4 important upcoming business deadlines

Interested in a $10,000 business grant? How about buying a much-needed asset and immediately writing off the cost? Here are four looming deadlines your business may need to start moving on ASAP.

We understand that navigating the challenges of COVID-19 is probably taking up your every waking hour at present (and possibly the non-waking hours, too).

But there are several fast-approaching deadlines for accessing COVID-19 support that you may want to start turning your attention towards if you haven’t already.

Fortunately, few things make a person move faster than a looming deadline – so you’ve got that on your side (and us!).

$10,000 COVID-19 small business grants

Small businesses struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for much needed help through the Small Business Relief Fund, managed by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia in partnership with Salesforce.

But here’s the catch: applications are only open for a week and close at 5pm (AEST) on Monday June 1. You can apply here.

There are 67 grants of $10,000 each designed to assist businesses that are recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

Most states are also offering $10,000 support grants and assistant packages you can apply for with a June 1 deadline, including NSW, Victoria, WA and SA.

$150,000 instant asset write-off

Time’s ticking for your business to make use of the $150,000 instant asset write-off before the end-of-financial-year June 30 deadline.

A few months back, just as coronavirus was ramping up in Australia, the federal government increased the instant asset write-off threshold from $30,000 to a whopping $150,000 as part of its economic stimulus package.

Under the scheme, businesses can immediately write off the cost of assets such as vehicles, tools, equipment and – thanks to the recent threshold increase – heavy vehicles, tractors and machinery.

Better yet, the threshold applies on a per asset basis, so eligible businesses can immediately write off multiple assets.

This is something you’ll want to get moving on as soon as possible though, as the asset needs to be used, or installed and ready for use, before EOFY to be eligible.

If you’d like to find out more, feel free to get in touch or visit the scheme web page here.

Coronavirus SME loan guarantee scheme

SMEs in need of working capital due to the coronavirus outbreak can access unsecured loans through the government’s $40 billion Coronavirus SME Loan Guarantee Scheme.

Because the government will guarantee 50% of the value of each new loan, lenders can offer the loans “more cheaply and more freely” compared to ordinary business loans, says the Australian Banking Association.

Participating lenders are already accepting applications from SMEs, so if you’re looking to bridge a gap in your business’s cash flow, please give us a call.

We’re more than happy to discuss your eligibility, more features of the scheme, and how you can apply before the 30 September 2020 deadline.

2018-19 tax return

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ATO has extended the lodgement date for 2018-19 income tax returns lodged through a tax agent to June 30, 2020. The extension applies to individuals, companies, partnerships and trusts.

But while it might feel you have a full month left to lodge your return, remember that there will be a bottleneck when it gets to crunch time, and your accountant has a lot on their plate at the moment.

So, as with the deadlines above, it’s imperative to get the ball rolling on this now to avoid the $850 late lodgement penalty.

Get in touch

If there’s any way we can help you beat any of the above deadlines – in particular, the instant asset write-off scheme and loan guarantee scheme – then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help you and your business any way we can.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.