ATO consultation report
This report describes ATO consultation activities in August 2020.
This report is prepared monthly and shared with our stewardship groups.
It contains:
Consultation matters
Statistics
Consultation matters received
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3
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Consultation matters completed
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0
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Matters under consultation
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16
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Draft advice and guidance products open for consultation
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2
|
Consultation matters received
If a consultation matter was received and completed in the reporting period, the information is provided under consultation matters completed.
[202021] Online Super Guarantee Employee Notification Form and Tracker - User Testing
[202020] Excise Guidelines for the Alcohol Industry – Excise Refund Scheme
[202018] User experience – initial interaction with ATO
Consultation matters completed
No consultation matters were completed in the reporting period.
Draft advice and guidance products open for consultation
Draft Legislative Instrument Self Managed Superannuation Funds (COVID-19 Rental income deferrals – In-house Asset Exclusion) Determination 2020
Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2017/4DC2 ATO compliance approach to taxation issues associated with cross-border related party financing arrangements and related transactions
See open consultation for current products open for consultation.
News
Stewardship groups
The Small Business Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:
- Digital cash flow coaching kit and how it could be used to help businesses impacted by COVD-19
- Modernising Business Registers Program and Director Identification Number
- superannuation guarantee amnesty
- updates on the JobKeeper Payment measure, early release of superannuation, the boosting cash flow for employers measure, and the extension of the instant asset write-off scheme
- how the stimulus measures are working and how processes could be improved
- ATO’s communication strategy and information needs of small business regarding the COVID-19 stimulus measures.
The Superannuation Industry Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:
- COVID-19 early release of superannuation (ERS), lessons learnt and impacts on the industry
- Early access to Superannuation and Financial Hardship program
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s Internal dispute resolution framework (RG 271External Link)
- Superannuation environment and overview with updates from the regulators.
The Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) met and the topics discussed included:
- Government stimulus measures
- the ATO’s re-engagement strategy for debt and lodgment
- the cash flow coaching kit
- superannuation guarantee amnesty
- TPSG stewardship group governance.
Weekly meetings continued throughout August to discuss the progress of Tax Time 2020, the ATO’s approach to the stimulus measures and COVID-19 impacts on the tax profession. Ongoing concerns raised by members on the ATO Legal database have been resolved with the update that was made to the database on 24 August 2020.
Additional meetings held in August with TPSG, BAS Agent Association Group and tax professional association representatives included discussions on:
- Government changes to the JobKeeper program
- impacts of the Victorian shutdown situation
- changes to activity statement notifications.
Special purpose working groups
The Fringe Benefits Tax Working Group met and topics discussed included:
- annual review of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Working Group to plan for the next 12 months
- guidance for home garaging of cars during COVID-19
- employee contributions to car fringe benefits, specifically where employee payments of fuel are reimbursed and what the flow-on effect is to the amount of deduction under both the 'logbook' and 'per kilometre' method
- whether an associate can be a recipient of a car benefit, and whether a recipient’s expenses can be taken into account when incurred by an associate
- working from home arrangements and the effect of expenditures on FBT – guidance to be provided following further input from members
- bona fide leases for FBT purposes.
The Single Touch Payroll Advisory GroupExternal Link met and topics discussed included:
- insights and updates from industry members and their communities
- progress of Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 including updates on the Changing Income Reporting and Other measures Act 2020 which changes the Social Security assessment model and will come into effect on 7 December 2020
- Tax Time 2020 and the increase in employers finalising their employee records early.
The Tax Time Shareable Content Group met to review four new draft tax time products:
- Community support worker, direct carer poster (what can be claimed)
- How to calculate the cost base for a rental property
- Selling a rental property - What are the capital gains tax obligations
- Claiming loans and interest expenses as a deduction.
Other related groups
The STP Client Engagement Focus Group (sub group of the STP special purpose working groups) met and topics discussed included:
- STP onboarding information and insights
- Tax Time 2020 progress and insight in employer behaviour throughout this tax time
- client engagement strategies and employer engagement for STP reporting
- industry member updates and insights into the current environment.
Stakeholder relationship groups
The BAS Agent Association Group met and the topics discussed included:
- COVID-19 stimulus measures and supporting the tax profession
- Single Touch Payroll
- ATO Online services for agents
- ATO’s re-engagement strategy for debt and lodgment
- cash flow coaching kit
- taxable payments reporting system.
The SMSF Auditors Professional Association Stakeholder Group met and the topics discussed included:
Monthly report on ATO consultation.