JobKeeper extensions – April payments to 8 May and enrolments to 31 May

The ATO has extended the deadlines for businesses to enrol for the initial JobKeeper periods and to pay the first JobKeeper Payments.

The deadline for businesses to enrol for the initial JobKeeper periods has been extended from 30 April 2020 to 31 May 2020. Businesses that meet the 31 May 2020 deadline will still be able to claim for the fortnights in April and May, provided they meet all the eligibility requirements for each of those fortnights. This includes having paid their employees by the appropriate date for each fortnight.

Further, affected businesses will now have until 8 May 2020 to ensure that all eligible employees receive a minimum of $3000 in gross wages for the first two fortnights of the JobKeeper support period (that is, 30 March 2020 to 12 April 2020 and 13 April 2020 to 26 April 2020). This extension does not negate the obligation on businesses to pay eligible employees $1500 in each JobKeeper fortnight.

If employees are paid less frequently than fortnightly, the payment can be allocated between fortnights in a reasonable manner. For example, on a monthly pay cycle, employees must have received the monthly equivalent of $1500 per JobKeeper fortnight.

Claims for JobKeeper payments for the first two fortnights will open from Monday 4 May and will require eligibility declarations, confirmation of eligible employees and reporting of actual and projected monthly turnover.