The Queensland State Government has provided further clarity in relation to the grant available for small business and businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality sector, affected by the latest lockdown.
This article was originally published 16 August 2021, and was edited 17 August 2021.
The Queensland State Government has provided further clarity in relation to the grant available for small business and businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality sector, affected by the latest lockdown. Further information is available here.
The clarity is in respect to the Federal Government contribution outlined here. Total grant funding available has now increased with the Federal Government topping up the QLD Government grant.
Business |
QLD grant for each business |
Federal Government top up |
Total grant available |
|
Non-Employing Sole Trader |
- |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
|
Small business |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$10,000 |
|
Small business with payroll above $1.3m |
$5,000 |
$10,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Large business with payroll above $10m |
$5,000 |
$25,000 |
$30,000 |
Eligibility Details
To access the grant, businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Employ staff (employees must be on your payroll and this does not include any business owners)
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) continuously held from 30 June 2021
- Be registered for GST
- Have a Queensland headquarters (i.e. your principal place of business is located in Queensland) and have been trading in Queensland on 31 July 2021 (*Note: This appears to be a departure from the advice previously given which stated that business’ need only operate in Queensland and be affected by the lockdowns here)
- Not be insolvent, or have owners or directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt
- Have an annual payroll of no more than $10 million (except for large businesses and not-for-profit organisations operating in an identified tourism and hospitality sector – see below) during any of the 2018–19, 2019–20 or 2020–21 financial years
- Have an annual turnover of over $75,000 during any of the 2018–19, 2019–20 or 2020–21 financial years (*Note: Businesses that have recently started operations can provide financial records to show they will reasonably meet this turnover requirement in the 2021–22 financial year)
- Demonstrate the business or not-for-profit organisation was directly or indirectly impacted by a lockdown event
- Demonstrate or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more during a nominated seven day period
- This must include at least one full day of a lockdown event when comparing against turnover achieved during the same seven day period in July or August 2019
OR - If the 2019 period does not indicate a typical weekly turnover (e.g. for a recently started small business or business that has experienced structural changes), include another comparable period (e.g. the same period in July/August 2020).
- This must include at least one full day of a lockdown event when comparing against turnover achieved during the same seven day period in July or August 2019
Large tourism and hospitality businesses and not-for-profit organisations must ensure they are undertaking business activities in any of the identified Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZIC) code industry areas (see below), and meet all eligibility criteria (although businesses in this category can have an annual payroll greater than $10 million).
ANZSIC codes
|
4400 |
Accommodation |
|
4511 |
Cafes and Restaurants |
|
4512 |
Takeaway Food Services |
|
4513 |
Catering Services |
|
4520 |
Pubs, Taverns and Bars |
|
4530 |
Clubs (Hospitality) |
|
4820 |
Water Passenger Transport |
|
5010 |
Scenic and Sightseeing Transport |
|
7220 |
Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services |
|
8910 |
Museum Operation |
|
8921 |
Zoological and Botanical Gardens Operation |
|
8922 |
Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks Operation |
|
9001 |
Performing Arts Operation |
|
9003 |
Performing Arts Venue Operation |
|
9131 |
Amusement Parks and Centres Operation |
|
9139 |
Amusement and Other Recreational Activities n.e.c. |
|
9201 |
Casino Operation |
|
9209 |
Other Gambling Activities |
Supporting information
- Reduction in turnover of 30% or more:
- Direct impact
- Complete a declaration in your application
- Indirect impact
- Submit sales turnover information from your business records for the relevant periods
OR - Rely on a dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.
- Submit sales turnover information from your business records for the relevant periods
- Direct impact
- Employ staff
- Evidence may include:
- Business financial statements, business payroll records, payroll tax return information
OR - A dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.
- Business financial statements, business payroll records, payroll tax return information
- Evidence may include:
- Annual payroll up to $10 million
- Evidence may include:
- Business payroll records and payroll tax return information
OR - A dated letter on letterhead issued by a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.
- Business payroll records and payroll tax return information
- Evidence may include:
- Annual turnover of over $75,000
- Evidence may include:
- BAS statements or Australian Taxation Office records
OR - A dated accountant letter on letterhead from a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, Institute of Public Accountants, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent.
- BAS statements or Australian Taxation Office records
- Evidence may include:
- Trading location
- To verify your trading location, you may provide:
- Publicly available web information to identify your business operations (e.g. website or social media pages)
OR - Utility bills for the business location.
- Publicly available web information to identify your business operations (e.g. website or social media pages)
- To verify your trading location, you may provide:
A template letter is provided on the website that may be utilised by your accountant. This will assist your accountant to provide you with support more quickly.
Timeframes
Grant applications are now open.
Grants will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis as historically has been the case. We encourage you to submit applications as soon as the grant opens, even if you are unsure of your eligibility. There have been instances of businesses missing out on grant funding by trying to get all aspects of their application clarified before submission.
It is expected funding will be available within two weeks of the application being approved, but no mention yet on how quickly the Government expects to process the grant.
How to Apply
You will need to apply online with supporting evidence through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) portal.
Get in touch
Please contact your local BDO adviser for further clarification on the grants available for your business or if you need any assistance with this or any other concerns you have.