To help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourage growth, the NSW government has introduced $1,500 rebates for small businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations.
Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $1,500 is reached.
Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges. These include, but are not limited to, food authority licences, liquor licences, tradesperson licences, event fees, outdoor seating fees and council rates.
According to an explanatory statement, the rebate can only be used for eligible fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021.
 It 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.
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;
- be registered for goods and services tax (GST); and
- provide a declaration that the business has a turnover of at least $75,000 per year.
Note: Only one $1,500 rebate is available for each ABN. Not-for-profit organisations are not subject to the GST requirement but must demonstrate a turnover of more than $75,000 per year.
