In response to JobKeeper, the following are some queries raised by churches:
 

1.  Exempt Benefits can form part of the $1,500?
Churches should treat their Exempt Benefits like normal. If your church has to top-up to $1,500 per fortnight and the normal practice is 50% taxable and 50% Exempt Benefits, then the split should be $750/$750. The church does not have to pay superannuation on the additional amount, above normal Stipend.
 

2.  ‘One in, all in’ principle: Once an employer decides to participate in the JobKeeper scheme and their eligible employees have agreed to be nominated by the employer, the employer must ensure that all of these eligible employees are covered by their participation in the scheme. This includes all eligible employees who are undertaking work for the employer or have been stood down. The employer cannot select which eligible employees will participate in the scheme.
 

3.  Single Touch Payroll (STP) is the means by which eligible employees are reported to the ATO.  If you use STP software and have not processed a pay run after flagging your eligible employees, you may need to process a nil pay run and do a STP submission (ensuring that no leave entitlements are accrued with this) so that these employees are reported to the ATO
 

4.  The Cash Flow Boost does not get included in the GST Turnover calculation
 

5.  Dedicated Bank Hotlines:  Treasurer (Josh Frydenberg) spoke with the ‘Big 4’ banks and they have agreed to establish dedicated Hotlines for employers to call in relation to accessing bridging finance.   Bank Hotline numbers are:

• Westpac – 1300 731 073
• NAB – 1800 562 533 (1800 JOBKEEPER)
• CBA – 13 26 07
• ANZ – 1800 571 123

Also, BFS is actively supporting all partner churches through COVID-19 and we would encourage you to contact Jeremy Peet on 0409 862 178 for any assistance.

 

6.  Monthly Reporting One of the requirements of the JobKeeper scheme is the monthly declaration of your entity’s prior month turnover, as well as the projected turnover for the next month. The ATO have made clear that these figures are not for the purposes of determining your eligibility for JobKeeper, but rather an indication of how your business is progressing. Once qualified, it goes for entire duration of the scheme.

As part of this reporting process, you will also be asked to confirm the number of employees that JobKeeper is being claimed for.

The monthly reporting form is now available through the Business Portal, and should be lodged as soon as possible.

 

Calendar of important dates coming up (For the first two JobKeeper fortnights)

JobKeeper fortnight	If you want to claim JobKeeper fortnight	Pay employees by	Enrol	Employee Nomination	Identify eligible employees	Monthly declaration
1	30 March – 12 April	8 May	Before 31 May	Before you identify the employees to us or earlier	Available from 4 May You must have enrolled and paid your eligible employees $1500 per fortnight (before tax) Complete before 31 May
2	13 April – 26 April	8 May

 

For more specific and up to date information on how to Enrol, Identify and Declare, and key dates, please see https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/JobKeeper-guides/

Source: BUV News