On 21 July 2020, the Government announced that the JobKeeper Payment (‘JKP’) would be extended by a further six months to 28 March 2021 on a
scaled-back dual payment basis, with businesses being required to re-assess their eligibility to remain in the scheme. The Coronavirus
Economic Response Package (JobKeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020 (which received Royal Assent on 3 September 2020) gave effect to the extension of the scheme to 28 March 2021.
Subsequently, the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No.8) 2020 legislative
instrument (the ‘Amending Rules’) was registered on 15 September 2020 (effective from 16 September 2020) setting out the new rules
governing how the scheme will operate (i.e., for JobKeeper 2.0 from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021). Refer to the NTAA’s Extension
of the JobKeeper Payment
document.
In support of these Amending Rules, ATO Commissioner Chris Jordan registered three additional legislative instruments on 16 September 2020,
including the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) (Timing of Supplies Made and Decline in Turnover Test)
Rules 2020 (No.1)
(the ‘Decline in Turnover Amending Rules’) effective from 17 September 2020.
These Decline in Turnover Amending Rules provide further detail for determining when a supply is made for the purposes of applying the new
actual (current) GST turnover test.
Any entity eligible to claim JobKeeper for the first time on or after 28 September 2020 will also need to consider and satisfy the original
(albeit modified) projected turnover test (amongst all the other pre-existing eligibility requirements). However, where such a business
satisfies the new actual turnover test, it will generally satisfy the modified original projected turnover test.
The new actual (current) decline in turnover test only applies with respect to the six-month extension of the JKP (i.e., JobKeeper 2.0),
which is broken up into two separate extension periods, each with different rates of JKP and also different testing
periods, as follows:
(a) Extension Period 1 – applies to JobKeeper fortnights that start on or after 28 September 2020 and end
on or before 3 January 2021. The new additional test will be satisfied where the entity’s actual GST turnover has declined
by the required percentage (e.g., 30% for entities with an aggregated turnover of $1 billion or less) for the quarter ending 30
September 2020,
relative to its September 2019 quarter.
(b) Extension Period 2 – applies to JobKeeper fortnights that start on or after 4 January 2021 and end on
or before 28 March 2021. The new additional test will be satisfied where the entity’s actual GST turnover has declined by
the required percentage for the quarter ending 31 December 2020, relative to its December 2019 quarter.
TAX WARNING – GST attribution
The new Decline in Turnover Amending Rules provide that the calculation of actual (current) GST turnover is based on the GST attribution rules (i.e., a supply is taken to be made in a particular test period, if it would be attributed to that particular test period under the GST Act).
Broadly, this means that it aligns with how a business is required to attribute their supplies to a reporting period when completing their GST return (i.e., their BAS).
The Decline in Turnover Amending Rules also set out the basis of accounting (i.e., either a cash basis or a non-cash basis) that a business is required to use, depending on its circumstances (as outlined further below).
Unlike the original projected decline in turnover test (i.e., the decline in turnover test applicable prior to 28 September 2020), there is
only one method (i.e., GST attribution) that a business can use to determine which supplies are taken to be made in a particular test
period under the new actual (current) decline in turnover test for JobKeeper 2.0. This means that when applying the actual (current)
decline in value test, a supply is taken to be made in a particular test period where it would be attributed to that period for GST
purposes.
TAX TIP – Including supplies that are not taxable supplies
The actual (current) decline in turnover calculation includes supplies that are not taxable supplies (e.g., GST-free supplies). The Decline in Turnover Amending Rules notionally treat such supplies as taxable supplies (with GST notionally payable) so they can be attributed to a particular test period for the purposes of the actual (current) decline in turnover test.
This means GST-free supplies, supplies made by entities that are not registered (or required to be registered) for GST and supplies that are made between GST group members can be allocated to a particular test period based on the GST attribution rules (discussed further below).
Depending on the applicable GST accounting basis, supplies should be allocated as follows:
(a) Cash basis – supplies are attributed (i.e., taken to be made) when the business receives payment for them. This means
that where only a part-payment is received, the supply is only taken to be made to the extent of the payment received.
(b) Non-cash (accruals) basis – supplies are attributed (i.e., taken to be made) to the period a business receives any
payment, or when an invoice was issued (if this was prior to the receipt of any payment).
Furthermore, a business cannot generally ‘pick and choose’ which accounting method (i.e., a cash or non-cash basis) it
applies when determining its actual (current) GST turnover under JobKeeper 2.0. This is because the Decline in Turnover Amending Rules
require a business to adopt the GST attribution basis applicable to their circumstances so as to determine whether supplies are
attributable to a particular test period.
For these purposes, a particular test period can include:
These rules ensure that businesses use the same accounting method when working out their actual (current) turnover for each particular test
period.
Additionally, the Decline in Turnover Amending Rules also operate so as to ensure that businesses not registered for GST have an accounting
basis for attribution for these purposes.
Specifically, the Decline in Turnover Amending Rules require a business to adopt the following rules regarding the GST accounting
(attribution) methods:
While the concept of actual (current) GST turnover is defined in the GST Act, it was modified for JobKeeper 1.0 purposes, and such
modifications have not changed under JobKeeper 2.0.
Broadly, actual (current) GST turnover is the amount of sales, excluding supplies such as:
• GST included in sales to customers; • input taxed supplies (e.g., residential rental income);
• sales not connected with an enterprise (e.g., the sale of a private car);
• sales that are not made for payment (unless it is a taxable supply to an associate);
• payments for no supplies (e.g., JobKeeper payments);
• gifts and donations (except for payments made to DGRs and ACNC-registered charities); and
• sales not connected to Australia (other than those connected with external territories such as Norfolk Island).
Additionally, if an entity is part of a GST group, it calculates its GST turnover as if it wasn’t part of the group, meaning supplies made
within the group are included in the actual (current) GST turnover for the purposes of the actual decline in turnover test.
Finally, increasing or decreasing GST adjustments and adjustments for bad debts are also excluded from the calculation of actual (current) GST turnover.
Further reference can also be made to Law Companion Ruling
(LCR) 2020/1
for additional information on what supplies are relevant when calculating current GST turnover (i.e., with reference to paragraphs 20 to
33).
The ATO has also updated its website material in relation to the actual (current) decline in turnover test that can be viewed here.
Additionally, a worked example of a business that makes both GST-free and taxable supplies calculating its actual (current) decline in
turnover for the purposes of JobKeeper 2.0 is included at paragraphs 28 to 35 the Explanatory Statement of the Decline in Turnover
Amending Rules.
This document was released on 18 September 2020 and was current as at that date. It does not take into account any subsequent changes.