QLD releases COVID-19 business support package

There is QLD COVID-19 business support available. The Queensland State Government has released a business support package to ease the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The State Government has mainly focused on providing assistance through the payroll tax relief, as the intention is to help businesses keep their employees on the payroll.

QLD has decided to extend its small business 6-months tax deferral program to all businesses in the state.

A $1 Billion concessional loan facility will also be made available to affected businesses.

As part of the Queensland Governments response to COVID-19, a $1 billion loan scheme was delivered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) between March and September 2020. Now closed, the scheme has assisted 7,000 Queensland businesses and supported 86,000 local jobs.
If you now have a COVID-19 Loan with QRIDA you can find important information regarding the ongoing management of your loan on the QRIDA COVID-19 Jobs Support Loan page. A wide range of other government assistance remains available for Queensland businesses impacted by COVID-19, please visit www.business.qld.gov.au for more information.

Details:

Payroll tax relief package | QLD COVID-19 business support

You may be eligible for one or more of a range of payroll tax relief measures as a result of the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

These include:

• – refunds of payroll tax for 2 months
• – a payroll tax holiday for 3 months
• – deferral of paying payroll tax for the 2020 calendar year.

Eligibility

If you are an employer (or part of a group of employers) who pays $6.5 million or less in Australian taxable wages, you may receive an email about a:

• – a refund of your payroll tax for 2 months
• – a payroll tax holiday (i.e. no payroll tax to be paid) for 3 months.

You can also apply for a deferral of payroll tax for the 2020 calendar year. (If you have already applied for a deferral, you do not need not reapply – it will be extended.)

If you do not receive an email, or you are unsure about your eligibility, complete the refund/holiday application form.

If you are an employer (or part of a group of employers) who pays more than $6.5 million in Australian taxable wages and have been negatively affected (directly or indirectly) by coronavirus, you can apply for a:

• – deferral of payroll tax for the 2020 calendar year (If you have already applied for a deferral, you do not need not reapply – it will be extended.)
• – refund of your payroll tax for 2 months.

A business is directly or indirectly affected by coronavirus if their current turnover, profit, customers, bookings, retail sales, supply contracts or other factors are negatively affected compared with normal operating conditions.

How to apply

There are 2 online application forms.

Apply for deferral

Apply for refund/holiday (You must apply for this one before 31 May 2020.)

What happens next

Once your applications have been processed, you will receive an email with instructions on what you need to do.

• – You won’t need to pay payroll tax returns for the 2020 calendar year.
• – You must continue to lodge returns in OSRconnect – without paying them – during this time.
• – You can resume paying returns at any time during the deferral period.

Related links

• – Find out about coronavirus small business support.
• – Read the media release about support for businesses.

Read more about the payroll tax relief package.

Queensland COVID-19 jobs support loans | QLD COVID-19 business support

You may be eligible for a loan to retain employees and maintain your operations.

The $1 Billion concessional loan facility will include low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff.

Register your interest through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority or phone 1800 623 946.

Small and medium business power bill relief | QLD COVID-19 business support

Small and medium businesses may be eligible for a $500 rebate off energy bills.

Businesses who consume less than 100,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) will receive the rebate. This will be automatically applied on your business electricity bills.

Business pandemic management guide

Read our information on pandemic risk management for business.

Business rent relief

Businesses who rent state government premises may be eligible for rent relief. More information will be available soon.

Industry support

The Industry Support Package will assist large businesses through this period to ensure they will be able to scale up and service the community when economic activity improves. Email COVID19ISP@treasury.qld.gov.au for more information.

Market diversification and resilience grants are available for Queensland agriculture, food and fishing exporters and their critical supply chain partners, as well as industry organisations working with exporters.

Read further support and advice for:

• – cleaning and disinfecting your environment
• – clinicians and healthcare workers
• – commercial fishers
• – commercial tourism operators working in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service-managed areas
• – food and grocery businesses
• – linen management in healthcare and linen services
• – liquor and gaming licensees
• – waste management in healthcare facilities and waste contractors.

Read more about the Immediate Industry Recovery Package.

Mentoring sessions

The Mentoring for Growth program currently has more than 50 mentors ready to connect with impacted small businesses.

Mentors are available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning.

Register your interest in a Mentoring for Growth session.

Contact 1300 654 687 or m4g@desbt.qld.gov.au for more information.

Financial workshops

Small businesses can access a series of workshops to learn about financial management and business planning.

Delivered by TAFE Queensland, workshops will provide you with practical tools and skills to build business resilience. You will also have an opportunity to connect and network with other small businesses facing similar issues.

Workshops will be delivered in several locations to support a place-based approach for the local small business community.

Register for workshops in a location near you.

Details of other workshop times and locations will be posted on this website soon.

For other locations, register your interest by contacting 1300 654 687 or info@desbt.qld.gov.au.

See the latest updates on COVID-19 and how it may affect you here.