Yesterday the Australian Government announced Stimulus 3 package which includes a new stimulus entitlement Jobkeeper. What wasn’t clear at first was whether this entitlement also covers sole traders. The ATO has now made that clear as per announced on the ATO web page as follows:
JobKeeper Allowance for Sole Traders
The page sets out eligibility, payment process, timing and examples that relate directly to sole traders.
To register for JobKeeper Payment the below link will take you to the ATO page:
Register for JobKeeper Payment
The entitlement basically removes the necessity for sole traders to register for the Jobseeker allowance through Centrelink. Sole traders need to consider their options carefully as Jobseeker through Centrelink may offer other benefits, especially where an unemployed spouse may also claim.