Step-by-step guide to applying for JobKeeper payment

We have summarised for you all the steps you need to follow to register for JobKeeper Payments and stay eligible:

Get ready

  • Register your interest with the ATO (you have probably already done this).

Get eligible

  • Asses eligibility as an employer. 30% decline in turnover or alternate test.
  • Notify and nominate eligible employees. Employee to complete JobKeeper Nomination form and return to employer. Business Participant Nomination form to be completed.
  • Ensure at least $1500 per person paid per fornight. Top up if necessary.

Get April payments

  • Register using Business Portal and myGovID. From 20th April. Before 31st May.
  • Specify cumber of eligible employees. Fornights ending 12th and 26 April.
  • Top up payments if needed to $1500 per fornight per person. By 8th May.

Ongoing reporting

  • Confirm contuning to claim. ATO Business Portal or manually.
  • Confirm number of eligible employees. STP, manually or tax agent.
  • Keep making payments. $1500 per fornight per person.
  • Advise monthly turnover. Actual and projected within 7 days of EOM.

Key dates

Key dates are as follows

8 May 2020 —
Date you need to have paid the minimum amount to all eligible employees (this has been extended from 30 April)
31 May 2020 —
Enrol for JobKeeper with ATO to qualify for the initial fortnights of JobKeeper but you can enrol for later months at a later date (this has been extended from 30 April)

Step 1: Get ready

Register your interest on the ATO website and subscribe to receive JobKeeper payment updates (you have probably already done this). Also stay up to date with our blogs, webinars and related content.

Step 2: Get eligible

2a) Check employer eligibility

Assess if you are an Eligible Employer for the JobKeeper payments.

See ATO — Eligible employers page for the details.

2b) Check employee eligibility

Confirm your employee/s are Eligible Employees under the JobKeeper Payment Scheme.

See ATO — Your eligible employees page for the details.

2c) Minimum payments

Continue to pay at least $1,500 to each eligible employee per JobKeeper fortnight (the first JobKeeper fortnight is the period from 30 March to 12 April). You have until 8th May (previously 26th April) to catch up on the previous 2 fortnights.

2d) Notify employees

Notify your Eligible Employees that you are intending to claim the JobKeeper payment on their behalf and confirm they are not claiming JobKeeper Payment through another employer or have nominated through another business.

2e) Nomination notice form

Send the JobKeeper Employee Nomination Notice Form to your nominated employees to complete (see attached). This needs to be returned by the end of April if you plan to claim JobKeeper payment for April:

  • Keep it on file and provide a copy to your bookkeeper
  • This form does not need to be lodged with the ATO.
  • JobKeeper factsheet should you wish to provide it to your employees with the nomination form.

Step 3: Get April payments

3a) Register for JobKeeper

From 20 April 2020, you can enrol for the JobKeeper payment using the Business Portal and authenticate with myGovID. If you would like some help, we are here and can lodge it on your behalf if we are your tax agent!

*You must enrol by 31 May (previously 30 the April) to claim the JobKeeper payments for the 4 weeks ending 26th April 2020.

3b) Register employees

Specify the estimated number of employees who will be eligible for the first JobKeeper fortnight (30 March – 12 April) and the second JobKeeper fortnight (13 April – 26 April).

Step 4: Ongoing payments

4a) Apply to claim

Apply to claim the JobKeeper payment by logging in to the ATO Business Portal.

4b) Check paid minimum pays

Ensure you have paid each eligible employee a minimum of $1,500 per JobKeeper fortnight before tax (first JobKeeper fortnight commences 30th March).

4c) Identify eligible employees

Identify your eligible employees by either:

  • selecting employee details that are prefilled from your STP (Single Touch Payroll) pay reports if you report payroll information through a STP enabled payroll solution, or
  • manually entering employee details in ATO online services or the Business Portal if you do not use an STP enabled payroll solution, or
  • using a registered tax agent (like us) who will submit a report on your behalf through Online services for agents.

4d) Submit with ATO

Submit the confirmation of your eligible employees online and wait for the confirmation screen.

4e) Notify employees

Notify your eligible employees you have nominated them.

4f) Receive payment

The ATO will pay you the JobKeeper payment for all eligible employees after receiving your application.

4g) Reconfirm each month and report income

Each month, you will need to reconfirm that your reported eligible employees have not changed through ATO online services, the Business Portal or via your registered tax agent. This will ensure you will continue to receive the JobKeeper payments from us. NB: You do not need to retest your reported fall in turnover, but you will need to provide some information as to your current and projected turnover. This will be done in your monthly JobKeeper Declaration report (which again we would be happy to help with).

4h) Notify of changes to eligible employees

If your eligible employees change or leave your employment, you will need to notify ATO through your monthly JobKeeper Declaration report.