Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy
The Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018, passed by the Parliament of Australia on 9 May 2018, and was implemented on 12th August 2018. Employer sponsored applications will incur the new training levy from this date.
As the employer, you must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. You must not pass the levy on to the visa applicant. The purpose of the levy is for employers to contribute to the broader skills development of Australians.
Who will be affected?
- the SAF Levy will be payable on Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS 482 visa), subclass 186 and 187 nomination applications;
Background:
The bill imposes a nomination training contribution charge (known as the Skilling Australians Fund levy) on employers nominating workers under the temporary and permanent employer sponsored migration programs.
The levy will replace the current training benchmarks for employers sponsoring workers on 457, ENS and RSMS visas from March 2018. It will also be the requirement for the new TSS visa.
For the purpose of the levy, businesses with turnover of less than $10 million per year are considered small business and businesses with turnover of $10 million or more per year are defined as large business:
TSS 482 Nominations:
- Small business: $1,200 for each visa year
- Large business: $1,800 for each visa year
ENS 186 & RSMS 187 Nominations:
- Small business: $3,000
- Large business: $5,000
It is important to note that companies employing someone on a sc457 visa are required to meet their Training Benchmark obligations until 12 August 2018.
source: aph
REFUNDS OF THE SAF LEVY
Refunds are generally not available for the Levy paid for TSS nominations, however it is possible under the following:
- applications where the employer’s sponsorship (SBS) application is refused
- applications where the employer’s sponsorship is approved, but the employee’s subsequent visa application is refused based on character or health grounds.
- When an approved TSS 482 visa holder does not actually commence work with the sponsor.
- When a TSS 482 visa holder ceases work with their sponsoring employer in the first 12 months of employment. The refund will be calculated based on the balance of the years remaining on the visa.
There will be no refund if the nomination is withdrawn or refused.
