Viewing entries in
Business

JobKeeper Alert - what you need to know

JobKeeper Alert - what you need to know

Employers need to ensure that they identify all additional employees who could be eligible for JobKeeper to ensure that they comply with the "one in, all in" principle and that they meet the nomination requirements.

Has the pandemic affected the value of your business?

Has the pandemic affected the value of your business?

To understand the value of a business, the pandemic necessitates a depth of investigation beyond the norm. You cannot simply ignore the pandemic and rely on pre-pandemic performance and financials, even if you are enthusiastic about the future

How do you forecast during a pandemic?

How do you forecast during a pandemic?

Businesses fail (or fail to thrive) for a myriad of reasons, but the precursor is often a failure to understand what is occurring and what to monitor. Strategically, managers need to be on top of their numbers to identify and manage problems before they get out of hand. If you do not know what the key drivers of your business are - the things that make the difference between doing well and going under - then it’s time to find out.

LMP update - we are still here for you

LMP update - we are still here for you

Due to Stage 4 restrictions, we will all be working from home as of tomorrow - Thursday 6 August 2020.

Please rest assured we can still be contacted on our normal office number and email addresses. If you are unsure of who to email please email info@lmp.com.au or contact your regular team member.

JobKeeper 2.0: What you need to know

JobKeeper 2.0: What you need to know

The second tranche of the JobKeeper scheme changes the eligibility test for employers and the method and amount paid to employees.

Termination payments and JobKeeper

Termination payments and JobKeeper

For some employers, JobKeeper will not be enough to keep the employee employed. If you do need to let staff go, the ATO has stated that from JobKeeper fortnights from 8 June onwards until the end of the scheme, ETPs cannot be included as part of the $1,500 an employer needs to pay to eligible employees to access JobKeeper payments.

The ATO on COVID-19 fraud warpath

The ATO on COVID-19 fraud warpath

Two major Australian Taxation Office (ATO) initiatives are searching out fraud and schemes designed to take advantage of the Government’s Coronavirus Economic Response Package.

Greater flexibility and options for Paid Parental leave if you're self employed

Greater flexibility and options for Paid Parental leave if you're self employed

From 1 July 2020, parents accessing the Government’s parental leave pay (PPL) scheme will have greater flexibility and options.

Targeting the self-employed and small business owners, the changes introduce a new flexible paid parental leave pay period of 30 days.

Previously, new parents could apply for PPL for a continuous block of up to 18 weeks. The changes split this time period into two:

  • A continuous period of up to 12 weeks, and

  • 30 flexible days.

Parents can take the 18 weeks in one block or, under the new rules, take the 12 week period and then use the additional 30 days at a period and in a way that suits them but before the child turns 2 years of age. For example, assume that when Jane, who works five days per week, has a child, she initially claims 12 weeks. Jane returns to work part time for three days per week. In that case, Jane would apply to be paid parental leave pay on the two days per week that she is not working.

The administration of the PPL will change in some scenarios. For Jane’s case above, the employer would administer the scheme for the first 12 weeks but then the Government would directly pay Jane for her flexible days.

If an employee wishes to access flexible parental leave pay, they will need to negotiate time off work or a part time return to work with their employer. If the employer is unable to accommodate the request, then the employee may take the 18 weeks as one block.

The changes to the paid parental leave scheme apply to babies born on or after 1 July 2020. The scheme commences from 1 April 2020 to give parents applying for leave the flexibility to use the new arrangements (but only if their child is born on or after 1 July 2020).

Minimum wage increases by 1.75%

Minimum wage increases by 1.75%

An increase to the minimum wage of 1.75% will start rolling out for the first full pay period from 1 July 2020.

The increase applies to minimum rates in awards in 3 stages

Let's talk about the ATO's JobKeeper audit targets

Let's talk about the ATO's JobKeeper audit targets

The JobKeeper subsidy has progressed beyond the rush for eligibility and entered its second phase: compliance. Late last month, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released guidance highlighting where the regulator will focus its compliance resources.

Working from home – The ATO shortcut method and what is best for you

Working from home – The ATO shortcut method and what is best for you

Last week the ATO announced a temporary simplified ‘short cut’ method aimed to make it easier for individual taxpayers to claim tax deductions for additional expenses incurred as a result of working from home due to the current pandemic – Covid-19 or Coronavirus.

Support for your business - grants and assistance

Support for your business - grants and assistance

The Victorian Government has launched the $500 million Business Support Fund to help small businesses survive the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and keep people in work.

ATO introduces MyGov ID

ATO introduces MyGov ID

For those of you not are not aware, the ATO have set up a new way of accessing their online services called MyGov ID

Coronavirus Special Update - March 2020

Coronavirus Special Update - March 2020

The following is a broad summary of the key aspects of the Federal Government’s stimulus package in response to the Coronavirus, as recently announced and enacted.