Business
- [201826] Tax and System Governance Assurance Tool
- [201823] Effective life review of assets
- [201822] Earnout arrangements
- [201806 Professional firms - Allocation of profit guidelines and Everett Assignment web material [UPDATED]
- [201615] Single Touch Payroll [UPDATED]
[201826] Tax and System Governance Assurance Tool
Registered: November 2018
Expected completion: July 2019
Status
Currently seeking nominations from interested parties for proposed co-design workshops to be conducted in early December 2018.
Purpose
To seek:
- end user input into the development of the Tax and System Governance Assurance Tool (TASGATS)
- qualitative feedback on the benefits, time and cost savings the tools would deliver, if made available
and user test and shape external communication to raise awareness of Effective Tax Governance and IT System Governance.
Description
The ATO has used an Information System risk assessment tool over the past three years to assess the governance, and controls and health of Information Technology System (IT) used in the ATO’s Top 320 private groups tax performance program.
The tool assists to identify any risks that may impact on the completion and correctness of tax and superannuation reporting obligations.
The ATO has been approached by a number of agents and clients to consider releasing the tool so taxpayers can self-assess and/or prepare for an ATO Top 320 client engagement.
Who we are consulting
Privately Owned and Wealthy Groups and their tax professionals
Contact
Sharon Sutcliffe, TASGAT Project Lead, Indirect Tax
Sharon.Sutcliffe@ato.gov.au telephone (03) 9275 9733External Link
[201823] Effective life review of assets
Registered: August 2018
Expected completion: March 2019
Status
Consultation with appropriate industry participants will occur from June to December 2018, with public comment open until March 2019.
Purpose
To determine the effective life of assets used in the following industries:
- aged care
- banking
- residential property operators including rental properties
- scientific testing and analysis services – mineral lab assets
- supermarket and grocery stores
- wholesale trade – warehousing (multiple industries).
Description
Under section 40-100 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 the Commissioner may make determinations of the effective life of depreciating assets. The determinations will be used to update and expand the effective life schedule attached to Taxation Ruling TR 2018/4.
The draft effective lives determinations will be referred to an independent review panel expected to be held in late April 2019. The review panel checks the review process to confirm that the level of industry consultation was appropriate. If approved, the effective life determinations are expected to apply to assets purchased on or after 1 July 2018.
Who we are consulting
- profession associations
- industry associations
- businesses
- suppliers
- manufacturers and repairers of assets used in these industries
Contacts
Kim Dziedzic (Aged care), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
kim.dziedzic@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3213 5764External Link
Scott Harris (Banking), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
scott.harris@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3213 5791External Link
John Di Francesco (Residential property operators including rental properties), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
john.difrancesco@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3213 6059External Link
Susan Li (Scientific testing and analysis services – mineral labs), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
susan.li@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3119 9891External Link
Shirley Liao (Supermarket and grocery stores), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
shirley.liao@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3213 5264External Link
Bernie Mosslar (Wholesale trade - warehousing (multiple industries)), Capital Allowances Team, Advice and Guidance, Public Groups and International
bernard.mosslar@ato.gov.au telephone: (07) 3213 5586External Link
[201822] Earnout arrangements
Registered: August 2018
Expected completion: November 2018
Status
A discussion paper was released for closed consultation on 24 August 2018 with comment due 26 October 2018.
The ATO has released for public consultation the discussion paper 'Issues concerning earnout arrangements (excluding arrangements that create look-through earnout rights).
Purpose
The ATO is seeking feedback to:
- identify the need and priority for public advice and guidance in the ATO’s approach to the taxation of earnout arrangements which fall outside of Subdivision 118-I of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.this area
- review existing ATO guidance to identify areas which need to be clarified or changed.
Description
The Board of Taxation is currently conducting a post-implementation review of the tax treatment of contingent consideration (including earnouts). In light of the Board’s review, the ATO is seeking feedback on the need and priority for additional public advice and guidance on the income tax treatment of arrangements (commonly referred to as ‘earnouts’) entered into in the context of the sale of a business asset or interests in an entity carrying on a business.
While it is expected that most standard and reverse earnout arrangements created on or after 24 April 2015 would qualify for look-through treatment under Subdivision 118-I, there are arrangements that do not satisfy the requirements of a look-through earnout right. This discussion paper focuses on such arrangements which do not qualify as look-through earnout rights under Subdivision 118-I.
Who we are consulting
- Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC)
- Law Council of Australia
- Chartered Accountants ANZ
- Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
- Minerals Council of Australia (MCA)
- The Tax Institute
- Institute of Public Accountants
- Australian Mining & Petroleum Law Association (AMPLA)
- CPA Australia
- Corporate Tax Association
- Treasury
Contact
Angela Zhang, Director, Tax Counsel Network
FeedbackATOearnout@ato.gov.au telephone (02) 9374 2452External Link
[201615] Single Touch Payroll
Registered: April 2016
Expected completion: July 2019
Status
The status of activity from each of the Single Touch Payroll (STP) consultation groups are available at:
Purpose
To:
- raise awareness of Single Touch Payroll across industry
- ensure we engage with a broad cross section of industry, including software developers, solution providers, associations and businesses
- work in partnership with industry for them to help shape and influence design
- use industry expertise and experiences as we progress the implementation of STP.
Description
Schedule 23 of the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Act 2016External Link contains Single Touch Payroll reporting which means:
- employers with 20 or more employees are required to report through Single Touch Payroll-enabled software.
- the following information must be reported on or before the day you withhold from a payment (the pay day):
- payment information, including salary or wages, allowances, deductions, etc.
- withholding amounts
- superannuation liability information or ordinary times earnings (OTE).
- employers who fully report all the information required through Single Touch Payroll will not have to comply with a number of other reporting obligations under the existing law. This includes providing certain payment summaries and the corresponding payment summary annual report (PSAR). They will need to provide a finalisation declaration to the ATO.
- there is no requirement to pay PAYG withholding at the time of reporting, however an employer may make voluntary payments if they choose.
- From 1 July 2019 Single Touch Payroll will be mandatory for employers with 19 or less employees, subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. In addition, further design elements of Single Touch Payroll and initial guidance for Phase 2 of the program are continuing through consultation with key industry working groups.
Who we are consulting
- Intermediaries
- software developers
- businesses
- industry representatives
- super funds and clearing houses
- employees.
Contact
John Shepherd, Assistant Commissioner Single Touch Payroll, Small Business
singletouchpayroll@ato.gov.au telephone: (02) 6216 6678External Link
Matters we are consulting the community on, including their current status and purpose, who we are consulting, and when they are expected to be completed.