NSW small businesses can now claim road tolls under expanded rebate scheme

Small businesses in New South Wales can now claim back the money they spend on road tolls, as part of an expanded rebate offered by the state government. 

The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate was introduced earlier this year to help small businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic and it has now been increased from $1500 to $2000 to allow eligible businesses to further reduce their costs.  

According to NSW Small Business Minister Damien Tudehope, the increase is about “keeping more money in the pockets of small businesses so that they can bounce back and get the NSW economy firing again”.

From today, the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate will increase to $2000 and now include road user tolls for business usage, keeping more money in the pockets of small businesses so they can bounce back and get the NSW economy firing again.@Dom_Perrottet @Matt_KeanMP pic.twitter.com/vXjTh6FFRT

— Damien Tudehope MLC (@DamienTudehope) December 9, 2021

The rebate allows businesses with payrolls of up to $1.2 million to claim back hundreds of different fees and charges, ranging from local government planning, building and development fees, to food and liquor licenses, event fees, council rates and bushfire levies. 

As of Friday, December 10, the state government has now added road user tolls that are incurred as part of business usage to that list. 

Businesses can claim the rebate until June 30, 2022, for eligible fees and charges they have paid from March 1, 2021. 

To qualify, small businesses need to be registered or located in NSW, and able to provide invoices or receipts to show they have paid the fees and charges. Businesses only need to apply for the rebate once, after which time they can submit multiple claims until the maximum $2000 limit is reached. 

The rebate also covers four hours of professional mediation with the NSW Small Business Commission. 

More information about what fees and charges are covered by the rebate, and the process for applying, is available here.