It is important to understand that for any employer currently reporting through Single Touch Payroll (‘STP’) this is how information relating to Jobkeeper payments will be communicated to the ATO.

Given the majority of small businesses utilise Xero or MYOB we thought it might be helpful to circulate the instructions, from both software providers, for setting up payroll correctly to ensure that your Jobkeeper payments to your employees are processed and reported correctly.

If you or your bookkeeper have not yet setup payroll in accordance with these instructions then you may also experience delays in receiving your Jobkeeper reimbursement.

Xero

Xero has automatically created and added a Jobkeeper pay item for you.  You will need to ensure that any Jobkeeper payments already processed comply with their instructions regarding updating existing pay item and filing payments where necessary.

Instructions can be found here:

Xero: Setup or update Jobkeeper Pay

MYOB

Like Xero the updated instructions for setting up payroll for Jobkeeper needs you to manually create a new payroll category. If you have already set up a Jobkeeper payroll category, you will need to ensure it is modified to exactly match the naming protocol advised by MYOB.

Once completed, you then need to notify the ATO on which of your employees will be receiving Jobkeeper. Steps on how to do this can be found here.

Instructions on the complete process can be found here:

MYOB: Jobkeeper Setup

The above information should be everything you need to ensure your MYOB or Xero software is setup correctly.  This will ensure that any delays in reimbursement are minimised.  Take the time to read through the relevant instructions and seek assistance from your bookkeeper or the team at Progue as required.