Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 Reporting

Need help with STP Phase 2? Contact us for assistance to make sure your payroll is set up correctly in Xero for the new rollout of STP Phase 2 reporting.

Find out more about STP 2 on the ATO website – https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Single-Touch-Payroll/Expanding-Single-Touch-Payroll-(Phase-2)/

Fuel Tax Credits Have Changed

When you claim fuel tax credits for your clients, you’ll need to apply the lower rates for fuel acquired from 30 March 2022 to 28 September 2022.
 
The lower rates for fuel tax credits are the result of halving the fuel excise duty for 6 months. The reduced rates apply to petrol, diesel, and all other petroleum-based products, except aviation fuels.

Find out more on the ATO website – https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/Fuel-schemes/Fuel-tax-credits—business/

Minimum Wages Increase from 1 July 2022

From 1 July 2022:

• the National Minimum Wage has increased by $40 per week, which amounts to an increase of 5.2%
• award minimum wages have increased by 4.6%, which are subject to a minimum increase for adult award classifications of $40 per week and based on a 38-hour week for a full-time employee.

Other award wages, including junior, apprentice and supported wages that are based on adult minimum wages, will get a proportionate increase.

Some awards get a minimum wage increase from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022, while others get one from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2022.

What you can do now
To find out your new pay rates, you can:

• use our Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate your new rate of pay
• go to our Pay guides page to access the updated pay guide for your award.

Learn more about the minimum wage increase at Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2022. You’ll be able to check if you award increases from 1 July or 1 October 2022.

These pay rate increases follow the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2021-22.

Other 1 July 2022 changes
From 1 July 2022, there are other changes you should know about. This includes:

• high income threshold and compensation cap
• superannuation changes
• new award provisions under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award
• end of unpaid pandemic leave in many awards. 

Find out more about these changes at Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2022.

SG Changes – New Super Rate

Is your system updated for the latest SG changes?

10 August 2022

As of 1 July 2022, the $450-per-month super guarantee (SG) eligibility threshold was removed. This means that if an employee meets the other SG eligibility requirements, you must pay them SG, regardless of how much they earn. However, employees under 18 must still work more than 30 hours in a week to be eligible.

It’s important to make sure your payroll and accounting systems have been updated for salary and wages paid from 1 July 2022. This will ensure you correctly calculate your employee’s SG entitlement.

An employee’s eligibility for SG is determined when they are paid, not when they earn the income. This means if you pay an eligible employee on or after 1 July 2022, you need to pay their super regardless of how much they have earned – even if all or part of the relevant pay period is before 1 July.

The ATO’s Superannuation guarantee eligibility decision tool can help you determine if your employees, including any contractors treated as employees for super purposes, are eligible for super.

You can also check out the Super guarantee contributions calculator to help you work out how much super you need to pay.

See also

• Eligibility requirements
• Work out if you have to pay super
• Superannuation guarantee eligibility decision tool
• Super guarantee contributions calculator