Budget 2020/2021: Changes to Businesses - JobMaker Hiring Credit

The Government will introduce a JobMaker Hiring Credit to incentivise businesses to take on additional young job seekers.

From 7 October 2020, eligible employers will be able to claim $200 a week for each additional eligible employee they hire aged 16 to 29 years old and $100 a week for each additional eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years old. New jobs created until 6 October 2021 will attract the credit for up to 12 months from the date the new position is created.

The JobMaker Hiring Credit will be claimed quarterly in arrears by the employer from the ATO from 1 February 2021. Employers will need to report quarterly that they meet the eligibility criteria. The amount of the credit is capped at $10,400 for each additional new position created. Furthermore, the total credit claimed by an employer cannot exceed the amount of the increase in payroll for the reporting period in question (see employer eligibility requirements below).

Who is an eligible employee?

Employees may be employed on a permanent, casual or fixed term basis.

To be an ‘eligible employee’, the employee must:

• be aged (i.e., at the time their employment started) either:
  • 16 to 29 years old, to attract the payment of $200 per week; or
  • 30 to 35 years old to attract the payment of $100 per week;
• have worked at least 20 paid hours per week on average for the full weeks they were employed over the reporting period;

• have commenced their employment during the period from 7 October 2020 to 6 October 2021;
• have received the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other), or Parenting Payment for at least one month within the past three months before they were hired; and
• be in their first year of employment with this employer and must be employed for the period that the employer is claiming for them.

Certain exclusions apply, including employees for whom the employer is also receiving a wage subsidy under another Commonwealth program.

Who is an eligible employer?

An employer is able to access the JobMaker Hiring Credit if the employer:

• has an ABN;
• is up to date with tax lodgement obligations;
• is registered for Pay As You Go withholding;
• is reporting through Single Touch Payroll;
• is claiming in respect of an ‘eligible employee’;
• has kept adequate records of the paid hours worked by the employee they are claiming the hiring credit in respect of; and
• is able to demonstrate that the credit is claimed in respect of an additional job that has been created.

Broadly, there must be an increase in the business’ total employee headcount and also in the payroll of the business for the reporting period (based on a comparison over a specified reference period).

Employers do not need to satisfy a fall in turnover test to access the JobMaker Hiring Credit.

Certain employers are excluded, including those who are claiming the JobKeeper payment.

New employers created after 30 September 2020 are not eligible for the first employee hired but are (potentially) eligible for the second and subsequent eligible hires.

For any clarification or any queres you may have please call the office on 07 4151 8898.

The information used is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors. The information contained is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity and is not to be relied upon by individuals or any other entity in making financial or investment decisions. Individuals and other entities should seek appropriate professional advice tailored to their circumstances in making financial decisions. Although The Money Edge has taken care in creating this document, no guarantee is given as to its accuracy, currency or correctness. The Money Edge is under no obligation to update any information included in this document. To the extent permissible by law, The Money Edge and its associated entities shall not be held liable for any for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information contained in this document, or any loss or damage, however caused, suffered or incurred by persons who rely on information in this document for any purpose.