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COVID-19 Government Stimulus Update

Second Stimulus Package for Business owners

The Government has released a second, far-reaching $66.1 bn stimulus package that boosts income support payments, introduces targeted changes to the superannuation rules, provides cash flow support of up to $100,000 for small business employers, and relaxes corporate insolvency laws.

The Prime Minister has warned that there are no “quick solutions” and that business should prepare for 6 months of disruption.

Summary – Business

  • Tax-free payments up to $100,000 for small business and not-for-profit employers. An increase in the previously announced initial tax-free payments for employers to a maximum of $50,000. In addition to this, the second round of payments will be made up to a maximum of $50,000, accessible from July 2020.
  • Solvency safety net – temporary 6-month increase to the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company from $2,000 to $20,000, and an increase in the time companies have to respond from 21 days to 6 months. Directors also are provided with temporary relief from personal liability for trading while insolvent for 6 months.
  • Access to working capital – Introduction of a Coronavirus SME guarantee scheme protecting financial institutions by guaranteeing 50% of new loans to SMEs.
  • Sole traders and self-employed eligible for Jobseeker payment – the eligibility criteria to access income support relaxed for the self-employed and sole traders.
  • Temporary relief from some Corporations Act requirements

 

In Detail – Support for business

Tax-free payments up to $100,000 for employers

  • From: 28 April 2020 –
    Comment – due date for March quarter BAS
  • Eligibility: Small and medium business entity employers and not-for-profit entities, with an aggregated annual turnover under $50 million.

 

The Government has increased the previously announced measures to provide cash flow support to the business.

Now, eligible businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million will

  • initially be able to access tax-free cash flow support, with the minimum amount being increased to $10,000 and the maximum amount increased to $50,000 (previously $2,000 to $25,000).
  • However, additional support will be provided in the July – October 2020 period so that eligible entities will receive total minimum support of $20,000 and up to $100,000.
    Comment – but you have to survive till then

 

In order for a business to qualify for this support, it must have been established prior to 12 March 2020. The rules are more flexible for charities because the Government recognises that new charities might be established in response to the pandemic.

The cash flow support measures will be provided in the form of a credit in the activity statement system. The support will be provided in two phases.

  • The first phase ensures that eligible employers receive
    • a credit equal to 100% of the PAYG amounts
    • withheld from salary and wages paid to employees
    • during the relevant period,
    • up to the maximum amount of $50,000.
    • Comment – the saving is the PAYG withheld – not the wage itself
  • The second phase ensures that eligible employers receive another series of credits, equal to the credits that were received under the first phase.
    • For example, if a business received $40,000 of credits in the first phase it will receive a further $40,000 of credits in the second phase.
      These additional credits will be spread over two or four activity statement periods, depending on whether the employer lodges on a quarterly or monthly basis.

 

If a business pays salary and wages to employees

  • but is not required to withhold any tax
  • then a minimum payment of $10,000 will be made in the first phase and a further payment of $10,000 will be made in the second phase.

Comment – This is great for micro and home-based sole traders business 

The credits are automatically calculated by the ATO and employers will need to lodge an activity statement to trigger the entitlement.
If the credit puts the business in a refund position the excess amount will be refunded by the ATO within 14 days.

Businesses that lodge activity statements on a quarterly basis will be eligible to receive credits in the first phase for the quarters ending March 2020 and June 2020. Credits in the second phase will be available for the quarters ending June 2020 and September 2020.
The minimum $10,000 payment will be applied to the first lodgement.

A business that lodge on a monthly basis will be eligible for the credits in the first phase for the March 2020, April 2020, May 2020 and June 2020 lodgements. Credits in the second phase will be available for the June 2020, July 2020, August 2020 and September lodgments. The minimum $10,000 payment will be applied to the first lodgement.

Eligibility for the measure will be based on prior year turnover. We will have to wait for the legislation for the finer details.

Not-for-profit employers, including charities, with an aggregated turnover under $50 million will also be able to access the cash flow support.

Solvency safety net

A safety net has been put in place to protect businesses in temporary financial distress as a result of the pandemic by lessening the threat of actions that could unnecessarily push them into insolvency and force the winding up of the business. These include:

  • A temporary 6 month increase to the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company from $2,000 to $20,000.
  • The time a company has to respond to statutory demands will increase from 21 days to 6 months.
  • For 6 months, directors will be provided with temporary relief from personal liability for trading while insolvent.
  • See also bankruptcy safety net below

 

It will be more important than ever for a business to stay on top of their debtors.

Debts incurred will still be payable by the business. Only those debts incurred in the ordinary course of the business will be subject to the safety net measures.

Please see attached for further information on Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses.

Access to working capital for SMEs – supporting lenders
The Government has announced a Coronavirus SME guarantee scheme (please see attached) that will guarantee 50% of new loans to SMEs up to $20 billion.

These loans are

  • new
  • short-term
  • unsecured loans
  • to SMEs.

SMEs with a turnover of up to $50 million will be eligible to receive these loans.

The Government will provide eligible lenders with a guarantee for loans with the following terms:

  • Maximum total size of loans of $250,000 per borrower.
  • The loans will be up to three years, with an initial six month repayment holiday.
  • The loans will be in the form of unsecured finance, meaning that borrowers will not have to provide an asset as security for the loan.

 

Loans will be subject to lenders’ credit assessment processes with the expectation that lenders will look through the cycle to sensibly take into account the uncertainty of the current economic conditions.

This latest measure builds on the previous initiatives to ensure small business can access capital, including:

  • Helping small businesses get access to credit, see below link:

 

Sole traders and self-employed eligible for Jobseeker payment

The eligibility criteria to access income support payments will be relaxed to enable the self-employed and sole traders whose in come has been reduced, to access support.

Temporary relief from Corporations Act requirements

The Treasurer has been given a temporary instrument-making power to amend the Corporations Act to provide relief or modifications to specific compliance obligations.

ASIC has announced measures for those companies with a 31 December financial year that need to hold their AGMs by 31 May 2020, providing a two month no action period and enabling hybrid virtual AGMs. Please see link: https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2020-releases/20-068mr-guidelines-for-meeting-upcoming-agm-and-financial-reporting-requirements/?ct=t(April_17_Newsletter_Tax_Time_Tax_Tips_fo4_28_2017_)&mc_cid=3eae607196&mc_eid=de52c95cd2

As always if you any questions about the government stimulus package or how it may affect your business, please contact our office and speak to our expert team for guidance

on (07) 3103 8551. directly.

 

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