JobKeeper Payment in GovReports and IAM STP

We are working to get GovReports Single Touch Payroll ready for JobKeeper payment as per ATO guideline announced earlier today for software providers to implement and support along with the  JobKeeper enrolment process that just started on 20 April 2020.

You will be able to process JobKeeper through GovReports Single Touch Payroll (STP) and IAM STP from Friday 25th April.

Overview

• The government has introduced the JobKeeper payment scheme to support businesses significantly affected by COVID-19 to help keep more Australians in jobs.
• The JobKeeper payment is open to eligible employers to enable them to pay their eligible employees salary or wages of at least $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight.
• Eligible employers will be reimbursed a fixed amount of $1,500 per fortnight for each eligible employee.
• JobKeeper payments can be made for the period beginning 30 March 2020.
• The first payments to eligible employers will be made in the first week of May 2020.

Eligibility

Employers are eligible for the JobKeeper payment if all of the following apply:

• At 1 March 2020 the business operated and employed at least one eligible employee.
• The eligible employees are currently employed by the business, (including those who have been stood down).
• The business demonstrates actual or projected 30% fall in turnover (for business with turnover < $1 billion)
• The business demonstrates actual or projected 50% fall in turnover (for business with turnover > $1 billion).
• The entity demonstrates actual or projected 15% fall in turnover (for ACNC registered charities).
• The business is not listed as ineligible .

Enrol with the ATO for JobKeeper Payment

Employers MUST enrol with the ATO for the JobKeeper payment from 20 April 2020. This cannot be completed using GovReports, the only avenue for enrolling is the ATO website.

1. Enrol with the ATO
2. Read ATO information to confirm eligibility of business to receive JobKeeper.
3. Read ATO information to confirm eligibility of each employee.
4. Continue to pay at least $1,500 to each eligible employee per fortnight from 30 March 2020.
5. If an eligible employee’s usual pay is less than $1,500 per fortnight, top up the wages to $1,500.
6. Eligible employees must complete the JobKeeper employee nomination notice  and return to employer by 30 April 2020. Employer must keep this form on file for five years.
7. The ATO will reimburse the business for the JobKeeper amount monthly in arrears.
8. Employers or agents must confirm eligibility monthly.

Business Owners

Employers can enrol through their Business Portal. If they have not already set up myGovID they will need to do this before enrolling.

• From the portal, select ‘Manage Employees’ then select the link for JobKeeper.
• Fill in the JobKeeper enrolment form and provide eligibility information.
• Enrol by 30 April 2020.
• Employers must confirm eligibility of business and employees each month.

Registered Agents

Registered agents can enrol their clients in the JobKeeper system if they have authority to act in this capacity for the client.

• Collect relevant information from the client, including employee nomination form, first month of fall in turnover, fall in turnover percentage, number of eligible employees.
• Go to ATO Online Services for agents.
• From the Business tab, select JobKeeper enrol.
• Complete the enrolment details including the business financial institution details for JobKeeper payment.
• Confirm eligibility of business and employees each month.

Dates	Steps	Action	Platform		Details
From 20th April	Enrol	Enrol in JobKeeper Payment	ATO Business portal, ATO Online Services for Agents, Online Services for individuals (in case of Sole traders)		Employers must enrol before 30th April 2020 to claim JobKeeper payments for the April period.
By 30th April	Notify	Report start fortnightly for employees	GovReports : STP – Payroll event		1. Complete and retain employee notification form 2. Pay employees $1500 per JobKeeper fortnight 3. Notify ATO of eligible employees through STP
4th May & Onwards	Declare	Submit monthly declaration	ATO Business portal, ATO Online Services for Agents, Online Services for individuals (in case of Sole traders)		Notify ATO of Monthly turnover – turn over for both the current month and an estimate of next month
31st May	Last day for employers to notify the ATO and declare turnover to receive JobKeeper payments for the April period

GovReports STP ProcessEngagement Letter and Authority to Lodge

Remember as a BAS/Tax agent, you can use GovReports templates and letters to email your clients with authority forms for digital signature.

You may want to take this opportunity to update your engagement letter to include any other services you are performing for the client as a result of the COVID-19 situation or simply as a new email template to send to all eligible clients. The Tax Practitioners Board has expanded the scope of BAS services to include services relevant to the Coronavirus Economic Response Package.

At the very least, if you are a registered agent acting on behalf of your client in regard to JobKeeper, you will need to send an authority form for the initial registration and for each monthly confirmation of JobKeeper eligibility.

• Go to My Practice menu, select Templates & Letters,then + Add Letter.
• Upload your own template or use one of the existing templates in GovReports and edit to JobKeeper requirements.

Important Links

• ATO – Eligible employers
• ATO – Eligible employees
• ATO – Paying eligible employees
• ATO – Amount of JobKeeper payment
• ATO – Enrol and apply for the JobKeeper payment

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