Report your GST once a year

What should you do if you make a mistake in your annual GST return?

If you make a mistake in your annual GST return, you may correct the mistake in your next annual GST return if the correction is within the limits set out in Correcting GST mistakes (NAT 4700).

If correcting the mistake is outside the limits set out in the product above, you will need to choose from the following two options:

• For tax periods starting before 1 July 2012, you may revise the return for the period in which the mistake occurred, provided the revision is made by a certain time. Refer to Time limits on GST refunds for more information about this.
   
• For tax periods starting on or after 1 July 2012, your assessment for the period in which the mistake occurred will need to be amended. You can either ask us to amend your assessment, using the approved form, or lodge an objection. You need to make the amendment request or lodge your objection before the end of 4 years from the day after you lodged your annual GST return.

The appropriate option will depend on whether the activity statement you are correcting is for tax periods before or after 1 July 2012. This is because self assessment for indirect taxes commenced on 1 July 2012.

For more information about the self assessment system, refer to Self assessment for indirect taxes - overview.