Issue 23 september 2024
Contract Cleaning is moving into the new Services Industry Scheme
If your business operates within the Contract Cleaning Industry, you may have recently received an email from us to inform you that with the commencement of the Services Industry Scheme on 1 April 2025, the Contract Cleaning Industry Scheme will no longer be managed as a separate scheme.
The Contract Cleaning Industry Scheme will instead be incorporated into the new Services Industry Scheme, along with the new industries of hairdressing and beauty services and accommodation and food services, including hospitality services.
No action is required from you, other than to let your employees know about the changes. ACT Leave will transfer you and your employees over to the new scheme automatically. If you missed the correspondence and would like to learn more, you can access this on our website.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us if you have any questions about the upcoming changes.
Building and Construction levy increase
From 1 October 2024, the levy for the Building and Construction Scheme will increase from 2.35% to 2.75%, with the new levy rate payable for the October-December 2024 return period, which is due by 31 January 2025.
You can read more about the levy increase on our website.
July-September 2024 quarterly returns
The lodgement and payment of all returns for the July-September 2024 quarter are due on Thursday 31 October 2024.
We are here to help!
Contact us ahead of time if you require assistance with submitting your return
Employees taking leave over the holidays
The summer months are a popular time for employees to use their long service leave to take a break.
Please advise your employees that to ensure their payment is processed before their leave starts, they should submit their leave claims early.
Employee annual statements
Employee annual statements are now available through our client portal.
Let your employees know that they can access their statement on the worker portal.
National Safe Work Month 2024
October is National Safe Work Month, a time for employers and workers across Australia to commit to creating safe and healthy workplaces. The theme for Safe Work Month this year is Safety is everyone’s business.
Safe Work Australia will focus on a different health and safety area for each week of October, but there are plenty of other ways you can get your business and employees involved, from hosting a SafeTea event or attending a Safe Work event near your business. You can find out more and get involved in some local events by heading to the WorkSafe ACT website.
ACT Leave at the Canberra Careers Xpo
In early August, ACT Leave exhibited for the first time at the Canberra Careers Xpo, an event that provides valuable career guidance to over 7,000 secondary students throughout the ACT.
Our attendance was a great chance to connect with existing and future workers and provide them and their parents with information about accessing portable long service leave, particularly as many will choose careers in one of our covered industries. We also had the opportunity to promote the upcoming Services Industry Scheme, starting on 1 April 2025, which is relevant for many young people entering the workforce.
The Careers Xpo was the second event ACT Leave has exhibited at this year, and it was a huge success. Our friendly staff love getting out and about in the Canberra community to talk about portable long service leave, including touching base with those of you who also exhibit at these events. We cannot wait to do it again next year!
Tips for reporting employee information
When making a quarterly return submission, it’s important to report your employees’ personal details accurately. This ensures their overall service history is correct, and we can contact them if required.
Please follow these steps:
- Add any employees previously registered with your entity under their existing registration number.
- Check that all employee personal details are current, including their full name, date of birth, residential address, email address, and contact number.
- When registering apprentices, provide us with a copy of their official apprenticeship contract, which will ensure that you will be able to record their service correctly, and not be charged a levy.
Other quarterly return submission tips
- Ordinary gross wages are wages before tax is deducted. View our website for more information on quarterly returns and a full list of what is included in ordinary gross wages.
- Enter wages for all employees that perform relevant work in the ACT only.
- If an employee has stopped working for you in the return period, include their cease date.
- Avoid penalties—lodge and pay by the due date or request an extension of time.
No employees? Lodge a ‘nil return’
If you are a registered employer and no longer have employees, you are still required to lodge a nil return by the due date each quarter, or you may receive penalties for late lodgement.
If you wish to stop your registration and no longer lodge nil returns, you must contact us in writing to close your account. Penalties of $200.00 are payable for late or non lodgement of a return.
Don’t forget to submit a reimbursement claim!
If you are a registered employer and no longer have employees, you are still required to lodge a nil return by the due date each quarter, or you may receive penalties for late lodgement.
If you wish to stop your registration and no longer lodge nil returns, you must contact us in writing to close your account. Penalties of $200.00 are payable for late or non lodgement of a return.
Have you checked out the FAQs page yet? It might just have the answer you need.
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P: 02 6247 3900 | W: actleave.act.gov.au | E: enquiry@actleave.act.gov.au
Have any ideas or feedback you’d like to share with us? Reach out by emailing ideas@actleave.act.gov.au