5 Sep 2022

Victorian Government COVID-19 business grant program payments have been declared non-assessable, non-exempt (NANE) income and therefore exempt from tax.

Business owners that have held off putting in their tax return for the 2021–22 financial year can rest assured that payments they received from Victorian Government COVID‑19 grant programs do not need to be declared as income.

Legislation from the Australian Government has been updated to include several automatic payments under Victorian COVID‑19 support programs paid during the lockdown period in the second half of 2021.

Payments or income defined as NANE means a business is not required to pay tax on the funds and does not need to declare it in their tax return.

The full list of payments categorised as NANE is below. You can find the legislation on the Federal Register of Legislation.

  • Alpine Business Fund
  • Alpine Resorts Support Program (Streams 1, 2 and 3)
  • Business Continuity Fund
  • Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two
  • Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two – July Extension
  • Business Costs Assistance Program – Top Up1 – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Business Costs Assistance Program Round Three – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Business Costs Assistance Program Round Four – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Business Support Fund 3
  • Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund 3
  • Impacted Public Events Support Program
  • Impacted Public Events Support Program Round Two – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Independent Cinema Support Program
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 – July Extension
  • Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 – Top Up Payments2 – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Live Performance Support Program
  • Live Performance Support Program Round 2 (both Presenters and Suppliers streams) – new (added 22 August 2022)
  • Melbourne City Recovery Fund – Small business reactivation grants
  • Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package
  • Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
  • Sole Trader Support Fund
  • Sustainable Event Business Program

1 Referring to the 16 July and 21 July 2021 top-up payments.
2 Referring to all top-up payments under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 and July Extension.