在山火同新冠疫情共同的打击下，澳洲在近30年首次遭遇了经济衰退。因此，本周联邦政府又宣布将联手各州和地区政府向符合要求的自住房业主(包括首次置业人士)发放2万5千澳元的资助。资助时效是2020年6月4日和2020年12月31日之间。

申请资格是哪些？

• 必须是自然人（公司或信托等名下的住房不可以）；

• 已年满18岁;

• 澳大利亚公民 （目前没有说PR 和新西兰公民可以）；

• 收入上限要求:

• 单个申请人，2018-19年或以后的纳税申报单应税收入低于12万5千澳元;或

• 夫妻共同申请者，2018-19年或以后的纳税申报单总应税收入低于20万澳元;

• 在2020年6月4日至2020年12月31日之间签署一份建筑合同，可以是以下任何一项:

• 建造新的自住房，其价格不超过75万澳元； 或

• 翻新你现有的自住房，翻新合同价在15万到75万澳元之间，你现有的自住房不得超过150万澳元；

• 施工必须在合同签订之日起三个月内开始。

自住房包括哪些?

包括别墅、公寓、买地建别墅，期房等，可以是新建房，也可以是对现有房的大规模翻新。注意了，投资房不包括在里面。

什么样的翻新算符合标准?

翻新的费用在15万到75万澳元之间，翻新前的自住房（包括房屋和土地）价值低于150万澳元。并且翻新工作必须在合同签订之日起三个月内开始。

翻新必须是用来改善居住的方便性、宜居性和安全性。而不是增加一些娱乐设施，比如建立网球场、游泳池或者遮阴棚等。

另外，翻新的工作必须由持牌的建筑商完成，合同价钱要符合一般市场价格，合同条款也必须是符合一般市场合同条款。政府此举目的是防止房主和建筑商签订猫腻合同骗取政府的现金补助。

如果已经有地，是否可以申请？

• 如果你有的是房子加土地，并希望拆毁房子重建，这可以被视为大规模翻新，只要翻新价格在15万到75万澳元之间并且该房子加土地总价格在翻新前不超过150万澳元;

• 如果你在2020年6月4日之前拥有空置土地，这可以被视为全新建筑，建筑的总价值加上建筑前的土地价格不能超过75万澳元。

现在可以申请吗？

还不可以，您所在的州或地区需要和联邦政府签订合约以后，并且州或地区开通申请渠道以后才可以申请。各州和地区将会给与通知。

需要提供什么文件?

各州或地区政府将会要求提供特定的文件来处理申请。但是预计至少需要提供以下文件:

• 身份证明;

• 与指定注册或许可建筑商签署的合同副本;

• 建筑商的注册或执照副本(取决于你居住的州或地区);

• 一份2018-19年度(或之后)纳税申报单，以证明符合收入上限要求;

• 其他文件，如当地区政府建筑或翻新批准信，土地的价格公证等。

详细文件需要各州或地区政府进一步通知。

有拿到政府首次置业资助金，还可以申请住房建筑现金补助吗？

可以的，该项补助和首次置业资助金、印花税优惠等州政府补助，以及联邦政府的首次置业贷款存款计划和养老金存款计划不相冲突。

该项补助需要交所得税吗？

不需要。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

The last few months have shown a constant display of obscure challenges related to maintaining business during the COVID-19 pandemic for business owners and leaders everywhere. The latest obscure challenge is possibly the trickiest yet: how to cautiously recommence businesses after the government announced the major easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Businesses will be faced with many logistical details including how to maintain social distance, limit crowd size, and ensure spaces are cleaned thoroughly and regularly. It will take some time to lift the level of confidence in people to start visiting shops, restaurants, and other public venues. In such an uncertain and diverging environment, how can small businesses move forward and back to “business as usual”? There are many opportunities for us as business owners and leaders to unify and build this together amid the uncertainty.

Patience

Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. In today’s world, where technology has created the expectation that everything should move more quickly, patience becomes one of the rarest virtues. No one has the patience to wait for anything anymore. However, we need to be careful to not rush everything. We should be careful not to move faster than governments allow.

We should be patient with a timeline that might be slower than we anticipated; patient with a reopening process that might be awkward; patient with the line-up that we have to face when entering the shops; patient with our leaders feeling the pressure of this difficult situation; patient with one another as we are getting used to with the new normal. As hard as it will be to practice patience, we must be determined as it is unquestionable the second wave of Covid-19 cases, or a local outbreak would detrimentally impact businesses.

Humility

Humility is to have a student mindset and always be willing to learn new things. With so many changes in the world amid the pandemic, we need to quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. When you listen, it may slow down the process of consideration and planning, but it is worth it. We need to be humble to learn to adapt and to accept that things might not be the same as they used to be.

We need humility in how we react to the plans by the government leaders, even if we do not agree with every aspect of it. There is no definitive answer on how to do this well and everyone is just trying to do the best they can to get through this crisis. If we are willing to learn and adapt with all humility, we will be able to survive.

Service

This pandemic is affecting us individually, societally, and organisationally. During this pandemic, we all need to step up and be a leader to do what we can for the greater good. If you are fortunate enough to have cash in your pockets, you can use it to support other businesses. We need to think of ways we can serve our friends, family, neighbours, and community as a whole. We need to encourage “we” before “me” and show gratitude and compassion for others.

If you can make your business about helping others during this crisis, you will always have plenty of work because no one has ever become poor by giving. There is no better time than now to put the needs of others ahead of our own. Remember, success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself; it is what you do for others.

There is no need to panic. Tough times never last but tough people do. If we can all continue to show up as servant leaders with patience and humility to serve others, we can get through this uncertainty and crisis stronger than ever.

Don’t let this uncertainty sink your business, reach out for help not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers are Xero qualified and Award-winning accountants and bookkeepers for small businesses which can be reached on 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

It has already been two months since the lockdown was in place. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally announced a “Three-Step” procedure to reopen Australia after the COVID-19, which is good news to all of us. Based on the data from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Australian has been losing more than $4 billion each week due to the lockdown, of which the largest portion has been attributed to the affected small and medium-sized business (SME). As the lockdown has been gradually lifted, how would SME self-adjust their business and catch up with the changing market in order to bring their business back to normal or even beyond?

1. Get government subsidies and grants

First of all, the biggest issue that SME is facing at the moment is cashflow caused by the declined revenue. As cashflow is considered as the lifeline for any business, the shortage of cashflow may directly lead the business to insolvency. For now, the fastest and most efficient way to deal with the cashflow shortage is to apply for and get the government subsidies and grants. We have mentioned those subsidies and grants in our previous articles The second and third Stimulus Plan – Which one suits you? and How small and medium business benefit from the Stimulus Package? , such as JobKeeper Payment, Cash Flow Boost to employers and Apprentices and Trainees Wage Subsidy etc. These are the most effective approaches you can take currently to maximise your cashflow. For more federal and state stimulus measures, please click on our Internal Manual (https://pittmartin.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ef7c505bc2b5ac5d9125b1f2&id=8a6e991bbb&e=199892a471)。

Also, the Government Guaranteed Unsecured Finance for up to $250k provided by the bank is another feasible way to supplement the SME’s mid or long term cashflow.

In addition, all the tax liabilities incurred after 12 March, such as income tax, GST, FBT etc, can be deferred to 14 September. Companies that make good use of this relief can help with cashflow shortfalls without violating regulation to delay their tax lodgement.

2. Prepare for return to workplace

If you have already applied for the JobKeeper Payment, you should not worry too much about finding new employees which is the government initiative. Employees can return to work at any time to resume as usual. If you lose your employee for any reason such as you are not eligible for JobKeeper Payment, it is the time for you to consider recruiting or getting in touch with right candidate for the recovery.

After returning to work, business should actively respond to the preventive anti-epidemic measures, such as making employee and customer safety manual or post, keeping 1.5 meters social distance, maintaining 4 square metres of space per person and preparing hand sanitiser etc.

If your business was temporarily closed and you have been working from home since the lockdown, it is the time for you to get in touch with your suppliers and building manager of your workplace to ensure the goods, utilities supplies and office are operating as normal.

3. Have an effective communication with other parties

As a result of market changes caused by the outbreak, the personnel and department in the organisation may also need to be changed. For example, some departments may need more people while others may have to cut. Managers have to have an effective communication with affected employees to make sure personnel change is undertaken in a considerate and proper way.

For most of SME, rent is one of the biggest expenditures in their daily business. The Federal government as well as State government have issued the relevant law and code to ensure landlords to share a portion of the business loss. Therefore, affected business should reach out to their landlord in order to get some rental relief if they have not yet. If you decide to update or enter into a new lease with the landlord, you should take an advantage of the current market to get a better price and terms.

Given everyone is suffering from cashflow shortfall at the moment or in the near future, business should accelerate any necessary debt collection procedures to avoid further capital loss because of the potential future bad debt.

Businesses also have to review the contract with existing suppliers and customers and actively communicate with them to ensure the terms in the contract are updated in a timely manner to reflect the changed market.

4. Change your business plan and look for new opportunities

The current business plan and financial budget may no longer be applicable to the SME. An adjustable and flexible business plan and financial budget are the only guarantee for future recovery and success. Similarly, business who can adjust themselves in the changing market may have more opportunities. For example, lockdown increases the online demand and delivery. In the meantime, online meeting is becoming more acceptable during this period. Therefore, in future, some retail and hospitality business may consider expanding their take-away and IT-related business might intend to engage in online App Development or Video calls.

There is no doubt that there will be a long-term impact brought by this coronavirus pandemic. Business should take their long-term strategies into consideration when they make new business plan to ensure the new plan is more suitable for the changing market and prepare for the worst on the other hand.

Since the outbreak, we can deeply feel that clients, at any other time, never like now need our assistance and advice. At Pitt Martin, we strive to understand your business and put our feet in your shoes so we can be committed to delivering the best service we can to help you out during this tough time. Let us work together and bring your business and life back to normal as soon as possible! Call us on 02 92213345 or email connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

Disclaimer: This article is not providing a formal advice and may not suit to all scenarios. Please make an appointment with us to discuss.

Tax time is fast approaching and for some of you this might be the last thing on your mind. There might be other things that are more important for you to get through this uncertainty. However, now is the best time to get your tax affair in order and avoid last minute planning that can cost you.

As you have spent more time working from home during the lockdown period, it might be a good idea to put together all the information you need to prepare your returns as it will take some time especially if you have not organised them as you go. You can collect all your receipts or invoices for work related expenses and any credit card statements for invoices that you no longer had and discuss with your tax agent to ensure you are maximising your claims.

If you have been working from home as a result of COVID-19, the Australian Taxation Office has introduced special arrangements which will allow people to claim 80 cents per hour for all their running expenses, rather than needing to calculate costs for specific running expenses. You will need to keep a record of the number of hours you have worked from home. This will apply from March 1 to June 30, after which the ATO will review the arrangement for the next financial year.

If you choose to use the 80 cents per hour for all your running expenses, you can’t make other claims in relation to working from home because items such as mobile phone and internet are included in the 80 cent rate.

You still had the option to use the old claiming method which is known as the 52 cents per work hour method for claiming items such as heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning and the decline in value of office furniture. You need to keep a diary of when your start and finish work each day. This old method also allowed you to calculate the work-related portion of phone and internet expenses, computer consumables, stationery and the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device. Nevertheless, you would still require to work out what private use and work use is on ‘a reasonable basis”

You can claim tools or equipment as a deduction in your tax return if you have to use them as part of your job and your employer didn’t reimburse you. You can claim a deduction straight away if the tools or equipment are $300 or less otherwise you will need to depreciate over the life of the item. On the other hand, if you run your own business and acquired all your capital items from 12 March 2020 and the cost of all of them less than $150,000, you can claim a deduction straight away. The capital items included work related IT equipment, cars and tools. Please note that you will still require to apportion the cost if you use them for private use.

As we are approaching the end of financial year, we still have plenty of time to generate some extra common tax deductions if you made the payment by 30 June:

• Donation to a charity registered as a deductible gift recipient over $2 with a receipt are tax deductible
• A personal contribution into your super fund including the contribution made on your behalf by your employer which are less than $25,000 can be claim as a tax deduction providing the payment made by 30 June. You need to advise your super fund by completing the relevant form or speak to your accountant for guidance.
• You need to pay by 30 June your professional membership or subscriptions and union fees to claim the deduction this year

Remember that good record keeping including invoices and receipts will ensure the finalisation of your tax return easier and you can claim for everything you’re eligible to.

If you know anyone in your circle who need any assistance during tax time, please reach out to them because “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone” and “Together We Can Make A Difference”

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers is here to assist you and your business in time of crisis by contacting 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

在澳洲政府从三月实行封锁以来，已接近两个月，随着上周五总理的”三步走”解封，我们终于迎来了逐步解封的好消息。根据澳洲财长Josh Frydenberg的数据，封锁中澳洲每周经济损失高达40亿澳元，这其中有很大一部分受影响的是中小企业。现在随着解封的步伐，中小企业如何做自我调整，逐步适应变化中的市场，以使生产或经营恢复到之前的水平甚至超越。

1. 充分利用政府补助和优惠政策

首先，目前对中小企业打击最大的即是营业额的下降导致的现金流的短缺。现金流是企业生存的生命线，它的短缺或将造成企业直接的倒闭。现在最快、最直接获得现金流的方式是申请到政府的补助，我们之前的文章《澳洲政府重磅推出第二和第三刺激计划，哪一款政策适合你？》和《澳洲疫情中推出救市刺激计划，中小生意如何从中受益》中都有提到政府的现金补助政策，比如员工保留金，支付给雇主的现金流，学徒的工资津贴等等，都是快速获得现金流的很好和很可观的方式。具体的政府补助和优惠政策可以，点开我们的内部文件（https://pittmartin.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ef7c505bc2b5ac5d9125b1f2&id=8a6e991bbb&e=199892a471），参考详细内容。

另外，银行提供的无抵押贷款，高达25万澳元，也是企业获得中长期现金流保障的一个有效方法。企业三月以后所产生的税务债务，比如所得税，消费税，员工福利税等都可以延迟到今年的9月份再支付税局。企业合理利用该项优惠政策也可以对短缺的现金流有所帮助，而不用违反规定推迟相关税务申报。

2. 做好复工的准备

如果你有申请了员工保留金，那么你应该不太需要为寻找新的员工而烦恼，他们可以随时回到工作的岗位，让生产或经营恢复。如果你没有活得员工保留金或其他原因而导致了员工流失，那么现在你应该考虑招聘或联系合适的人选，以备复工时人员的需要。

复工后，企业应该积极响应政府的防疫安全措施，制定员工安全手册，比如社交距离1.5米，工作环境每人4个平方米的个人空间，准备消毒液等。

如果你这段时间生意是关闭的或一直在家办公，可以考虑提前联系供应商和工作场所的物业，确保供应链，水电，办公室等正常运转。

3. 和各方进行有效的沟通

由于疫情导致的市场变化，企业内部人员和部门的结构也将可能有变化，比如，有些部门可能需要增加人员，有些部门可能需要减少人员，管理层和调整的人员需要进行有效的沟通，尽量做到合情合理，妥善处理。

中小企业很大一部分的开销是花费在房租上，联邦政府和各个州政府都出台了相关的法律和规定来确保企业的损失房东可以承担一部分。因此，受到疫情影响的企业，如果还没有联系房东，现在应该考虑和房东进行有效的沟通，来缓解短期内的经济压力。如果在此期间要更新或签订新租约的企业，可以考虑利用目前市场的优势获得更有利的租房条约和价格。

在各方现金流都短缺的情况下，企业应该对有账期的客户进行有主次有步骤的欠款追述，以免将来大面积的坏账导致资金进一步的损失。

企业还需要对现有的供应商和客户的合同进行复查，同相关方进行积极的沟通，以确保合同中的条款可以得到及时的更新，来应对疫情带来的市场变化。

4. 改变生意计划，寻找新的机会

由于疫情导致的市场需求的变化，原先的生意计划和财务预算可能已经不再适用，新的计划方案和相应的财务预算是将来企业得到恢复和注入活力的保障。同样，善于改变的企业，也许在变化的市场中，未来会获得更多的机会，比如，封锁让线上和物流变得需求量更大，同样在线视频会议也渐渐获得人们的青睐，等等。因此，一些餐饮和零售业可能会考虑扩大他们的外卖业务，做软件的企业，可能调整发展方向去到线上App 或 视频服务。

我们不得不承认，这次疫情对市场和经济的影响将是长期性的，企业在制定新的计划时也应该考虑到长期的因素，确保新的计划可以对市场有更好的弹性，作好一切最坏打算的准备。

我们感觉这次疫情发生后，客户在其他任何时候都没有像现在，更需要我们会计师的建议和帮助。我们皮特马丁会计师事务所一直秉承着为客户利益着想的原则，这次也会致力于帮助客户走出困境，重回正常的生意和生活轨道。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

Followed by the first Stimulus Package plan announced on 12^th March 2020, the federal government has rolled out the second and third Stimulus Package plan with a total amount of up to 200 billion dollars in last two weeks aiming at helping small and medium business and keeping Australians in jobs. Let’s take a look at what are they for both business and individual and navigate one suits you.

For business

JobKeeper payment

The JobKeeper payment will assist employer to retain their employee and quickly re-start when the crisis is over. Affected employer will be able to claim the fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30^th March 2020. The first payment will be received on the first week of May, lasting for maximum of six months.

Eligibility for employer (including Not-For Profit):

• Business turnover less than $1 billion PLUS turnover has been reduced by more than 30% (of at least one month compared to the same period of last year)
• Business turnover more than $1 billion PLUS turnover has been reduced by more than 50% (of at least one month compared to the same period of last year)
• The business is not subject to the Major Bank Levy

Eligible employee can be full-time, part-time and casuals (a casual employed on a regular basis for more than 12 months as at 1^st March 2020). They must be an Australian citizen, Permanent Visa Holder, or a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder who is a Australian tax resident on 1 March 2020.

Self-employed individuals (Sole Trader) who meet the above turnover test are also eligible for JobKeeper Payments.

Register you interest and keep update with ATO.

Cash flow paid to eligible employers

As we mentioned in our previous article “How small and medium business benefit from the Stimulus Package”, eligible employers have the entitlement to claim equal to 50% of the PAYG Withholding amount with a minimum of $2000 and maximum of $25,000 even the withholding amount is nil. At this second package plan, the figures are lifted up to 100% cashback on PAYG Withholding, with an increased minimum payment of $20,000 and maximum payment of $100,000.

The cash payment will be provided in two phases. The ATO will automatically credit the first phase amount (from $10,000 to $50,000) to the tax payer’s ATO account after the BAS or IAS lodgement from 28^th April 2020. Different cycle tax payer will be paid upon the lodgement as below:

• Quarterly lodgers – March 2020 quarter (due on 28^th April 2020), and June 2020 quarter (due on 28^th July 2020)
• Monthly lodgers – March 2020 (due on 21^st April 2020), April 2020 (due on 21^st May 2020), May 2020 (due on 21^st June 2020) and June 2020 (due on 21^st July 2020)

The second phase amount will be equal to the first phase amount. Different cycle tax payer will be paid upon the lodgement as below:

• Quarterly lodgers (each credit will be equal to 50% of the phase one payment), one after each BAS or IAS lodgement for June 2020 quarter and September 2020 quarter
• Monthly lodgers (each credit equal to quarter of the phase one credit) one after each BAS or IAS lodgement for June, July, August and September 2020

Government Guaranteed Unsecured Loan

The $40 billion guarantee for small business loan under the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme is in place to support small and medium business in obtaining the additional working capital. The government will grant a guarantee of 50% to eligible small and medium business lenders which will reinforce lenders’ willingness and ability to provide credit.

Meanwhile, a deferred repayment of up to 6 months has been announced by the Australian Banks aiming at supporting small and medium business who has existing loans. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has also announced a $90 billion Term Funding Facility for the banking system to lower the funding costs for banks and subsequently to encourage lending to businesses.

Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses:

• The threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company has been increased from $2,000 to $20,000
• The threshold at which creditors can initiate bankruptcy notice has been increased from $5,000 to $20,000
• The time companies have to respond to a statutory demand and bankruptcy notice they receive will be extended from 21 days to up to 6 months

Directors will also be temporarily exempted from any personal liability arising from the trading during insolvency. The Corporate Act 2001 will also be amended to provide companies with temporary and targeted relief against unforeseen events caused by COVID-19.

For individual

JobSeeker Payment

The government introduced a temporary income support payment for the next six months, offering a fortnightly payment of $550, which is the double of the current allowance, to eligible job seekers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. This supplement will be an additional payment paid on top of their existing allowance to both existing and new eligible recipients (including those currently receiving JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit)

One-Off $750 Economic Support Payment

On top of the one-off $750 economic payment released by the government on 12^th March 2020, the government will be providing second $750 income support payment to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders (except for those receiving the Coronavirus supplement).

The first $750 payment will be available from 31^st March 2020 to individual who becomes eligible from 12 March 2020 to 13 April 2020.

The second $750 payment will be made automatically to eligible payment recipient and concession card holders from 13 July 2020

Early Access to Superannuation

Eligible individual affected by the COVID-19 have earlier access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21 to help them relieve the financial hardship. The first period for them to access their superannuation is between 20 April 2020 and 1 July 2020. The second period is between 1 July 2020 and 24 September 2020.

To apply for early released superannuation, you must satisfy any one or more of the following requirements:

• You are unemployed
• You have the entitlement to receive a JobSeeker payment, Youth Allowance for jobseekers, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit
• On or after 1 January 2020,
  • You were made redundant
  • Your working hours were reduced by 20% or more
  • If you are a self-employed individual (Sole Trader), your business is forced to suspend or your turnover has fallen by 20% or more

Early released superannuation is not subject to income tax, and the money you are claiming will not affect Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs payments.

Reduce the minimum superannuation pension drawdown rates

The minimum superannuation drawdown rates for account-based pension and similar products will be reduced by 50% for 2019/20 and 2020/21. The pensioners who hold these products will be benefit from this measure because they do not have to sell their products to meet the minimum withdrawal requirement under the current financial market downturn.

Minimum pension drawdown rates halved for 2019/20 and 2020/21：

Given all the measures rolled out by the government in respondence to the outbreak of COVID-19 are temporary and applications are required with supporting fact and explanation, both business and individual should examine their own situation and check for the subsidies they are entitled in order to turn around their business and life during the outbreak. If you need any assistance for the consultation or application, please do not hesitate to reach us on 02 92213345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

Disclaimer: This article is not providing a formal advice and may not suit to all scenarios. Please make an appointment with us to discuss.

As the coronavirus outbreak grows, more people are forced to work from home. While working from home can come with its benefits like getting to sleep in longer, avoid the daily commute and work from bed in your pyjamas, it can also hurt your hip pocket if you’re having to fork out for expenses your employer would normally cover, like increase utility bills, phone and home internet bills.

The good news is that most of these expenses can be claimed back at tax time. In order to make it easier for people to claim deductions for working from home, the Australian Taxation Office is introducing special arrangements which will allow people to claim 80 cents per hour for all their running expenses, rather than needing to calculate costs for specific running expenses.

Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said that if you choose to use this shortcut method, all you need to do is keep a record of the hours you worked from home as evidence of your claim. “We needed something to help people through this time to make it easier to work out how much they can claim”, Ms Foat said.

The change will apply from March 1 to June 30, after which the ATO will review the arrangement for the next financial year. If the Federal Government announces a prolonged lockdown extending into the next financial year the ATO is likely to extend the new claiming method.

The new arrangement does not forbid people from making a working-from-home claim under existing arrangements, where you calculate all or part of your running expenses. Neither does it prohibit multiple people living in the same house to claim this new rate. Furthermore, the requirement to have a dedicated work from home area has also been removed. However, the claims for working-from-home expenses prior to March 1, 2020 cannot be calculated using the shortcut method and must use the pre-existing working from home approach and requirements,” Ms Foat added.

People still had the option to use the old claiming method which is known as the 52 cents per work hour method for claiming items such as heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning and the decline in value of office furniture. This old method also allowed taxpayers to calculate the work-related portion of phone and internet expenses, computer consumables, stationery and the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device. Nevertheless, taxpayers would still need to work out what private use and work use is on ‘a reasonable basis”

ATO are expecting a lot of people to be working from home as the outbreak continues to grow; therefore believed that the new method would cut down on the need for reviews and audits, because it was simpler and reduce the chances of people making mistakes while claiming the deductions this year.

The ATO is also reminding people that the three golden rules for deductions still apply,

1. The taxpayers must have spent the money themselves and not have been reimbursed by the employers
2. The claim must be directly related to earning income, and
3. The record must be kept to substantiate the claim

Please note that children’s education expenses, as well as tea, coffee and toilet paper which used to be supplied by employers in the office could not be claimed and neither do rent and mortgage (unless it is an investment property)

The ATO gives this example of how the arrangement might work:

Sophie is an employee who works as a copywriter and an editor. Sophie starts working from home on 10 March as a result of COVID-19 and had since using a lot of online video conferencing for her meeting.

Sophie has just bought a new computer, monitor, desk, chair and stationery. She also wants to claim some additional gas, electricity, phone and internet costs due to working from home.

Under the shortcut method, Sophie can now claim all her expenses under a rate of 80 cents per hour. All she needs is her timesheets to show a record of the number of hours worked from home.

Sophie can also decide to claim using existing working from home calculations which is known as the 52 cents per work hour method. Under that method, Sophie can claim the desk, chair, gas and electricity under the 52 cents per hour, but would need to work out the decline in value of the computer, monitor, and calculate the work-related portion of the computer, monitor, stationery, phone and internet.

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers are Xero qualified and award-winning accountants and bookkeepers for small businesses which can be reached on 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

紧随着3月12日政府推出的第一阶段刺激计划，最近两周澳洲政府又连续放大招推出了价值总额接近2000亿澳元的第二和第三阶段的刺激计划。政府为了保住中小生意，为了众多员工不失业，可谓是送出了大把钞票哦。因为不少政策只是暂时的，所以我们赶紧来看一下，哪一款适合你，如果要申请的话也要动作迅速呢。

生意方面

员工保留金

政府承诺对于符合条件的并且留住员工的企业雇主，将对员工工资提供每两周 1500澳元的保留金，此保留金从3月30日开始，持续六个月，第一笔钱将在5月第一周发放。

雇主(包括非牟利机构)需符合下列条件，可获发保留金:

• 营业额不足10亿澳元的企业，与去年同期(至少一个月)相比，营业额减少30%以上;或
• 营业额为10亿澳元或更多的企业，与去年同期(至少一个月)相比，营业额减少50%以上;和
• 该业务不需要缴纳主要的银行税。

员工可以是全职，兼职或临时工，但是对他们的签证却有一定的要求，即澳大利亚公民，永久签证持有者，受保护的特殊类别签证持有者，在澳大利亚连续居住10年或10年以上的不受保护的特殊类别签证持有者，或特殊类别(子类444)签证持有者。因为疫情刚刚被裁掉的员工和重新回聘的员工也可能满足发放条件。

自雇的个体户 (Sole Trader)，与去年同期(至少一个月)相比，营业额减少30%以上，也可以获得此补助。

支付给雇主的现金流

在我们之前的文章《澳洲疫情中推出救市刺激计划，中小生意如何从中受益》中提及过政府将对符合条件的企业发放免税的等同于50% 随赚随缴预扣税金额，最低额度为2千澳元，最高额度为2.5万澳元的现金流，目前这个比例已经调整到100%，最低额度已经调整到2万澳元，最高额度也已经调整到10万澳元。符合条件的企业还是局限于年营业额低于5000万的企业（企业可以是在公司，个体户，合伙制或信托下），但是范围却扩展到了非营利组织。

该现金流总共分两笔发放。

从2020年4月28日起，ATO将在企业提交生意活动报表时支付第一笔现金流(1万至5万澳元)。不同类型的企业申报者，支付将在以下生意活动报表申报后给予:

• 季度申报者-至2020年3月(截至日期为2020年4月28日) 及2020年6月(截至日期为2020年7月28日);
• 月度申报者- 2020年3月(截至日期:2020年4月21日)、2020年4月(截至日期:2020年5月21日)，2020年5月(截至日期:2020年6月21日)和2020年6月(截至日期:2020年7月21日)。

第二笔现金流发放的金额将等同于第一笔现金流发放的金额，对于不同类型的企业申报者，支付将在以下生意活动报表申报后给予:

• 季度申报者 （每个季度支付第一笔现金流的50%）-至2020年6月(截至日期为2020年7月28日) 及2020年9月(截至日期为2020年10月28日);
• 月度申报者（每个月支付第一笔现金流的25%）- 2020年6月(截至日期:2020年7月21日)、2020年7月(截至日期:2020年8月21日)，2020年8月(截至日期:2020年9月21日) 和2020年9月(截至日期:2020年10月21日)。

政府担保无抵押贷款

政府将建立“冠状病毒中小企业保障计划”来支持中小企业获得营运资金，对于合格的银行在新增放贷给中小企业时，他们将出面担保50%的贷款，以提高这些房贷银行的借贷意愿和借贷能力。这项计划将提供400亿澳元的贷款给中小企业。

同时，澳大利亚各银行为支持中小企业现有贷款，宣布可以将还款推迟至多6个月。澳大利亚储备银行(Reserve Bank) 也为各银行提供了900亿澳元定期融资资助(term funding facility)，以此降低贷款成本，激励增多对中小企业的贷款。

其他救济政策

政府将临时增加以下门槛:

• 债权人可以向公司发出法定索偿金额的门槛由2,000元升至20,000元;

• 债权人可以提起破产程序的最低限额由5,000元升至20,000元;

• 公司必须在21天内响应法定要求升至6个月。

董事们还将暂时免除在破产期间因交易而产生的任何个人责任。《2001年公司法》也将进行修订，为公司应对由冠状病毒引起的不可预见的事件提供临时和有针对性的救济。

个人方面

求职补助金

政府将实施一项新的临时的求职补助金措施，为失去工作的求职者提供每两周550澳元的补助金，金额是目前求职津贴的两倍。在未来的6个月里，这项补助金将会支付给现有的和新的求职津贴、青年求职者津贴、父母津贴、农业家庭津贴和特殊津贴的接受者。符合条件的受资助者将在现有的津贴基础上每两星期再获得全部的550澳元的冠状病毒补助金。

新冠疫情补助金

在之前2020年3月12日宣布的750澳元第一刺激计划下，政府将进一步再次提供750澳元新冠疫情补助金给抚恤金领取者，退伍军人，个人收入支持计划的受惠者和符合资格的优惠卡持有人。已经获得其他类别的疫情补助金的人士将不可以重复获得该项补助金。

第一笔750澳元的补助金将从2020年3月31日开始，支付给那些在2020年3月12日至2020年4月13日之间的任何时间符合补助金条件的人。

第二笔750澳元的补助金将从2020年7月13日起自动支付给大约500万个人收入支持计划的受惠者和符合资格的优惠卡持有人。

提前提取养老金

凡符合条件的个人将可以从其养老金中分两次提取最高为2万澳元，每次最高额为1万澳元的现金，来帮助他们缓解由疫情带来的暂时的经济压力。第一次提取时间将是2020年4月20日到2020年7月1日之间。第二次提取时间将是从2020年7月1日起，到2020年9月24日截至。

你必须符合下列其中一项或多项条件，才可以提前提取你的养老金:

• 失业了;或
• 有资格获得求职津贴、青年求职者津贴、父母津贴、农业家庭津贴和特殊津贴的接受者
• 2020年1月1日或之后
  • 被解雇了; 或
  • 工作时间减少了20%或更多;或
  • 如果是个体户，你的生意被迫停止或销售额下降超过20%或更多

这些提前提取出来的养老金将不用完任何税，也不会影响政府的抚恤金和退伍军人补助。

降低养老金最低提取要求

政府暂时将2019- 2020年和2020-21年基于账户的养老金和类似产品的最低提款要求降低了50%。这项措施将使持有这些产品的退休人员受益，因为他们不必在当前市场大环境低迷的情况下被迫低价出售投资资产来满足最低提款要求。

2019- 2020年和2020-21年降低前后的比例：

因为上述的均为政府临时推出的政策，具有一定时效性，并且有些政策需要合理的事实和解释去申请，所以企业和个人应该抓紧时间了解自身的情况，争取自己应得的补助来尽量弥补疫情期间所造成的损失，挽救自己的生意和生活。欢迎大家联系我们关于政府相关的政策的解释和策划。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件 robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

With the announcement from Federal Governments Economic Response to the COVIC-19 Coronavirus, the cash flow grant for employers measure is designed to support employing small and medium sized businesses and to improve business confidence. The measures also supports the activities of not-for-profits (including charities) at a time where they are facing increased demand for services.

On 12 March 2020, the Government announced the cash flow grant for employers measure and initially provided up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible businesses. Small and medium sized business entities that employ workers with aggregated annual turnover less than $50 million are eligible.

The Government has then improved this measure as part of the second economic stimulus package. Not-for-profit entities (NFPs), including charities that employ workers, with aggregated annual turnover less than $50 million will now also be eligible. This will support employment activities at a time where NFPs are facing increasing demand for services.

Under the improved scheme, employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld (increase from 50 per cent), with the maximum payment being increased from $25,000 to $50,000. Furthermore, the minimum payment is being increased from $2,000 to $10,000.

An additional payment is also being introduced in the July to October 2020 period. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the total of all of the cash flow grant for employers payments they have received. This means that eligible entities will receive at least $20,000 up to a total of $100,000 under both payments. The cash flow grant for employers is tax-free payment with no new forms required and automatically calculated by the ATO

This additional payment continues to support businesses over a longer period to help them maintain staff, improve confidence, continue operating and at the same time stimulating the economy. It’s crucial for the government to help small businesses because they are the backbone of the economy.

Who is eligible and what is the timing?

SME business entities and NFPs that employ workers, with aggregated annual turnover less than $50 million will be eligible with the eligibility generally be based on prior year turnover.

• The payment will be an automatic credit in the activity statement system from 28 April 2020 upon employers lodging eligible upcoming activity statements.
• Eligible employers that withhold tax on their employees’ salary and wages will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of the amount withheld, up to a maximum payment of $50,000.
• Eligible employers that pay salary and wages will receive a minimum payment of $10,000, even if they are not required to withhold tax.
• The payments will only be available to active eligible employers established prior to 12 March 2020 except charities which are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission will be eligible regardless of when they were registered, subject to meeting other eligibility requirements.

The cash flow grant for employers payment will be applied to a limited number of activity statement lodgements. The ATO will send the payment as a credit to the entity upon lodgement of their activity statements. The ATO will send the refund within 14 days if the entity is entitled to a refund.

Type of lodger	Eligible period	Lodgement due date
Quarterly	Quarter 3 (January, February and March 2020) Quarter 4 (April, May and June 2020)	28 April 2020 28 July 2020
Monthly	March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020	21 April 2020 21 May 2020 22 June 2020 21 July 2020

If you lodged quarterly, you will be eligible to receive the payment for the quarters ending March and June 2020.

If you lodged monthly, you will be eligible to receive the payment for the March, April, May and June 2020 lodgements. To provide a similar treatment to quarterly lodgers, the payment for monthly lodgers will be calculated at three times the rate (which is 300 per cent) in the March 2020 activity statement with the minimum payment will be applied to the entities’ first lodgement.

Additional payment eligibility and timing

Your entity must remain active in order to qualify for the additional payment from the Government.

If you lodged activity statements monthly, the additional payments will be delivered as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will be equal to a quarter of their total initial cash flow grant for employers payment following the lodgement of their June, July, August and September 2020 activity statements up to a total of $50,000.

If you lodged activity statements quarterly, the additional payments will be sent as an automatic credit in the activity statement system. This will be equal to half of their total initial cash flow grant for employers payment following the lodgement of their June and September 2020 activity statements up to a total of $50,000.

The additional payment will be applied to a limited number of activity statement lodgements. The ATO will send the payment as a credit to the entity upon lodgement of their activity statements. The ATO will send the refund within 14 days if the entity is entitled to a refund.

Type of lodger	Eligible period	Lodgement due date
Quarterly	Quarter 4 (April, May and June 2020) Quarter 1 (July, August and September 2020)	28 July 2020 28 October 2020
Monthly	June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020	21 July 2020 21 August 2020 22 September 2020 21 October 2020

If you lodged quarterly, you will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the quarters ending June 2020 and September 2020. Each additional payment will be equal to half of their total initial cash flow grant for employers payment with up to a total of $50,000.

If you lodged monthly, you will be eligible to receive the additional payment for the June, July, August and September 2020 lodgements. Each additional payment will be equal to a quarter of their total initial cash flow grant for Employers payment with up to a total of $50,000.

Examples of Tax-Free Payment to Employers

Example 1 – John’s Removalist Business

John owns and runs a removalist business in Western Australia and employs 10 workers on average full-time weekly earnings, who each earn $90,750 per year. John reports withholding of $15,600 for his employees on each of his monthly Business Activity Statements (BAS).

Under the Government’s measure, John will be eligible to obtain the payment on lodgement of his BAS. John’s business receives:

• A credit of $46,800 for the March period
• A credit of $3,200 for the April period, before he reaches the $50,000 cap.
• No payment for the May period, as he has now reached the $50,000 cap.
• An additional payment of $12,500 for the June, July, August and September period, respectively

Under the Government’s enhanced cash flow grant for employers measure, John’s business will receive $100,000.

Example 2 – Tony’s Barber Shop

Tony owns a barber shop on the Surfers Paradise. He employs 10 employees, with average salary of $45,000 per year. Tony reports withholding of $8,601 for his employees in each of his monthly BAS. Under the measure, Tony will be eligible to receive the payments on lodgement of his relevant BAS.

Tony’s business will receive:

• A credit of $25,803 for the March period
• A credit of $8,601 for the April and May period, respectively
• A credit of $6,995 for the June period, before he reaches the $50,000 cap. Tony will also receive an additional payment of $12,500 for the June, July, August and September period, respectively

Under the Government’s enhanced cash flow grant for employers measure, Tony’s business will receive $100,000.

Example 3 – Todd’s Courier Run

Todd owns and runs a small paper delivery business in South Australia and employs two casual employees who each earn $10,000 per year. In his quarterly BAS, Todd reports $0 withholding tax for his employees as they are under the tax-free threshold.

Under the Government’s measure, Todd will be eligible to receive the payment on lodgement of his BAS.

Todd’s business will receive:

• A credit of $10,000 for the March quarter, as he pays salary and wages but is not required to withhold tax.
• An additional payment of $5,000 for the June and September quarter, respectively

If Todd begins withholding tax for the June quarter, he would need to withhold more than $10,000 before he receives any additional payment.

Under the Government’s enhanced cash flow grant for employers measure, Todd’s business will receive $20,000.

If you know anyone in your circle who need any assistance during these times, please reach out to them because “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone”and “Together We Can Make A Difference”

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers is here to assist you and your business in time of crisis by contacting 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

The COVID-19 situation is bigger than any of us have ever faced. Our clients, professionals, mum’s and dad’s don’t understand how badly they need accountants and advisors’ help.  They are scared and don’t know what to do, and most probably haven’t really thought through what the consequences will be for them.

As a business owner, there’s one key thing you need to focus on now which is keeping your business alive during these tough times. Downturn can be scary usually because there is no plan in place for your business and the world around you appear to be panicking. There is no reason to be panicking. In times of difficulty lies an opportunity. If your cash flow is under control then so is your business.

You need to take actionable appropriate steps to create a Continuity Plan, then in reality a downturn is just a stop gap to the next upturn, where your business will be cash flow fit and ready to take full advantage.

To maintain your cash, you may need to consider options that you haven’t consider before. You need to work with your accountant to identify which key parts your business is eligible for Australian Government stimulus package and get the process started to obtain these cash flow bonuses. When you meet with your accountant, it’s important to update your business cash flow plan over the coming months.

As an employer, you need to openly discuss reduced working hours with your employees to save cash (if this does save cash) and working from home arrangements. Employees will be scared. They will need to be assured, so they need to be given an understanding of the plan to keep the business alive.

Constant communication and a payment plan with the ATO could be an option especially if you need to delay making payments of GST and PAYG Withholding Tax. However it’s vital that you keep lodging you Business Activity Statements (BAS) and Instalment Activity Statements (IAS) by their due dates. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is implementing a series of relief options to assist those impacted by the coronavirus. The relief will not be automatically applied. You can contact your accountant to contact the ATO to make any requests for assistance.

In addition, you can contact your Bank Manager as soon as possible and arrange for additional bank funding or lines of credit that can be approved now for use in an emergency. Making these arrangements early before things have gone bad is the key. Bank approvals may take up to one month or longer. Consider also using alternative funders to set up a short term line of credit now to pay for inventory and operating costs. You should consider doing this as a backup now to any other bank lending arrangements you may have.

If you have to self-quarantine or if you incapacitated in any way, you need to have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) in place so your business can continue to operate. Ensure your EPOA and Will are up to date now and ensure your family and your Accountant know where the original signed documents are.

Now is the time to contact your insurance agent to review your policy to understand precisely what you are and are not covered for in the event of an extended incident. Review your general insurance policies for any Business Interruption Insurance inclusions.

We need to stay calm and rely on reliable sources of information from State and Australian Government. In the meantime, below is the link directly to the Government Media release of the second Economic Stimulus Plan, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/supporting-australian-workers-and-business

If you have any questions or would like to seek assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers on 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au