Part 2 — JobKeeper Payment Rules for Employers and Employees (20.04.20)
Ian Campbell • 22 April 2020
Introduction
The JobKeeper Payment will support employers to maintain their connection to their employees.
These connections will enable business to reactivate their operations quickly — without having to rehire staff — when the crisis is over.
Simplified outline
The JobKeeper scheme starts on 30 March 2020 and ends on 27 September 2020.
A business that has suffered a substantial decline in turnover can be entitled to a JobKeeper payment of $1,500 per fortnight for each eligible employee.
It is a condition of entitlement that the business has paid salary and wages of at least that amount to the employee in the fortnight.
A business can also be entitled to a JobKeeper payment of $1,500 per fortnight for one business participant who is actively engaged in operating the business.
The JobKeeper scheme is administered by the Commissioner of Taxation.
The Commissioner pays the JobKeeper payment to entities shortly after the end of each calendar month, for fortnights ending in that month.
Some of the administrative arrangements for the scheme are set out in the Act.
Downloadable Resources:

Tax time 2026: prepare before you lodge, not after the ATO asks The 2025–26 financial year has now ended. For many individuals, sole traders and small business owners, the first instinct after 1 July is to lodge quickly and wait for a refund. That can be tempting, but it is not always the best approach. This year, a safer approach is to slow down, check the records, confirm that pre-filled information is complete, and make sure any deductions are supported before lodgement. The Australian Taxation Office has access to more data than many people realise. It can compare your tax return with information from employers, banks, share registries, crypto exchanges, digital platforms, property managers and other third-party sources. Most tax issues do not arise because clients are trying to do the wrong thing. They often arise because income is forgotten, expenses are estimated, business and private costs are mixed, or records are not available when the ATO asks questions months later. This newsletter outlines the areas the ATO is likely to question in 2026 and what you can do now, after 30 June, to prepare properly. Why rushing after 1 July can create problems Lodging early can be useful if your records are simple and complete. However, many tax returns are not complete in the first few days of July. Employers, banks, health funds, government agencies, share platforms and investment providers may still be finalising their reporting. If you lodge before all information is available, you may miss income or claim deductions against incomplete data. That can lead to amendments, delays, ATO questions, interest charges or penalties. A better post-30 June approach
BUDGET 2026-27 BUDGET 2026-27 AT A GLANCE

