Payroll tax rebates for businesses who hire employees with a disability

NDS tells us that... The NSW Government has introduced legislation to Parliament that will give businesses a payroll tax rebate for hiring a person with a disability. NSW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, said the Payroll Tax Rebate Scheme (Disability Employment) Bill 2011 will provide employers with a payroll tax rebate of up to $4,000 per employee. "The O'Farrell Government is delivering on its commitment to improve the employment prospects of people with a disability," Mr Constance said. The rebate will apply to businesses who hire a new employee out of the Transition to Work program and will be paid in two equal parts, after three months and after six months from the hiring of a new employee. To qualify for the rebate, the employee must have commenced employment on or after 1 January 2012 and before 1 July 2016 and the employee should work an average of at least 12 hours a week. The employer must be liable for payroll tax, either during the period of emp! loyment or in a financial year during which an eligible employee is employed. The NSW Government has committed $2 million per annum over the next five years for the scheme to apply from 1 January 2012. A representative from Minister Constance's Office attended the NDS NSW Sub-Committee on Open Employment on 21 October to consult on the new legislation regarding pay roll tax relief for employers of people with disability.  This consultation was an important element and one NDS will continue to support and promote in terms of gauging the members views of the initiative. Glenn Jones, NDS NSW Acting State Manager, said, "NDS NSW commends the NSW Government on this initiative. This initiative following on from other work in this area, such as the NDS NSW Ready Willing and Able (Procurement) Project, will ensure that NSW continues to lead the way in regard to employment for people with disability".