AMID THE COVID-19 pandemic, the government has announced several stimulus packages to help Australian businesses. If you’re a business or property owner, here is what you need to know. 

Instant Asset Write-off Expansion

More business owners will be able to claim the instant asset write-off this financial year. The government announced an increase of the instant asset write-off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000.

The increase has also been extended to include business with an aggregated annual turnover of up to $500 million.

The instant asset write-off expansion is now in place and will be until 30 June 2020. 

The Backing Business Investment incentive

This fifteen-month incentive will support business investment by accelerating depreciation deductions for remaining assets not affected by the immediate write-off changes.

Different rules apply to whether an entity is using the simplified rules of capital allowances for small businesses.

Small businesses with an aggregated turnover of up to $10 million can take advantage of the Backing Business Investment incentive. They can deduct 57.5% of the asset cost in the year of purchase.

In later years, the asset will be depreciated as part of the general small business pool rules. 

Businesses with an annual turnover of up to $500 million will be able to deduct fifty per cent of the asset cost, plus an additional amount of the standard depreciation on the remaining balance, in the year of purchase.

It’s important to note that both the instant asset write-off and backing business investment incentives are only available to business owners. This means landlords who own a commercial building (but do not use the building for business operations) cannot claim the incentives. 

Commercial Tenancies Mandatory Code

As you’d be aware, the government has also announced a mandatory code of conduct for commercial tenancies. 

This mandatory code introduced a number of good-faith principles to guide negotiations between tenants and landlords, where a tenant has been affected by COVID-19.

Some inclusions involve rental waivers, deferrals and disallowing lease terminations. And you can find out more about the principles here.