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Record keeping essentials
  
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Start with the 'Basics' to find out which issues affect your business or follow the links to specific topics.
Basic topics
Keeping good records
Business records you need to keep
A basic paper record keeping system
Advanced topics
Records of withholding from businesses
Reporting & paying tax
Record Keeping Tools
For specific industries
Stocktakes & other year-end records
Substituted accounting period
Electronic record keeping & reporting
Commercially available software
Magnetic media reporting
Reporting and paying tax on the internet
Application for a substituted accounting period (SAP)
Application form to apply for a substituted accounting period (SAP) or to change from a SAP back to a normal accounting period.
Commercially available software
Our product register lists commercially available, tax-related software products that meet our requirements.
Computer assisted verification fact sheet for businesses
Fact sheet outlining the computer assisted verification (CAV) process.
Information systems risk assessment fact sheet
This fact sheet outlines how the ATO assesses the integrity of your information systems.
Penalties for not keeping proper records
This fact sheet explains what records you need to keep and what penalties we may impose if you fail to keep proper records.
How to lodge your pay as you go (PAYG) withholding annual reports electronically
This guide provides information to payers to help them lodge their pay as you go reports electronically.
How to lodge your pay as you go (PAYG) withholding annual reports electronically
This guide provides information to payers to help them lodge their pay as you go reports electronically.
How to pay
Provides information on payment methods available when making a payment to the ATO.
Penalties for not keeping proper records
This fact sheet explains what records you need to keep and what penalties we may impose if you fail to keep proper records.
How to set out tax invoices and invoices
Voluntary standards to help you set out tax invoices as well as invoices that don't include GST. NAT 11675-11.2010
Valid tax invoices and GST credits
Explains the requirements of a valid tax invoice and recipient created tax invoices (RCTIs). NAT 12358
Is your business tax-ready?
Information and download of TaxReady - a tool to help small businesses improve their business tax practices.
Personal living expenses
This guide explains the importance we place on examining taxpayers' household expenditure when seeking to identify omitted cash income in the course of reviews or audits.
Record Keeping Evaluation Tool
Advice about business records you need to keep, and how well you keep them.
Oyster farmers - stock on hand
Oyster farmers who use the 'per stick' method in PS LA 2006/3 to calculate the value of their trading stock at the end of each income year will be accepted as having complied with the law.
PAYG withholding annual report - payments to foreign residents
Use this form to report payments made to foreign residents in the last financial year for entertainment or sports activities, construction and related activities and casino gaming junket activities.
PAYG withholding from interest, dividend and royalty payments paid to non-residents - annual report
Instructions and sample form for reporting payments of interest and unfranked dividends paid to non-residents that are not reported on an annual investment income report (AIIR), and royalties paid to non-residents. NAT 7187.
PAYG withholding where ABN not quoted - annual report
You should complete this form when reporting amounts that are withheld from a supplier that does not quote their Australian business number (ABN). You are required to complete details of each payee from which you have withheld amounts.
PAYG withholding annual report - payments to foreign residents
Use this form to report payments made to foreign residents in the last financial year for entertainment or sports activities, construction and related activities and casino gaming junket activities.
Record keeping for barter transactions
Details what records you need to keep for your barter transactions if you operate a small business involved in bartering.
Record keeping in the plastering industry
Provides guidance to help plasterers meet their tax obligations.
Record keeping in the primary production industry
Sets out what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the primary production industry. (NAT 11033)
Record keeping in the pubs and clubs industry
Details what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the pubs and clubs industry.
Record keeping in the restaurant and catering industry
Sets out what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the restaurant and catering industry. NAT 12661
Record keeping in the retail cafe industry
Providing guidance to help cafes meet their tax obligations.
Record keeping in the retail industry
This fact sheet provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the retail industry. NAT 10898
Record keeping in the service industry
Provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the service industry. NAT 11008
Record keeping in the wholesale industry
Provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the wholesale industry. NAT 11007
Tips and gratuities
How tax applies to tips (gratuities) you receive or distribute to your employees or contractors.
Application for a substituted accounting period (SAP)
Application form to apply for a substituted accounting period (SAP) or to change from a SAP back to a normal accounting period.
Commercially available software
Our product register lists commercially available, tax-related software products that meet our requirements.
Computer assisted verification fact sheet for businesses
Fact sheet outlining the computer assisted verification (CAV) process.
How to lodge your pay as you go (PAYG) withholding annual reports electronically
This guide provides information to payers to help them lodge their pay as you go reports electronically.
How to pay
Provides information on payment methods available when making a payment to the ATO.
How to set out tax invoices and invoices
Voluntary standards to help you set out tax invoices as well as invoices that don't include GST. NAT 11675-11.2010
Information systems risk assessment fact sheet
This fact sheet outlines how the ATO assesses the integrity of your information systems.
Is your business tax-ready?
Information and download of TaxReady - a tool to help small businesses improve their business tax practices.
Oyster farmers - stock on hand
Oyster farmers who use the 'per stick' method in PS LA 2006/3 to calculate the value of their trading stock at the end of each income year will be accepted as having complied with the law.
PAYG withholding annual report - payments to foreign residents
Use this form to report payments made to foreign residents in the last financial year for entertainment or sports activities, construction and related activities and casino gaming junket activities.
PAYG withholding from interest, dividend and royalty payments paid to non-residents - annual report
Instructions and sample form for reporting payments of interest and unfranked dividends paid to non-residents that are not reported on an annual investment income report (AIIR), and royalties paid to non-residents. NAT 7187.
PAYG withholding where ABN not quoted - annual report
You should complete this form when reporting amounts that are withheld from a supplier that does not quote their Australian business number (ABN). You are required to complete details of each payee from which you have withheld amounts.
Penalties for not keeping proper records
This fact sheet explains what records you need to keep and what penalties we may impose if you fail to keep proper records.
Personal living expenses
This guide explains the importance we place on examining taxpayers' household expenditure when seeking to identify omitted cash income in the course of reviews or audits.
Record Keeping Evaluation Tool
Advice about business records you need to keep, and how well you keep them.
Record keeping for barter transactions
Details what records you need to keep for your barter transactions if you operate a small business involved in bartering.
Record keeping for small business
Guide to setting up a workable recording system in a new business. NAT 3029
Record keeping in the plastering industry
Provides guidance to help plasterers meet their tax obligations.
Record keeping in the primary production industry
Sets out what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the primary production industry. (NAT 11033)
Record keeping in the pubs and clubs industry
Details what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the pubs and clubs industry.
Record keeping in the restaurant and catering industry
Sets out what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the restaurant and catering industry. NAT 12661
Record keeping in the retail cafe industry
Providing guidance to help cafes meet their tax obligations.
Record keeping in the retail industry
This fact sheet provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the retail industry. NAT 10898
Record keeping in the service industry
Provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the service industry. NAT 11008
Record keeping in the wholesale industry
Provides guidelines on what records you need to keep for your daily business transactions if you operate a small business in the wholesale industry. NAT 11007
Tips and gratuities
How tax applies to tips (gratuities) you receive or distribute to your employees or contractors.
Valid tax invoices and GST credits
Explains the requirements of a valid tax invoice and recipient created tax invoices (RCTIs). NAT 12358
Your small business tax calendar
Your small business tax calendar is an easy-to-use computer tool that will help you plan and manage your tax obligations.
Record keeping for small business
Guide to setting up a workable recording system in a new business. NAT 3029
Your small business tax calendar
Your small business tax calendar is an easy-to-use computer tool that will help you plan and manage your tax obligations.
  
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