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The Western Australian Government announced this week, further stimulus actions to help Western Australians

The small business relief includes:

• $17,500 grants for small businesses with a payroll between $1 million and $4 million.
• The $1 million payroll tax threshold (announced in October 2019) will be brought forward by six months to 1 July 2020.

Grants of $17,500 will automatically be paid by cheque to eligible businesses from July, however you should log in to Revenue Online to ensure your postal address is up to date. There may be delays for those whose tax status changed in 2018-19 or liability for payroll tax changed in 2018-19 or 2019-20.

• Anyone who has become unemployed as a result of COVID-19 will become eligible for a concession card as part of the energy assistance payment in a $25 million initiative
• No households will have their power or water switched off if they are experiencing financial hardship and interest will be charged on deferred bill payments
• Keystart customers will be able to defer payments for up to six months

• One-off $2,500 credit on electricity bills for small businesses that consume less than 50MWh per annum. For more information read the statements on the Synergy and Horizon Power websites.
• Power and water disconnections will not occur and interest will not be charged on deferred payments until 30 September for small businesses facing financial difficulty due to COVID-19. Please note: This applies to Synergy and Horizon Power customers.
• Payroll tax will be waived for four months for businesses with annual wages under $7.5 million (NB: this replaces the previous payroll deferral measure which was announced).
• Affected businesses can apply for interest free payment arrangements and for late payment penalties to be waved for a range of taxes and duties, including payroll tax, transfer duty, landholder duty, vehicle licence duty or land tax.
• A range of business licence fees have been waived, including liquor licence renewal fees for 2020, which will be waived and refunds given to businesses that have already paid.
• There will be a reduction in electricity bills for 2800 charities and a one-off $2500 credit available for groups on certain tariffs with Synergy and Horizon Power

Land Tax Assistance for Landlords (announced 23 April)

The WA Government has launched a $100 million Land Tax Assistance for Landlords program, offering grants to commercial landlords. To be eligible, they must provide rent relief for a minimum of three months and freeze outgoings to small businesses that have suffered at least a 30 per cent reduction in turnover due to COVID-19. Grants equivalent to 25 per cent of the landlord’s land tax bill for 2019-20 for the property in which an eligible tenant is provided relief will be paid to landlords. Applications open on 1 May, in the meantime landlords are invited to register for more information.