Important information for TAS employers - July 2017

3 July, 2017

The new financial year is here which means new funding announcements from the TAS Government.

Effective 1 July 2017, Tasmanian employers who employ eligible apprentices, trainees and youth employees will be eligible for a payroll tax rebate via the Tasmanian Government’s Payroll Tax Rebate Scheme.

To receive the rebate, both the employee and employer must meet the following criteria.

  • Apprentices and trainees

    An apprentice or trainee must be:

    • an apprentice or trainee as defined under the Training and Workforce Development Act 2013; and
    • employed or engaged on a Training Contract that meets the requirements of the Training and Workforce Development Act 2013; and
    • employed or engaged on an eligible Training Contract between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2019.
  • Youth employees

    A youth employee must:

    • be over 15 years of age and under 25 years of age at the date of employment; and
    • be employed on a part-time or full-time basis;
    • not be an apprentice or trainee; and
    • not have been employed or engaged by the employer on 25 May 2017 or prior; and
    • be employed or engaged by the employer between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2019.
  • Employers

    Eligible employers must:

    • be registered for payroll tax
    • have lodged their tax returns and paid their payroll tax by the due date to be eligible for a rebate for the same period.

How much will you get back?

Once approved, you will receive either:

  • The total payroll tax paid in the relevant financial year; or
  • The total payroll tax paid for eligible employee wages in the relevant financial year, whichever is less

The best bit?

When you sign up an apprentice or trainee, you may also be eligible for further Government financial incentives. Find out more here.

More support for TAS employers

The Tasmanian Government also offers the following programs to support Tasmanian business owners and employers^:

Small Business Grants to Support Apprentices and Trainees Program Work Readiness for Growth Industries Program

The Small Business Grants to Support Apprentices and Trainees Program is a new grant scheme that aims to make it easier for small businesses to employ an apprentice or trainee.

Under the Program, employers who are not eligible to claim the Payroll Tax Rebate (Apprentices, Trainees and Youth Employees), can apply for a subsidy of up to $4,000 for each apprentice or trainee they employ from 1 July 2017 onwards.

If you are a small business with less than 20 employees, you can obtain practical assistance to employ an apprentice or trainee, customised to your needs, including:

  • assistance with obtaining business advice
  • support to recruit the right person for the business
  • planning the apprentice’s or trainee’s job role and workplace training requirements, and
  • mentoring and advice for the small business and apprentice or trainee.

The Work Readiness for Growth Industries Program is a new grant program aimed at ensuring Tasmanian employers have access to the skills they need to drive future growth in the Tasmanian economy.

The Program will run over two years and has been allocated $900,000 in funding to support six growth industries:

  • building and construction
  • tourism and hospitality
  • aged care services
  • Disability support services
  • agriculture (incorporating aquaculture)
  • advanced manufacturing

Under the Program, Registered Training Organisations, eligible organisations, and employers will work together to give young Tasmanians technical and employability skills to ensure they are productive and capable employees from their first day on the job.

Applications for Project Manager Grants are now open until 1 February 2018.

*Eligibility evidence must be included with the first claim for each apprentice, trainee or youth employee. Maximum timeframes apply for rebate payments.

^ Eligibility criteria apply. Find out more here.