COVID Grants - Vic - Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
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August 2021
COVID Grants - Vic
The August Lockdown Grants as at 20 August 2021
VIC - Business Costs Assistance Program
(July extension)
For business owners who haven’t yet applied or qualified for the Business Costs Assistance Program
Round Two, the VIC government is offering those who have since become eligible an opportunity to
apply for a $4,800 grant. Since Victoria went into its sixth lockdown (which began 5th August 2021)
Those who have received or are eligible to apply for BCAP (either in the first round or the July
extension) could qualify for an additional $2,800, with top-ups expected to be automatically paid by
20th August 2021.
Now Extended to 2 September with a further $5600
To see if your business is in an eligible industry sector you should:
check the four-digit ANZSIC class linked to your Australian Business Number (ABN) on
the Australian Business Register and confirm it matches your primary business activity
check if the four-digit ANZSIC class linked to your ABN is in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for
this program.
Eligibility
Your business must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and
from 15 July 2021.
Your business must be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 15th July 2021
Your business must operate in an eligible sector listed in the eligible ANZSIC classes for this
program.
Your business must have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate
remotely.
Your business must not have received a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program Round
Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021.
If you are an employing business, you will need to include your unique WorkCover Employer
Number (WEN) on your application
Businesses that are continuing to operate or can work from home during restrictions are not eligible
to apply for a grant. For example:
essential retail (i.e. supermarkets, food retailers, pharmacies)
manufacturing
construction
mining
agriculture, forestry, and fishing
professional services (with some exceptions, such as wedding and events photographers).
What types of businesses are eligible?
[REF] COVID Grants - Vic © The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Page 1August 2021
Employing and non-employing businesses, companies, partnerships, and trusts are eligible to apply
for a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension. Superannuation
trusts are not eligible. For more information, please read the program guidelines.
Employing businesses applying for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July
Extension must attest that their business is supporting:
its workers to access any paid leave entitlements
its workers to work from home, where possible
its casual workers, where possible.
Source: Guidelines - Business Assistance Program 2[1].docx
Source: Business Costs Assistance Program (July extension)
VIC – Business Continuity Fund
This support measure was introduced at the end of July to help Victorian business owners that are
impacted by capacity limits as a result of the most recent lockdown. Those who have received or are
eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two could qualify for a $5,000 grant, while
an additional $2,000 could be granted to business owners located in Melbourne’s CBD.
Recipients will be contacted from mid-August to confirm they will receive a payment. Business
Continuity Fund payments will be processed automatically. You do not need to apply. It is an
automatic payment to all eligible recipients.
You are eligible for the Business Continuity Fund payment if you:
1. have successfully received a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or
the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension; and
2. belong to one of the 24 eligible sectors that were affected by additional capacity limits when
reopening in late July 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions, including gyms, cafés, restaurants,
event businesses, caterers, and hairdressers.
For more info: Business Continuity Fund
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
Eligible businesses (including employing and non-employing)
If non employing does this include sole traders?? There is confusion on this…we know that any sole
trader (individual) in Victoria not registered for GST should apply for the Services Australia Disaster
Payment but what if GST registered.
The Guidelines (footnote on page 2) say: traders, individuals in partnerships and individual trustees of
trusts must employ persons other than themselves to be eligible in this category of ‘employing
businesses’. See: Microsoft Word - Guidelines - Business Assistance Program 2[1].docx
Note the Sole Trader Support Fund is closed now
Applications are open until Friday, 10 September or until funds are exhausted.
The Hardship Grant is available to:
a business located in Victoria, and
[REF] COVID Grants - Vic © The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Page 2August 2021
directly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, since 17 May 2021, and
experienced a 70% reduction in turnover, and
have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10m in 2019-20, and
be registered for GST as of 28 July 2021
for employing businesses: be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
(see guidelines and application form for the full eligibility requirements)
While the Hardship grant will apply to more business i.e. those impacted by COVID in any industry, it
does not apply if you are not registered for GST. These businesses should explore the support available
through the Commonwealth Government.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
How do I apply?
You can choose to apply for this program in one of three ways:
See: New Vic Grant - Be careful (icb.org.au)
1. A qualified agent can apply on your behalf and verify the 70% drop in business turnover as part
of the application. The qualified agent needs to attest that they are authorised to apply on your
behalf. Note:
Qualified Agent" will include "A registered BAS Agent who is a member of one of the following
associations at the declared membership classification, including: ) the Institute of Certified
Bookkeepers (FICB, MICB, AICB)" The guidelines as of 6pm 12th August, do not allow
Bookkeepers nor BAS Agents (unless you are a member of the accounting bodies) to sign the
declaration letter
Be aware By definition, an Affiliate member is an ICB entry level membership and therefore
does not meet the Vic Govt definition requirements. The primary consideration is are you a
BAS Agent with membership designation of Associate or Above as determined by the Vic
government. Our recommendation is to upgrade your membership if you meet the criteria
2. You can apply directly as a business owner and have the application verified by a qualified
agent using the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund – Letter from the Qualified Agent
template (DOCX 51.23 KB) .
3. Business owners who do not have access to a qualified agent can register their interest for the
program. Applicants may receive an Invitation to Apply email from the department.
Applications received via the Invitation to Apply process may take up to 25 business days to
process, due to the need for additional verification measures.
Evidence of the reduction in turnover must be attested to by a qualified agent. If a qualified agent is
not applying on your behalf, your application must include a signed copy of a Small Business COVID
Hardship Fund – Letter from the Qualified Agent template (DOCX 51.23 KB) in PDF format.
How do I calculate business turnover?
To determine if your business has experienced a 70% reduction in turnover:
1. WORST FORTNIGHT: Select a minimum consecutive two-week period (Impacted Period) since
27 May 2021 where your business turnover was most impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
[REF] COVID Grants - Vic © The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Page 3August 2021
2. BEST FORTNIGHT: Select a minimum consecutive two-week trading period (Benchmark Period)
in 2019, or an alternative period as outlined below, as a comparison point. This two-week
trading period can be any two consecutive weeks within the benchmark period (27 May – 10
September 2019).
Please note when you get into the form the starting date for the two periods must not be
more that three days apart.
3. Calculate the reduction in turnover using the following formula:
Reduction in turnover % = [1 - (GST turnover in Impacted Period/GST turnover in Benchmark
Period)] x 100
Example: If GST turnover in impacted period is $1000.00 compared to GST turnover in
benchmark period of $5,000.00 then the calculation is 1000-5000/5000 x 100 = 80% Decline
If the reduction in turnover (as calculated using this formula) is less than 70%, then your business is
not eligible for this program. If your business was not operational in 2019, you can compare to a two-
week period between 1 February 2021 and 28 July 2021.
You will need the following information to complete the form:
WorkCover Employer Name (must match)
WorkCover Employer Number
The Business ABN
The Registered address of the business
Your Professional Association Number
Your TBP Number
A receipt number from for a BAS you have lodged on behalf of the client
Your Drivers Licence No.
The Clients Bank Account name
The Clients Bank BSB and Account Number
For other Grants and Programs: Grants & programs | Business Victoria and COVID-19 Grant Status – 16
Aug (icb.org.au)
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
The application period has been extended until 11:59 pm 20th August 2021.
Eligible businesses will be invited to apply for grants of $7200 for each eligible premises.
Eligible liquor licensees with an eLicence email address registered with the Victorian Commission for
Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) will receive an email containing their grant application link
from Business Victoria.
Liquor licensees without an eLicence email address must set one up on their VCGLR
Portal by 11.59pm on Monday 16 August 2021 to receive their grant application link.
Applications for a grant can only be submitted through the link emailed by Business Victoria.
Applications for this program close at 11:59pm on Friday 20 August 2021. Exceptions apply if you
have been asked to submit or provide more information beyond this date.
[REF] COVID Grants - Vic © The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Page 4August 2021 If you have questions about a submitted application, please read the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15. Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund Microsoft Word - LHVF2021-July-Extension-Guidelines.docx (business.vic.gov.au) [REF] COVID Grants - Vic © The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Page 5
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