If you’re a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $3,000.
This rebate helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourages growth by reducing the cost of running a business. Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $3,000 is reached.
Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021. These include, but are not limited to:
- food authority licences
- liquor licences
- tradesperson licences
- event fees
- outdoor seating fees
- council rates
- road user tolls for business use.
View the full list of eligible fees and charges.
Employing businesses can now claim 50% of the cost of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) up to the full rebate value of $3,000 to help them assist their workers to test when required.
The rebate cannot be used for fines or penalties, fees and charges that have the key purpose of discouraging behaviours or inducing behaviour changes, Commonwealth government charges, rent on government premises, or taxes. See the guidelines for more information.
Note: If you’ve already registered for the rebate, you do not need to do anything – you will receive an automatic $1,000 increase to your rebate. Businesses newly registering will have a rebate of $3,000.
The rebate will be available until 30 June 2022.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:
- have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020–21 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.
Only small businesses with employees are eligible to claim 50% of the cost of RATs, up to the rebate value of $3,000. Businesses without employees will not be able to use the rebate to claim the cost of RATs. If you are a sole trader with employees, we may ask for further information to assess your claim.
Note: Only one $3,000 rebate is available for each ABN.