Note: All programs described on this page have now closed. This page is maintained as a historical reference. If your business needs assistance with current tax compliance, recovery planning, or financial strategy, please contact Count Out Loud to discuss how we can help.
A Timeline of NSW COVID Business Support (2021-2022)
Between July 2021 and February 2022, the NSW Government – often in partnership with the Federal Government – rolled out a series of business support packages in response to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. These programs provided critical financial lifelines to thousands of businesses across New South Wales, including many in the screen and creative industries.
Count Out Loud supported clients through every phase of these programs – interpreting rapidly changing eligibility criteria, preparing the required accountant’s letters, and lodging applications on behalf of production companies, freelancers, and small businesses. Our work during this period was later recognised when we were named Screen Producers Australia’s Services and Facilities Business of the Year.
This page provides a comprehensive record of every major NSW COVID business support program, in chronological order.
July 2021: Initial NSW COVID Support Grants
Announced 5 July 2021, in response to the Greater Sydney lockdown that commenced 26 June 2021.
The NSW Treasurer announced the first round of COVID support grants for businesses affected by the Delta variant lockdown. These were one-off lump sum grants based on the degree of turnover decline experienced during the lockdown period.
Initial Grant Amounts
| Decline in Turnover | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| 75% or more | $10,000 |
| 50% or more | $7,000 |
| 30% or more | $5,000 |
Eligibility Criteria
- Annual turnover greater than $75,000
- Up to 20 full-time employees or payroll up to $1.2 million
- A letter from a qualified accountant confirming the decline in turnover
- Sole traders were eligible
Payments were scheduled to commence from 19 July 2021.
Federal Government Support for Individuals
Alongside the NSW grants, the Federal Government provided support payments for casual workers required to quarantine or self-isolate. These were administered through Service NSW.
Additional Measures
- Payroll tax deferrals for July 2021
- Gaming tax deferrals for July 2021
Mid-July 2021: Expanded Support Packages
Announced 16 July 2021 by the Prime Minister, NSW Premier, and NSW Treasurer, as the lockdown was extended beyond the initial two-week period.
As it became clear the lockdown would extend well beyond the initial forecast, the Federal and NSW Governments announced significantly expanded support measures.
JobSaver Payment (Joint Federal-NSW)
The centrepiece of the expanded package was the JobSaver payment – a weekly payment designed to help businesses maintain their payroll and keep staff employed through the lockdown.
Eligibility Criteria
- Decline in turnover of at least 30% compared to an equivalent two-week period in 2019
- Annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million
- Maintain full-time, part-time, and long-term casual staffing levels as at 13 July 2021
Payment Amounts
- 40% of NSW payroll payments, capped at $10,000 per week for employing businesses
- $1,000 per week for non-employing businesses (sole traders and small companies without employees)
- Minimum payment of $1,500 per week for employing businesses
Micro Business Grant
Recognising that many very small businesses fell below the $75,000 turnover threshold for the main grants, the government introduced the Micro Business Grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- Annual turnover of more than $30,000 but less than $75,000
- Decline in turnover of at least 30%
Payment Amount
- $1,500 per fortnight, backdated to week 1 of the lockdown
Expressions of interest for both JobSaver and the Micro Business Grant opened on 14 July 2021 through the Service NSW website.
Updated NSW Support Grants
The original July grant amounts were increased:
| Decline in Turnover | Original Amount | Updated Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 75% or more | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| 50% or more | $7,000 | $10,500 |
| 30% or more | $5,000 | $7,500 |
The eligibility criteria remained the same as the original grants, with accountant’s letters still required to confirm the decline in turnover.
Increased Federal Support for Individuals
- $600 per week for individuals who lost 20 hours or more of work
- $375 per week for individuals who lost between 8 and 20 hours of work
- The liquidity test was removed, making these payments accessible to more individuals
September 2021: JobSaver and Micro Business Grant Reconfirmation
Announced September 2021, as the lockdown extended into its third month.
As the lockdown continued, businesses receiving ongoing JobSaver or Micro Business Grant payments were required to reconfirm their eligibility each fortnight. This process was essential to continue receiving payments.
What Needed to Be Confirmed
- The business continued to experience a decline in turnover of 30% or more
- The business had maintained its employee headcount as stated in the original application (changes to headcount had to be reported to Service NSW)
How to Measure the Continuing Decline in Turnover
The reconfirmation process offered different methods depending on whether the business was trading during the relevant fortnight:
If your business was not trading during the fortnight: No calculation was required. You could simply confirm that turnover had declined by 30% or more.
If your business was trading during the fortnight: You needed to demonstrate the continued 30% decline using one of three approved methods:
Method 1 – Matching fortnight comparison: Compare the current fortnight’s turnover to the same fortnight in your original comparison year (2019 or 2020). For example, if you originally compared July 2021 to July 2019, you would now compare September 2021 to September 2019.
Method 2 – Fixed comparison period: Use the same comparison period from your original application for all subsequent fortnights. This meant the comparison period remained fixed regardless of which fortnight you were reconfirming.
Method 3 – Pre-lockdown comparison: If you originally used the period 12-25 June 2021 as your comparison, you must continue to use this same period for all subsequent reconfirmations.
Important: Whichever method you chose, you were required to use the same method for every subsequent reconfirmation. Switching between methods was not permitted.
September 2021: Create NSW COVID Development Grants
Applications opened September 2021, specifically targeting the arts and screen sector.
Create NSW launched COVID Development Grants of up to $10,000, specifically designed to support small and medium operators in the arts and screen sector during the lockdown period.
Eligible Activities
- Creation, development, and presentation of new works
- Employment of artists or arts and culture workers
- Skills development or training specific to a career, project, or initiative (including digital upskilling)
- Marketing, fundraising, and promotional costs
- Workshops and other public programs
- Purchase of equipment or digital resources required to deliver new programs or online initiatives
- Filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation, and film festivals
This grant was particularly relevant to Count Out Loud’s clients in the screen industry, as it provided targeted support for creative development work that could continue during lockdown.
February 2022: NSW Small Business Support Program
Announced by NSW Treasurer Matt Kean in February 2022, in response to the Omicron wave disruptions over January and February 2022.
Following the Omicron wave that disrupted businesses over the 2021-22 summer period, the NSW Government announced a further round of support.
Payment Amounts
- Employing businesses: 20% of weekly payroll, up to a maximum of $5,000 per week, for the month of February 2022. Minimum weekly payment of $750.
- Non-employing businesses: $500 per week (paid as a lump sum of $2,000 for February).
Eligibility Criteria
- Aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million for the year ended 30 June 2021
- Decline in turnover of at least 40% during January 2022 compared to January 2021 or January 2020
- Continued decline in turnover of 40% or more from 1-14 February 2022 compared to the same fortnight in either 2021 or 2020 (using the same comparison year as for January)
- Maintenance of employee headcount from 30 January 2022 (the date the scheme was announced)
Note: The 40% decline threshold was higher than the 30% threshold used in the 2021 programs, and different substantiation requirements applied depending on the industry.
Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate
Alongside the direct support payment, the NSW Government increased the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate from $2,000 to $3,000. The rebate was also extended to cover up to 50% of the cost of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) purchased by businesses to protect staff and clients.
The rebate was provided as a digital credit that businesses could draw down on to offset eligible NSW and local government fees and charges – it was not a cash payment.
How Count Out Loud Helped Clients Through COVID
Throughout 2021 and 2022, Count Out Loud worked intensively to ensure our clients – particularly those in the screen and creative industries – received every dollar of support they were entitled to. This involved:
- Rapid interpretation of eligibility criteria: Each new program came with complex and sometimes ambiguous eligibility rules. We analysed these as soon as they were announced and communicated clear guidance to our clients within days – often before the application portals were even open.
- Accountant’s letters and certifications: Many programs required a letter from a qualified accountant confirming the decline in turnover. We prepared hundreds of these letters during the lockdown period, ensuring each one met the specific requirements of the relevant program.
- Application support: We assisted clients with the application process through Service NSW, helping them gather the required documentation and submit applications correctly.
- Reconfirmation management: For clients on ongoing JobSaver or Micro Business Grant payments, we managed the fortnightly reconfirmation process, ensuring continuous payment without interruption.
- Compliance: We ensured that grant and support payments were correctly recorded for tax purposes, as many of these payments were assessable income and needed to be included in tax returns and BAS lodgements.
This work – delivered under significant time pressure and constantly changing rules – was recognised when Count Out Loud was named SPA Services and Facilities Business of the Year at the 2022 Screen Producers Australia conference.
Current Status: All Programs Closed
All NSW COVID business support programs described on this page have now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted, and no further payments are being made under these schemes.
If you received COVID support payments and have questions about how they should be treated in your tax returns, or if your business is still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, Count Out Loud can help.
Post-COVID Support for Your Business
Many businesses – particularly in the screen and creative industries – are still dealing with the financial after-effects of the pandemic period. Whether you need help with:
- Correct tax treatment of COVID support payments received
- Catching up on lodgements that fell behind during lockdowns
- Restructuring your business for post-COVID growth
- Cash flow planning and financial recovery strategies
- General accounting and tax compliance services
Count Out Loud is here to help. Contact our team today or call (02) 9043 1525. We are based at 1 James Place, North Sydney, and specialise in supporting businesses in the screen and creative industries.