Registrations open for JobMaker Hiring Credit

ELIGIBLE employers are now able to register for the new JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme, being administered by the Austrlaian Taxation Office (ATO) on behalf of the Federal Government.

The JobMaker Hiring Credit payment is a wage subsidy paid directly to employers that aims to help accelerate growth in the employment of young people during the COVID-19 economic recovery. The scheme is an incentive for businesses to employ additional job seekers aged 16 to 35 years.

Eligible employers can access the payment for up to 12 months for each eligible additional employee they hire between October 7, 2020 and October 6, 2021. They will be able to claim up to $200 a week for each additional eligible employee they hire aged 16 to 29 years, and up to $100 a week for those aged 30 to 35 years.  

This means an employer will be eligible for up to a total of $10,400 over the year for each eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years or $5,200 if aged 30 to 35 years.

Deputy Commissioner James O’Halloran said the ATO was working hard to make it as easy as possible for employers to access the government’s JobMaker Hiring Credit payment.

“The ATO is here to support employers and the community to easily access important economic stimulus like the JobMaker Hiring Credit,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Mr O’Halloran encouraged businesses to check their eligibility and take this first step to register for the scheme from this week and then employers would be ready to move to quickly make a claim in February 2021.

"You cannot claim if you are not registered," he said.

“We encourage employers to register from now to ensure their hiring credits can be paid promptly from when the first quarterly claim period opens in February 2021,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“Employers are reminded that new employees must have received the Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance (Other) or JobSeeker Payment for at least 28 consecutive days (or two fortnights) within the 84 days (or six fortnights) of being hired to allow for a claim to be made by the employer.

“There are some key dates to keep in mind, and simple steps employers can take now, but please remember that not everything needs to be done from next week.”

• Employers and employees must meet eligibility requirements to receive the payment.
• Employees must be aged 16 to 35 years. 
• Employees must have started employment between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021 (inclusive) and 
• Employees need to have completed a minimum average of 20 hours (worked or paid) per week during the time they were employed in the JobMaker period.

“I encourage employers seeking advice on the JobMaker Hiring Credit to contact their tax or BAS agent, or call us on our dedicated help line 13 28 66,” Mr O'Halloran said.

ATO's key dates to remember:

• The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme started on 7 October 2020.
• You may be able to claim for employees hired between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021.
• You can register from 7 December 2020 through ATO online services, the Business Portal or your registered tax or BAS agent. 
• Claims for the first quarterly payment will open on 1 February 2021.
• The last day you are able to claim for employees is 6 October 2021.
• If you hire an employee on 6 October 2021, you are able to claim for payment to 6 October 2022.
• The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme will end on 6 October 2022.

More information on the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme is available from our website at https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobMaker-Hiring-Credit/

ends