Correcting GST errors

When you can start to rely on this guide

This guide applies to an activity statement that you give us on or after 10 May 2013 in which you correct a GST error you made in an activity statement for an earlier reporting period.

However, you will not be able to use this guide if the reporting period for the later activity statement (that is, the activity statement in which you want to correct the GST error) started before 1 July 2012.

Example 1: Commencement date of the guide

Carlene's Cookies has a current GST turnover of less than $20 million. When preparing its quarterly activity statement ending 31 March 2013, Carlene's Cookies realises on 15 May 2013 (5 days after 10 May 2013), it made a GST error in working out its GST net amount for the December 2011 quarter.

As Carlene's Cookies is lodging its activity statement for the March 2013 quarter on or after 10 May 2013, Carlene's Cookies can rely on this guide to correct the December 2011 quarter error. It can correct the GST error even though the error was made on an activity statement for a reporting period that ended before 10 May 2013.

However, this guide would not apply if the later activity statement that Carlene's Cookies was preparing was for the June 2012 quarter. It cannot correct the GST error on that activity statement as it is for a reporting period that started before 1 July 2012.