Commissioner of Taxation Annual Report 2009-10

Part 1 - Commissioner's review

Who would have imagined that the Federal Land Tax Branch of Treasury established in 1910 to fund old age and invalid pensions would evolve into the modern Australian Taxation Office (ATO)?

Back then the office administered only federal land tax and in its first year assessed just 15,000 returns. Today, in its centenary year, the ATO administers a wide range of taxes, such as income tax, goods and services tax, petroleum resource rent tax, and excise. The ATO also has an important role in delivering a variety of other economic and social policies through our administration of major aspects of superannuation, the paying of benefits such as excise grants, and stewardship of the Australian Business Register.

Sections within Part 1 - Commissioner's review

• Reflections on a watershed year
• Strategic statement 2010-15
• Our performance
• Our finances
• The ATO then and now
• Looking forward
• Working for all Australians