Please note
The Business Victoria Hotline is currently experiencing very high call volumes. If the matter is not urgent, you may wish to call on another day.
Overview
On 30 September, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announced a $2.27 billion business support package that would support businesses experiencing significant restrictions that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the significant easing of restrictions across all sectors on 29 October, fortnightly top-up payments concluded at the end of that month. In line with the Victorian Government’s announcement of 30 September, payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five have now been completed.
The Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five provided payments to eligible small to medium businesses in sectors affected by COVID-19 restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.
Four tiers of automatic payments were available to eligible Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension recipients based on the size of their annual payroll.
- $1000 per week for non-employing businesses
- $2800 per week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000
- $5600 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million.
- $8400 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $3 and $10 million.
For further information, please read all the information on this page, including the frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Who is eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payment?
On 30 September, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announced a $2.27 billion business support package that would support businesses experiencing significant restrictions that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the significant easing of restrictions across all sectors on 29 October, fortnightly top-up payments concluded at the end of that month. In line with the Victorian Government’s announcement of 30 September, payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five have now been completed.
Businesses must have received a grant under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension program.
Businesses that have closed, have ceased to operate in Victoria or no longer meet the program eligibility criteria since they were assessed as eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension program are not eligible for this support.
Payment amount
Payment amounts to eligible businesses were based on whether your business employs staff and, if so, the annual payroll size for 2019-20 as advised by the State Revenue Office (SRO). The payment levels are as follows:
- $1000 per week for non-employing businesses.
- $2800 per week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000.
- $5600 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million.
- $8400 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $3 and $10 million.
These payments were made automatically to eligible businesses on a fortnightly basis.
Information for ineligible grant applicants
Businesses that did not receive a grant under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension were not eligible to receive the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments.
Businesses that have closed, have ceased to operate in Victoria or no longer meet the program eligibility criteria since their initial approval for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension were not eligible for Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments. If this applies to your business, please let us know by calling the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
Businesses may be eligible for assistance through other Victorian Government programs including the reintroduced Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme, which is available to businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million that have suffered a decline in turnover of at least 30% due to the pandemic.
If you are a sole trader or micro-business owner seeking information or advice about COVID-19 support, you can call our dedicated Concierge Service for assistance.
Subscribe to the Business Victoria Update newsletter for updates on these and other business support programs.
Processing your Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payment
We automatically processed Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments for all eligible businesses. Payments were paid in fortnightly instalments into the same bank account nominated in your original application to the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.
If your bank details have changed, please contact Business Victoria.
Do I need to apply?
No. You do not need to apply for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five.
The amount was automatically paid to all eligible recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.
Please read all the information on this page and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) if you have questions about your eligibility.
If you cannot find the information you’re looking for, please call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 or use the Contact us form. The hotline is open seven days a week.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
On 30 September, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announced a $2.27 billion business support package that would support businesses experiencing significant restrictions that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payments for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five have now been completed.
If you believe you were eligible for Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments and did not receive any, please contact the Business Victoria Hotline on 13 22 15.
You were eligible if you have received a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension program. However, businesses that have closed, have ceased to operate in Victoria or no longer meet the program eligibility criteria since they were assessed as eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension program were not eligible for this support.
On 30 September, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announced a $2.27 billion business support package that would support businesses experiencing significant restrictions that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the significant easing of restrictions across all sectors on 29 October, fortnightly top-up payments concluded at the end of that month. In line with the Victorian Government’s announcement of 30 September, payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five have now been completed.
The payments were made automatically in fortnightly instalments. If you believe you are entitled to Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments and have not received an email confirming your eligibility, please contact the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
The payment amount was tiered based on whether your business employs staff and, if so, on your business’ annual 2019-2020 payroll size, as verified with the State Revenue Office (SRO). The payment tiers are as follows:
- $1000 per week for non-employing businesses.
- $2800 per week for businesses with an annual payroll below $650,000.
- $5600 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million.
- $8400 per week for businesses with an annual payroll between $3 and $10 million.
Employing businesses that did not lodge a payroll tax reconciliation in 2019/20 with the SRO received the $2800 per week payment. If you are exempt from payroll tax as per SRO guidance, please contact the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 for further advice.
For the purposes of this payment, an employing business is a business which is registered with WorkSafe.
An employing business is required to be registered with WorkSafe Victoria for WorkCover insurance in accordance with relevant WorkCover legislation. This would usually include:
- Businesses that employ apprentices or pay annual wages of more than $7500 in a financial year.
- A sole trader, individual partner in a partnership or an individual trustee of a trust that employs other people and meets the above thresholds.
Information provided by WorkSafe was used to confirm whether your business received a payment as an employing or non-employing business.
Some businesses that employ people are exempt from the requirement for WorkCover Insurance. If you believe you are exempt from the requirement for WorkCover and paid more than $7500 in remuneration in 2019-2020, you should contact the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
More information about WorkCover Insurance is available on WorkSafe Victoria’s website. You can also contact WorkSafe Victoria about the unique circumstances of your business.
The Victorian Government is committed to supporting non-employing businesses, and continued to do so through the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five.
Higher top-up payments to employing businesses reflected the higher overhead costs of employing businesses.
If you are assessed as eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension, you will receive the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Yes.
Information about all automatic top-up payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension can be found on the Business Costs Assistance Program grants and top-up payments webpage.
On 30 September, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announced a $2.27 billion business support package that would support businesses experiencing significant restrictions that were put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payments for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five have now been completed.
Please note all businesses must have received funding under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension to be eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five payments.
Businesses that have closed, have ceased to operate in Victoria or no longer meet the program eligibility criteria since they were assessed as eligible for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension program are not eligible for this support.
If this applies to your business, please call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
Each round of support under the Business Costs Assistance Program is tailored to the circumstances of that period, which is reflected in the eligibility for that payment.
Payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five went to businesses most impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in place as part of Victoria’s Roadmap. This included businesses located in areas under lockdown, as well as businesses still heavily restricted or unable to operate normally in areas not subject to stay at home restrictions. This is reflected in the lists of eligible ANZSIC classes.
To receive top-up payments under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or July Extension, businesses must continue to meet the eligibility criteria for the program from which they received an initial grant.
See the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension for more information about the programs’ eligibility criteria.
Before processing top-up payments, we verify your business’ information with partner agencies, including the State Revenue Office (SRO), WorkSafe and the Australian Business Register (ABR) to ensure businesses still meet the eligibility requirements of the program.
Your top-up payments may have been discontinued if you no longer meet all the eligibility criteria, for example if your ABN is no longer active.
If you believe you are still eligible to receive top-up payments, or would like further information, you can contact Business Victoria or call the hotline on 13 22 15, open seven days a week.
To be assessed and receive payment as an employing business under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five, your business must hold a WorkCover Employer Number (WEN) and have held that WEN at the time of being assessed for the program.
If your business did hold a WEN at the time of your Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or July Extension application but you did not include this in your application form, please contact Business Victoria or call the hotline on 13 22 15 to discuss a review of your application.
Unfortunately, if your business does not have a WEN that can be verified against the WorkSafe database, you are not eligible to receive payment as an employing business under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five.