ACT COVID-19 Business Support Measures & Eligibility

Contents

• COVID-19 Business Support Grant
• COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme – up to $10,000
• Accommodation and Tourism Venue Operator support program – up to $75,000
• Small Tourism Operator COVID Recovery Payment – up to $15,000

COVID-19 Business Support Grant

The ACT COVID-19 Business Support Grant will deliver grants of $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses. The grants will be available to local businesses that have experienced at least aa 30 per cent reduction in turnover due to restricted trading conditions.

Eligibility

Eligible businesses will need:

• To be registered in the ACT as verified by an ABN and able to demonstrate primary operation in the ACT as at 1 April 2021
• Have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 (excluding GST)
• Be registered for GST as recorded on the ABR before 1 April 2021; and
• Have total Australian payroll of less than $10 million.

How to Apply

Applications are expected to be made available of the ACT Government's Business Hub Website. The timeframes for this support grant are currently being revised in consultation with the Commonwealth given the changing COVID-19 situation.

COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme – up to $10,000

Eligible small businesses will soon be able to apply to the ACT Government to receive credits for payroll tax, utility charges, rates and other selected fees and charges up to a maximum of $10,000 per operator. To be eligible for credits the applicant must be able to demonstrate 30 per cent loss in revenue.

This scheme is for small businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $10 million per annum.

Small businesses can apply for up to $10,000 of support in the form of credit:

1. 1. Payroll tax
2. 2. Utilities
3. 3. Rates
4. 4. A range of business licence fees and charges.

We expect more details in relation to this measure to be updated on the ACT Government's Business Hub Website.

Accommodation and Tourism Venue Operator support program – up to $75,000

Accommodation providers and private tourism venue operators who have experienced a 30 per cent reduction in revenue in July 2021 compared to April 2021 can receive a full rebate on their fixed water and sewerage charges for the first two quarters of 2021-22.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the rebate, businesses must be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent loss of revenue in July 2021 compared to April 2021, and be either:

• an accommodation provider, e.g., hotels, motels and serviced apartments; or
• a private tourism venue operator, e.g., venues whose primary business is to attract tourists.

The rebate will be paid on a per account basis. Businesses will only need to submit one application even if they hold multiple accounts, as long as the application includes details of all relevant Icon Water accounts.

How to Apply

Eligible businesses will need to complete an online application by 17 September 2021.

For detailed eligibility criteria and details outlining the information to be provided within your application, see the fact sheet here.

Small Tourism Operator COVID Recovery Payment – up to $15,000

The purpose of the Small Tourism Operator COVID Recovery Payment is to provide support for accommodation providers, events venues and tourism operators affected by ongoing border closures due to COVID-19.

Eligible businesses can apply for reimbursement of up to $15,000 per ABN for eligible expenses incurred in June and July 2021.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the rebate the applicant must be able to demonstrate 30 per cent loss of revenue in July 2021 compared to April 2021.

Eligibility is set out in three categories:

1. Tourism businesses with a turnover between $75,000 and $10m per annum (can apply up to $15,000 plus GST)

Eligible business must be:

• Tour and transport operators and private attractions; or
• Small accommodation and tourism venue operators (hotel and accommodation operators with less than 60 flushing fixtures)
• Registered in the ACT as verified by an ABN and able to demonstrate primary operation in the ACT as at 1 April 2021
• Have an annual turnover between $75,00 and $10 million
• Registered for GST before April 2021
• Have incurred and can demonstrate 30% loss of revenue compared to April 2021
• Primary business is a tourism provider within the ACT
• Have an Australian Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing
• Have current Public Liability Insurance coverage to a minimum level of $10,000,000
• Have satisfactorily acquitted all previous grants provided by Economic Development Division (except for current grant programs), including financial acquittals for any other ACT Government agency grant.

2. Tourism businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 per annum (can apply up to $15,000 plus GST)

Eligible business must be:

• Registered in the ACT as verified by an ABN and able to demonstrate primary operation in the ACT as at 1 April 2021
• Have incurred and can demonstrate 30 per cent loss of revenue compared to April 2021
• You are a small business that consistently has an average turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 per annum
• Primary business is as a tourism provider within the ACT
• Have an Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing
• Have satisfactorily acquitted all previous grants provided by Economic Development Division (except for current grant programs), including financial acquittals for any other ACT Government agency grant.

3. Seasonal Tourism Businesses (can apply up to $15,000 plus GST)

Businesses that are seasonal (eg. winter) should contact Economic Development Division as you may still be eligible to apply if:

• Registered in the ACT as verified by an ABN and able to demonstrate primary operation in the ACT as at April 2021; and
• You have incurred and can demonstrate 30 per cent loss of revenue comparable to a similar time period in 2019 or 2020 (eg. July 2021 revenue losses are to be compared with revenues earned in July 2019 or July 2020)
• May be registered for GST before April 2021 as recorded on the Australian Business Register;
• Primary business is as a tourism provider within the ACT
• Have an Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing
• Have satisfactorily acquitted all previous grants provided by Economic Development Division (except for current grant programs), including financial acquittals for any other ACT Government agency grant.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the SmartyGrants Portal. Applications close 17 September 2021. Guidelines and more information for this Grant can be found here.

The above details are based on the information available on ACT Government’s website as at 17 August 2021. As details are continually being updated in response to the on-going impact of COVID-19, we recommend you continue to check the government website to ensure you are kept up to date with the current information available.

If you require assistance in determining your eligibility, assistance with the application process or an Accountant’s Letter, our team at BLG Business Advisers are Wollongong Accountants and are here to help so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We wish you and your business every success!

*This information is relevant at the time of publishing and is subject to change*