As discussed here and here, the superannuation guarantee (SG) amnesty allowed employers to disclose and pay previously unpaid SG charge, including nominal interest, for the quarters between 1 July 1992 to 31 March 2018 without incurring the administration component ($20 per employee per quarter) or Part 7 penalties. In addition, payments of SG charge made to the ATO under the amnesty were tax deductible.
Sladen Snippet - Sweet victory for Mondelez after High Court rules on the meaning of ‘day’ for personal / carer’s leave
Sladen Snippet - ATO releases PSLA in relation to when it will remit super guarantee penalties once the amnesty period ends
In anticipation of the conclusion of the superannuation guarantee (SG) amnesty (discussed here) on 7 September 2020, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released a draft Law Administration Practice Statement PS LA 2020/D1 (PSLA 2020/D1) in relation to how, post amnesty, the ATO officers may exercise their discretion to remit Part 7 penalties.
Sladen Snippet - JobKeeper 1.0 extension – new employees from 1 July 2020
Sladen snippet - dentist found to be “employee” for the purposes of superannuation guarantee
In the recent decision of Dental Corporation Pty Ltd v Moffet [2020] FCAFC 118 (16 June 2020) , the Full Federal Court found that a dentist fell within the extended definition of ‘employee’ under s12(3) of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) (SG Act). Section 12(3) broadly provides that an employee is a person who is working ‘under a contract that is wholly or principally for the labour of the person.’
Employers can use JobKeeper to Offset Annual Leave Liabilities
JobKeeper is not just a financial subsidy for qualifying employers. We previously wrote about the extraordinary powers that employers help get them to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic (or at least until September when the JobKeeper scheme is scheduled to end).
Can you make your employees download the COVIDSafe App?
Many businesses around the country are eagerly anticipating being able to trade again. For some employers, this has included encouraging employees and customers to download the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe App. Questions have risen around whether employers can require their employees to download the COVIDSafe App before returning to work.
COVID-19 disruptions on your workforce and how it can shift your payroll tax liabilities to another jurisdiction
The COVID-19 crisis has introduced unprecedented disruptions to the workforce, pushing employees and employers to work in remote capacities and in expedited ways across many industries.
This will mean that employers will soon have to turn their minds to considerations never contemplated before, such as their base line payroll tax assumptions and whether or not changes in the ways we will be working in the coming months, will shift payroll tax liabilities to a different jurisdiction. We explore these questions further in this article.
COVID-19: JobKeeper – further details on Alternative Decline in turnover test
As part of the continued economic response to COVID-19, the Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently made a determination pursuant to subsection 20(4) of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020, outlining further tests under which an entity may satisfy the decline in turnover required in order to receive JobKeeper payments. This article discusses the various new “alternative” tests that an entity may utilise under the determination.
COVID-19: “JobKeeper is Go” - legislation passed
Employment Law Benefits of JobKeeper
COVID-19 – State and Territory Payroll Tax Stimulus Measures
State and territory revenue offices continue to make announcements in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Relevant to many businesses will be the numerous payroll tax changes. The changes include waivers and deferrals for eligible businesses as well as the bringing forward of cuts to tax-free thresholds in some jurisdictions.
COVID-19: further detail on JobKeeper payments
Further to my article on the COVID-19 JobKeeper measure, and pending the release of legislation, on 5 April 2020 Treasury further updated and expanded its JobKeeper fact sheets and included a ‘frequently asked questions’ (FAQ) document.
Sladen Snippet: COVID-19: ‘JobKeeper’ support payment
As foreshadowed in our earlier article, on 30 March 2020 the Federal Government announced further COVID-19 business support – the JobKeeper Payment.
Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses significantly affected by Coronavirus outbreak be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees.
Unfair Dismissal Update - Is Long Service A Get Out Of Jail Free Card?
The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has issued a timely reminder that a lengthy period of service is not a “get out of jail free card” for an employee when challenging the fairness of their dismissal in BlueScope Steel Ltd v Habak [2019] FWCFB 5702.
Sladen Snippet - Alert! Does your business pay annualised salaries to award-covered employees?
Sladen Snippet - Minimum Wage Decision – 3% Increase
Will employment laws change after the election?
Payroll tax cuts in regional Victoria
Thousands of businesses across regional Victoria have already taken advantage of the Victorian Government’s regional payroll tax cuts, which have saved businesses more than $31 million in the first financial year it was introduced.