Government COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package

Government COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package

Government COVID-19 $17.6 billion Economic Stimulus Package
The Morrison Government announced a $17.6 billion stimulus package on the 12th March 2020, providing support to Australian Individuals, Businesses & Households. The package is composed of four sections:

1. Delivering Support for Business Investment
2. Cash flow assistance for businesses
3. Stimulus payments for households to support growth
4. Assistance for severely-affected regions

The Prime Minister has stated “Australia is not immune to the global coronavirus challenge, but we have already taken steps to prepare for this looming international economic crisis.” The Morrison Government aims for this stimulus package to keep businesses operating and keep Australian’s in their jobs, so we are able to bounce back strongly.

1. Delivering Support for Business Investment

  • $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. For example, assets that may be able to be immediately written off are a concrete tank for a builder, a tractor for a farming business, and a truck for a delivery business
  • $3.2 billion to back business investment by providing a time limited 15-month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term, by accelerating depreciation deductions. Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase.
    These measures commenced 12th March 2020 and will support 3.5 million businesses across Australia

2. Cash flow assistance for businesses

  • $6.7 billion to Boost Cash Flow for Employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses. The payment will provide cash flow support to businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million that employ staff, between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. The payment will be tax free. This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people. Businesses will receive payments of 50 per cent of the PAYG tax withheld from employees’ salaries and wage via a credit in their Business Activity Statements or Instalment Activity Statement from 28 April. Any resulting refund will then be paid within 14 days by the ATO
  • $1.3 billion to support small businesses to support the jobs of around 120,000 apprentices and trainees. Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer that employs that apprentice

3. Stimulus payments for households to support growth

  • $4.8 billion to provide a one-off $750 stimulus payment to pensioners, social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. Around half of those that will benefit are pensioners. The payment will be tax free and will not count as income for Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments. There will be one payment per eligible recipient. If a person qualifies for the one-off payment in multiple ways, they will only receive one payment
  • Payments will be from 31 March 2020 on a progressive basis, with over 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April

4. Assistance for severely-affected regions

  • $1 billion to support those sectors, regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education. This will include the waiver of fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks. It will also include additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains. Targeted measures will also be developed to further promote domestic tourism. Further plans and measures to support recovery will be designed and delivered in partnership with the affected industries and communities

Also offered by the Morrison Government is administrative relief in regards to certain tax obligations. Including deferring tax payments for up to four months, this will be based on a case-to-case basis. The ATO is aiming to enhance its presence within affected regions to assist Australians with applying for relief.

EFC Group initiated our Business Continuity Plan on the 10th March 2020 in response to a worst-case scenario for COVID-19. Our aim remains for the disruption to our clients to be at an absolute minimum. That service will be delivered remotely by email and telephone as we’ve taken precautionary measures to ensure we provide ongoing and consistent support for our clients indefinitely. Please contact our office if you have any queries or require assistance.

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