Issue 18 june 2024
End of financial year
The end of the financial year (EOFY) is upon us again!
ACT Leave is always here to help registered employers with any EOFY concerns you might have in relation to portable long service leave returns and payments. We know this is always a busy time of year as businesses finalise tax returns and prepare for the new year ahead – remember, we’re here if you need us.
In the meantime, we suggest checking out this handy checklist to make your EOFY a breeze!
Payment of claims over EOFY
A friendly reminder that if your employee is planning to claim a long service leave entitlement directly from ACT Leave, the last payment processing date for this financial year will be Thursday 27 June 2024. The first payment processing date for the new financial year will be Thursday 4 July 2024.
Please keep in mind that any long service leave claim forms received after Tuesday 25 June 2024 will not be processed in this current financial year and will instead be processed in the next payment processing date, Thursday 4 July 2024.
PAYG summaries for claims paid in 2023-2024
ACT Leave do not provide a PAYG payment summary when employees receive a benefit. Instead, employees receive an end of financial year income statement through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) online services in myGov. While we do include this information in the benefit payment advice letter we send to employees after they make a claim, it is understandably a common question asked at this time of year.
Please let your employees know that we will have all payment summaries for long service leave claims paid in the 2023-24 financial year completed and lodged with the ATO by 12 July 2024.
New financial year calendars
We have released our calendars for the new 2024-2025 financial year!
The calendars contain key dates and important information for submitting quarterly returns. They will help to streamline the process and make it as easy as possible for you to stay on top of your portable long service leave commitments.
You can access the new calendars on the ACT Leave website:
Coming soon: New client portal
ACT Leave is in the process of developing a new client portal which will be implemented later this year!
The new portal will provide registered employers and workers with a more streamlined way of managing portable long service leave arrangements within the ACT. It will replace the current system and provide users with an enhanced, more secure service.
With the new portal, registered employers will enjoy the additional benefits of improved self-service functionality for quarterly return submissions as well as easier access to previous returns, transactions and current worker information.
In the meantime, we still want our current portal to be easy for you to use. If you’re having issues accessing or using the current portal, let us know so we can help resolve it.
You can get in touch with us at your convenience by email, phone or our website.
Return and payment due date
The lodgement of all returns and payment of the April-June 2024 quarter are due on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
We are here to help!
Contact us ahead of time if you need an extension or assistance with your return.
Cheques will no longer be accepted after 30 June 2024
ACT Leave will not be accepting cheques as a method of payment after 30 June 2024 as we complete our transition to electronic payments.
When making a payment by BPay or EFT, don’t forget to quote your payment reference number.
Your payment reference number is not the same as your employer number—though similar, it contains an extra digit on the end. You can find it in the payment details on your Return Payment Notice, noted as:
- Customer Reference # (for BPay) or
- Ref (for EFT).
Tips for lodging quarterly returns
- Ordinary gross wages are wages before tax is deducted.
- Wages to be entered for all employees that perform relevant work in the ACT only.
- If an employee has stopped working for you, include their cease date.
- Avoid penalties—lodge and pay by the due date or request an extension of time.
View our website for a full list of what is included in ordinary gross wages.
Changes to levies
Just a reminder there are some changes to levies coming in the new financial year.
From 1 July 2024 for the Security and Community Sector Schemes (starting for the Jul-Sep quarter), and from 1 October 2024 for the Building and Construction Scheme (starting for the Oct-Dec quarter), levies will increase in accordance with legislative requirements.
You can read about the specific details of the changes for your industry here:
ACT Leave at the Small Business Expo
Last month ACT Leave exhibited at the inaugural Canberra Small Business Expo, which was a great way for us to speak with existing and prospective employers and workers about portable long service leave in the ACT.
Our attendance was an important step forward in solidifying our new brand identity and increasing public awareness of portable long service leave ahead of the Services Scheme commencing next year. Striving to be as accessible as possible ensures we are engaging with our stakeholders in the most efficient way, making portable long service leave easier for everybody involved.
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.
Alternatively, if you wish to stop your registration and no longer lodge nil returns, please contact us.
Don’t forget to submit a reimbursement claim!
You are entitled to a reimbursement from us for long service leave that you paid directly to any of your employees registered for portable long service leave, made under the provisions of the Long Service Leave Act 1976 or a related law (EBA).
To receive a reimbursement, just fill out and submit a Reimbursement to Employer claim form.
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30AM – 4.30PM
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