment afforded similar COVID-19 Business Assistance Programs.
Until a ruling has been received determining otherwise, the grants will be treated as assessable income.