Issued: 10 August 2020
Last modified: 10 August 2020
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve we want to offer our assistance to tax practitioners who are facing unprecedented challenges during this difficult time. We understand you have a lot of competing priorities and are especially aware of the impacts on Victorians as they grapple with the new restrictions that have been implemented.
We want to assure you that we are committed to supporting you and we recognise that all tax practitioners are working hard for their clients. Your health and safety and that of your family is of the utmost importance, and this may lead to you having difficulty in meeting some of your obligations with us. With that in mind we are being more flexible in how we support you. We have taken temporary measures in revising some of our policies and are providing additional support around registration renewals.
We encourage you to contact us if your ability to meet your obligations is affected. We will work with you to resolve any outstanding TPB matters and we have a range of concessions and support measures in place to assist you, including:
We know many people are feeling anxious, stressed and scared and that there has been an increased demand on mental health services, particularly in Victoria. The loss of freedom, the challenges of isolation, fear for loved ones, and concerns about employment can all have a considerable impact on your health and wellbeing. We strongly encourage anyone experiencing issues with their mental health to seek assistance. Victorians can access 24/7 mental health support through government-funded digital and telephone counselling services. Anyone experiencing distress can seek advice and support through:
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Head to Health – the Government’s digital mental health gateway.
COVID-19 has also fundamentally changed the way we work and live. Many of us are working in ways we’ve never had to before. While some people enjoy the opportunity to work from home it can be challenging for others. Working from home can be both physically and mentally draining. You may feel isolated and have trouble being able to separate work from home. We want to help make working from home work for you and have compiled some practical advice for employees and managers to help you navigate this tricky time. We have some tips and hacks that may help you take care of your wellbeing.
The Government has also announced it is extending the JobKeeper Payment until 28 March 2021 and is targeting support to those businesses and not-for-profits which continue to be significantly impacted by COVID-19.