2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants for lockdown-impacted businesses in Queensland

The Money Edge is here to help with your applications! 

Applications for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants opened at 12pm (midday), 16 August 2021.

Available funding

Initially, you may be eligible to receive a grant of $5,000 (excluding GST). This grant may be used for business expenses.

Under the joint Queensland and Australian Government support package recently announced, tiered payments based on payroll size for eligible businesses across Queensland will be available. Details of how these additional payments will be made are currently being finalised and will be available shortly.

These payments include an additional:

• $5,000 one-off, top up to small businesses with payroll of less than $1.3 million (bringing total grant available to $10,000)
• $10,000 one-off, top-up grant to medium sized businesses with payroll of greater than $1.3 million and up to $10 million (bringing total grant available to $15,000)
• $25,000 one-off, top-up grant to large sized tourism and hospitality businesses with payroll of greater than $10 million (bringing total grant to $30,000).

Note: The information you provide in your application may be used to assess your eligibility for this additional support.

2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants – non-employing sole traders

Under the joint Queensland and Australian Government support package, a $1,000 one-off grant to non-employing sole traders across Queensland has been announced.

If you are a Queensland-based non-employing sole trader who has had a decline in turnover of more than 30% due to the South East Queensland lockdown commencing 31 July 2021 or the Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown commencing 8 August 2021, you may be eligible for a one-off $1,000 grant.

Further information about the eligibility requirements will be available shortly. 

Who can apply

Small and medium businesses and not for profit organisations

To be eligible, you:

• must employ staff (employees must be on your payroll and does not include any business owners)
• have a Queensland headquarters
• must have an annual turnover of more than $75,000
• must have an annual payroll of not more than $10 million
• must show or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more for a 1-week period that includes at least 1 full day of the:
  • South East Queensland lockdown commencing 31 July 2021
  • the Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown commencing 8 August 2021
  • or
  • any other lockdown in Queensland in August 2021.
• demonstrate that your business or not for profit organisation was directly or indirectly impacted by the South East Queensland and/or Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown events.

Large tourism and hospitality businesses and not for profit organisations

To be eligible, you:

• must employ staff (employees must be on your payroll and does not include any business owners)
• have a Queensland headquarters
• must operate in the tourism and hospitality sector – check the ANZSIC codes for your eligibility
• must have an annual turnover of more than $75,000
• must have an annual payroll of more than $10 million
• must show or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more for a 1-week period that includes at least 1 full day of the:
  • South East Queensland lockdown commencing 31 July 2021
  • Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown commencing 8 August 2021
  • or
  • any other lockdown in Queensland in August 2021.
• demonstrate that your business or not for profit organisation was directly or indirectly impacted by the South East Queensland and/or Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown events.

Lockdown events

Lockdown events and the impacted areas include:

South East Queensland lockdown – 31 July to 8 August 2021

The 11 local government areas subject to lockdown restrictions were:

• Brisbane City Council
• Gold Coast City Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay Regional Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• Redland City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Cairns and Yarrabah lockdown – 8 August to 11 August 2021

The 2 local government areas were:

• Cairns Regional Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council.

Detailed eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, your business or not for profit organisation must:

• employ staff (employees must be on your payroll and does not include any business owners)
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) continuously held from 30 June 2021
• be registered for GST
• have Queensland headquarters (i.e. your principal place of business is located in Queensland) and have been trading in Queensland on 31 July 2021
• not be insolvent, or have owners or directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt
• have an annual payroll of not more than $10 million (except for large businesses and not for profit organisations operating in an identified tourism and hospitality sector) 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 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 7-day period
  • this must include at least 1 full day of a lockdown event when comparing against turnover achieved during the same 7-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).

Large tourism and hospitality businesses and not for profit organisations must ensure they are undertaking business activities in any of the identified tourism and hospitality ANZSIC (Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification) code industry areas and meet all eligibility criteria (although you can have an annual payroll greater than $10 million). Check the ANZSIC codes listed below to see if you are eligible to apply.

How to apply

Applications opened at 12pm (midday), 16 August 2021.

You will need to apply online with supporting evidence through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) portal.

Note: Applications for the non-employing sole trader $1,000 grant are not to be submitted via the QRIDA portal. Application details for this grant will be available in the coming days. 

Detailed application process

To apply, complete the steps below.

1. Read the eligibility criteria.
2. Read the guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs).
3. Gather and prepare your supporting evidence to submit with your application.
4. Register for a QRIDA portal login (or check your existing login).
   • complete and submit your application through the QRIDA portal.

QRIDA profile

Create a QRIDA profile HERE

To get ready, create a QRIDA profile so you can submit as soon as applications open.

If you do not have a QRIDA profile login, complete the following steps:

1. Visit the QRIDA portal to create your profile.
2. If you have not registered with QRIDA before:
   1. click on the 'Register' tab and enter your details
   2. after registering, QRIDA will send an email to validate your account – allow time to receive this email (remember to check your junk email too)
   3. when you have validated your account, you will be ready to log into the QRIDA portal and submit when applications open.

Check your QRIDA profile

If you already have a QRIDA portal login (i.e. to apply for a grant or loan previously), you should:

1. Login to the QRIDA portal to test your password (Note: You may need to reset your password before the grant opens).
2. Confirm all your details are correct.

Supporting evidence

Supporting evidence requirements

• Reduction in turnover of 30% or more – you must demonstrate or declare you have experienced a reduction in turnover of 30% or more over a nominated 7-day period (including at least 1 full day of a lockdown event) compared against the same 7-day period in July/August 2019. If the 2019 period doesn't indicate a typical weekly turnover, include another nominated 7-day period (e.g. the same period in July/August 2020). Provide the following evidence to demonstrate:
  • 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.
• Employ staff – you must demonstrate you employ staff (in addition to the business owners and be employed on the business's payroll). 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.
• Annual payroll – you must provide the business's annual payroll during any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial years . Evidence may include:
  • 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.
• Annual turnover of over $75,000 – you must demonstrate annual turnover of over $75,000 during any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial years. 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.
• 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.

Timeframes

Applications opened at 12pm (midday), 16 August 2021.Completed applications will be processed in the order received.

Links

Guidelines

Frequent Q & A's