NSW Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate
With the recent surge in Omicron cases, Australia is certainly feeling the effects of COVID-19 two years on from its first arrival in Australia. It’s a relief (albeit a small one) for many small and micro businesses in NSW to know that the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate will be around until 30 June 2022. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced the rebate program will be increased from $1,500 to $2,000, with the additional funds added to your digital voucher if your business has already applied for it.
For those who haven’t yet utilised this assistance, we wanted to provide this handy guide with plenty of warning before the expiry date and also share that certain fees and charges have newly become included in the rebate, such as road user tolls.
Who is it for?
If you are a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be able to claim the $2,000 rebate. It helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by reducing the costs of running a business. Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $2,000 is reached.
What can it assist with?
The funds provided are to assist with eligible NSW and local government fees and charges, due and paid from 1 March 2021. Commonly, these include:
- Food authority licences
- Liquor licences
- Tradesperson licences
- Event fees
- Outdoor seating fees
- Council rates
- Road user tolls for business use
However, the funds are not limited to the above-mentioned fees.
It’s important to note that the rebate cannot be used for fines or penalties, fees and charges that have the key purpose of discouraging behaviours or inducing behaviour changes, Commonwealth government charges, rent on government premises, or taxes.
There is further information regarding these limitations in the guidelines on Service NSW’s page.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:
- Have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020–21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million.
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.
Note: Only one $2,000 rebate is available for each ABN.
When making a claim
Claims require providing proof in the form of an invoice or receipt, showing that you have paid the eligible fee or charge. These claims must be submitted separately, and can only be submitted once. There are further requirements on this page, detailing when and how to submit certain claims, such as how and when to pay fees that are eligible in all quarters.
For any updates to this government assistance, we’ll be sure to let you know.
If you have any questions about whether or not you think your business is eligible for this rebate, we’re always happy to help. Just contact us here and we’ll be in touch.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This blog post contains general information only and has been prepared by Allworths without reference to your objectives, financial situation or needs. Allworths cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information contained here. By making this information available to you, we are not providing professional advice or recommendations. Before acting on any of the information contained here, you should seek professional advice.
