Step by Step Guidelines
Here we provide you with step by step instructions on how to apply for The JobKeeper program. It is recommended that you enrol your company and eligible employees for JobKeeper payments sooner rather than later. Visit our Coronavirus Covid19 home page for more information on JobKeeper and other available financial assistance programs.
Timeline
| Date | Note |
| 1 March 2020 | Start date of the scheme, the entity must have been conducting a business and have employed at least one eligible employee. Eligible employees must be employed on this date. |
| 30 March 2020 | Start date of the first JobKeeper fortnight. |
| 20 April 2020 | Date by which enrolments will commence. |
| 31 May 2020 (updated) |
Date by which registration must occur to be eligible for the first and second “Jobkeeper fortnight” ( 30 March to 12 April and 13 April to 26 April). |
| 4 May 2020 | Lodgement confirmation of eligible employees for who you will claim JobKeeper payment commences. |
| 14 May 2020 | The date by which the first JobKeeper payment is due to be made by the Commissioner. |
| 27 Sept.2020 | Last day of Jobkeeper Payment. |
Key Steps
1. How to enrol for the JobKeeper payment:
- Step 1 – Register your interest and subscribe for JobKeeper payment updates.
- Step 2 – Check you and your employees meet the eligibility requirements.
- Step 3 – 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.)
- Step 4 – Notify your eligible employees that you are intending to claim the JobKeeper payment on their behalf. Check they aren’t claiming JobKeeper payment through another employer or have nominated through another business.
- Step 5 – Send the JobKeeper employee nomination notice to your nominated employees to complete and return to you by the end of April if you plan to claim JobKeeper payment for April. Keep it on file and provide a copy to AustAsia Group if we are assisting you with the application.
- Step 6 – From 20 April 2020, you can enrol with the ATO for the JobKeeper payment using the Business Portal and authenticate with myGovID. You must do this by the end of May(updated) to claim JobKeeper payments for April.
- Step 7 – In the online form, provide your bank details and indicate if you are claiming an entitlement based on business participation, for example if you are a sole trader.
- Step 8 – 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).
2. Confirmation of eligible employees you will claim JobKeeper Payment for. (Available from 4 May 2020 onwards)
How to claim JobKeeper payments for your eligible employees:
- Step 1 – Apply for the JobKeeper program by logging in to the ATO Business PortalExternal Link
- Step 2 – Ensure you have paid each eligible employee a minimum of $1,500 per JobKeeper fortnight before tax.
- Step 3 – Identify your eligible employees in the application form by:
- Selecting employee details that are prefilled from your STP pay reports if you report payroll information through an STP enabled payroll solution.
- Manually entering employee details in ATO online services or the Business Portal if you do not use an STP enabled payroll solution.
- The report can be submitted through us as your tax agent
- Step 4 – Submit the confirmation of your eligible employees online and wait for the confirmation screen.
- Step 5 – Notify your eligible employees you have nominated them.
- Step 6 – The Commissioner will pay you the JobKeeper payment for all eligible employees after receiving your application.
- Step 7 – Each month, you will need to reconfirm that your reported eligible employees have not changed through ATO online services, the Business Portal or via AustAsia Group. (If we are assisting you with the application.) This will ensure you will continue to receive the JobKeeper payments from the Commissioner. You do not need to re-test your reported fall in turnover, however, you will need to provide some information as to your current and projected turnover. This will be done in your monthly JobKeeper Declaration report.
- Step 8 – If your eligible employees change or leave your employment, you will need to notify the ATO through your monthly JobKeeper Declaration report.
If you use the ATO Business Portal, you will need a myGovID linked to your ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM). You can find out how to set this up at ato.gov.au/mygovid
