Tax professionals newsroom archive
20 Jan 2020
AUSkey closes in nine weeksAUSkey will no longer be available from late March. To continue using Online services for agents and your SBR-enabled software you will need to set up your myGovID.14 Jan 2020
New way to view tax accountsWe have consolidated our tax accounts into one system as part of the Activity statement financial processing project. This is a significant change that will improve your experience when viewing accounts in Online services for agents.09 Dec 2019
STP - time is running outIf you or your clients have not started Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting it is not too late, but time is running out. Help your clients work out the right pathway to get started.04 Dec 2019
Annual office closure and systems availabilityOur offices will close from midday Tuesday 24 December 2019, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2020. Check what systems will be available during this time.02 Dec 2019
Using your feedback to improve Online services for agentsWe welcome your feedback on your experience using Online services for agents, as we use it to fix issues and develop new services. Find out about recent changes we have made from your feedback.20 Nov 2019
Online services for agents - help is availableWe have a range of support services available to help you use Online services for agents.06 Nov 2019
Old tax and BAS agent portals closingFollowing recent consultation, we have decided to close the portals from 11.30pm AEDT Friday 29 November 2019. If you have not started using Online services for agents you need to transition now.29 Oct 2019
One system for all tax accountsActivity statement financial processing will consolidate all our tax accounts into one system, and will improve functions in Online services for agents. We are working with you and your professional associations to deliver the changes at the end of the year.22 Oct 2019
Get ready for myGovID and RAMGet your practice ready for myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).15 Oct 2019
Our upcoming system upgradesWe are undertaking a series of system improvements over the next six months. Plan ahead to minimise any impacts on your work processes.08 Oct 2019
STP - are your clients on board?Small employers began transitioning to Single Touch Payroll (STP) from 1 July this year. We will soon be contacting small employers about STP. Find out how to know your clients' STP status and what to do next.25 Sep 2019
Help with STPYou and your employer clients should be reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP), or should start soon. Find out where to go if you have a general enquiry or want more information about STP.25 Jun 2019
TPAR obligations now onlineYou can now see your clients' Taxable payments annual report (TPAR) obligations, lodge and amend reports using Online services for agents.
16 Dec 2019
Changes to small business CGT concessions - partnershipsRecent law changes mean a partner may not be able to access the small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions for capital gains arising from assigning rights to the income or capital of a partnership.18 Nov 2019
Small business CGT concessions - shares and trust interestsCheck if your clients are aware of the additional conditions that they need to meet to access the small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions for shares in a company or interests in a trust.18 Nov 2019
Deductions for payments to workersRemind your business clients that payments made to workers are not tax deductible if they do not comply with the pay as you go (PAYG) withholding obligations for those payments. Find out how your clients may still claim a deduction if they have not correctly withheld or reported to us.28 Oct 2019
Toolkits to help you lodge correctlyIf you haven't already, check out our 2019 Tax Time Toolkits filled with resources to help you and your clients lodge correctly.22 Oct 2019
Check income data before lodgingIf we identify income is incorrect or missing from a tax return, we will correct it before issuing a notice of assessment. Help ensure the accuracy of your clients' tax returns to avoid processing delays.08 Oct 2019
Deferred expansion of the RTP ScheduleLarge private companies and corporate groups will be required to complete Reportable Tax Position (RTP) Schedules from 1 July 2020.01 Oct 2019
Reporting asset disposals for CGTWe are paying close attention to capital gains made on shares, property and cryptocurrency. Remind your clients to report asset disposals to help get their capital gains tax (CGT) right.
05 Nov 2019
Payment due date for company and super clientsSome companies and superannuation funds have a payment due date of 1 December. If your clients have an income tax liability this year, you can check their payment due date online.28 Oct 2019
Improvements to payment plans in Online services for agentsWe have added new features to Online services for agents to help you support your clients, and make it easier for them to pay their tax debts.14 Oct 2019
Lodgment due date concessionsIf you think some of your clients may have missed out on your lodgment concession, wait until after 21 November to submit a deferral request.08 Oct 2019
Property developer NDEC and NNDEC obligationsYour property developer clients who sell property to foreign investors using New Dwelling Exemption Certificates (NDEC) and Near-New Dwelling Exemption Certificates (NNDEC) need to report their sales to us every six months.08 Oct 2019
Extra time for new clientsYou can request additional time to lodge your client's overdue tax returns if you take on new clients, or re-engage previous clients. Find out how.30 Sep 2019
New overdue lodgment reminder lettersKeep an eye out for our new overdue lodgment reminder letters and find out how to help your clients lodge on time.18 Jun 2019
Submitting a non-lodgment adviceIf your clients are not required to lodge an income tax return, tell us before the lodgment due date so we can update our records.06 Jun 2019
Deferral notification registered agents 4 JuneInformation for tax agents about the 5 June concessional arrangement for tax returns with a lodgment due date of 15 May 2019.
14 Nov 2019
SMSF bank accountsSelf-managed super funds (SMSFs) need to have a bank account in the fund's name to accept contributions, rollovers of super and income from investments. We will contact SMSF trustees to ask them to update their SMSF's bank account information if necessary.29 Oct 2019
Save time: do Division 293 elections onlineIt is quicker to action additional tax on concessional contributions (Division 293) election forms online. Find out how to lodge these using Online services for agents.22 Oct 2019
Recent law changes affecting SMSFsTreasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2019 has come into effect. It includes two integrity measures affecting self-managed super funds (SMSFs). Find out what your clients need to do.11 Oct 2019
Contacting employers about late or under-paid SGWe want to improve community confidence that Australian workers are receiving their correct super guarantee (SG) entitlements, on time. If your employer clients are not meeting their obligations, we may contact them about SG lodgment or payment.01 Oct 2019
Super more visible in Online services for agentsYou can now see more of your clients' superannuation information in Online services for agents. Read about our recent updates.25 Sep 2019
Super Fund Lookup status change for overdue SMSF annual returnsEffective 1 October 2019, the status of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) which have annual returns more than two weeks overdue will change on Super Fund Lookup.
28 Jan 2020
International investigations put the brakes on offshore tax evasionLast week, the ATO participated in a global day of action as part of our ongoing efforts to stamp out offshore tax evasion.28 Jan 2020
Tip-off to keep the competition fairIf something doesn't add up, a tip-off from you or your clients could be the missing piece of the puzzle we need to successfully audit or prosecute someone who is deliberately doing the wrong thing.28 Jan 2020
Come and talk with us at an Open ForumThe schedule for Open Forums from February to June 2020 is now available. Find out if we are coming to your area and take the opportunity to come and talk with us.21 Jan 2020
GST at settlement processing delaysGST at settlement refunds may be delayed if forms are lodged incorrectly. Find out how you and your clients can avoid these common errors when lodging GST at settlement forms.21 Jan 2020
Valuing car parking fringe benefitsYour clients must check that valuations, required under the market value method, are reasonable despite engaging an arm's length valuer. From February we may contact your clients if they have had a valuation for their car parking fringe benefits.13 Jan 2020
Bushfire supportAutomatic deferrals are available for lodgments and payments for bushfire-impacted postcodes. Read about how we can support you and your clients.18 Dec 2019
GST advice for credit cards and financial suppliesDetermining entitlement to GST credits in a credit card issuing business requires an analysis of the relationship between costs and supplies. We have information to help you and your clients undertake that analysis, including a Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG).17 Dec 2019
End of year message from Assistant Commissioner Kath AndersonAssistant Commissioner Kath Anderson acknowledges a busy year and our 2020 priorities for tax professionals.12 Dec 2019
Our digital services beyond the portals - webcast recording availableThe recording and transcript for the latest Tax professionals conversations webcast held on 9 December is available. Don't miss our panel's in-depth discussion about our digital services beyond the portals, and learn more about myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM), replacing AUSkey in March 2020.06 Dec 2019
FBT exemptions for employers during emergenciesFringe benefits tax (FBT) exemptions apply when employers provide certain assistance to their employees in emergencies, such as natural disasters.03 Dec 2019
Shutting your business in December or JanuaryIf you or your clients are Single Touch Payroll reporting and need to lodge payroll information while your business is shut, find out what you can do.03 Dec 2019
Join our live webcast - 9 DecemberOur next live Tax professionals conversations webcast is on Monday 9 December 2019. Tune in for an in-depth discussion about our digital services, including the closure of the portals and myGovID.27 Nov 2019
Tax inVoice talks STP in our last episode of the yearThe final Tax inVoice episode for 2019 tackles Single Touch Payroll (STP). Tim Hoopmann, Founder of Spinn Business Solutions and Assistant Commissioner Jason Lucchese discuss why STP was introduced, how to comply with the new reporting, and why it's not too late to get started.19 Nov 2019
Do your clients have NRAS rental properties?We will send letters to claimants of the national rental affordability scheme (NRAS), reminding them of the conditions for claiming a refundable tax offset and to apportion their expenses when claiming deductions. Remind your clients of the requirements to claim the NRAS.12 Nov 2019
Tax Time 2019 rolls on2019 has been a year of change for you and your clients. We value the role you play in the tax and super systems, helping your clients understand and meet their obligations, and contributing to a successful tax time this year.11 Nov 2019
Do your clients hire contractors?Employers can be caught out with penalties and charges if they misclassify their workers. Help your clients decide if their contractors are actually employees.11 Nov 2019
Increased use of contractors over the holidays may lead to TPAR reportingIn the lead up to the holiday season, some of your clients may use more courier or cleaning contractors, and therefore may need to lodge a Taxable payments annual report (TPAR) in August 2020. Check if this applies to your clients in businesses like retail and event management who pay contractors for cleaning and courier services.11 Nov 2019
Expansion of the Tax Avoidance Taskforce for private groupsThe Tax Avoidance Taskforce has been expanded to give the community confidence that private groups and high wealth individuals pay the right amount of tax.21 Oct 2019
Inactive ABNs to be cancelledOver the coming months we will focus more on inactive Australian business numbers (ABNs). Cancelling inactive ABNs will help us ensure the information on the Australian Business Register (ABR) is accurate.09 Oct 2019
Stay smart online to avoid cybercrimeCybercrime costs the Australian economy over $1 billion every year. During Stay Smart Online week (7–13 October) reverse the threat of cybercrime and check your practice and clients are staying safe online.30 Sep 2019
Supporting your clientsWe understand unexpected life events can sometimes cause financial stress or serious hardship. Your clients' wellbeing is a priority, and we will help support them during difficult times.26 Sep 2019
Our digital services and assurance work - webcast recording availableThe recording and transcript for the latest Tax professionals conversations webcast held on 19 September is available. Hear about our digital services and assurance work.24 Sep 2019
Checking TPAR obligationsMore of your clients may need to lodge a Taxable payments annual report (TPAR). Check your clients' TPAR obligations are up to date.24 Sep 2019
Updates to GST at settlement formsThe two GST at settlement forms purchasers need to complete and lodge have been updated. Find out about the changes.16 Sep 2019
Consultation on the proposed expansion of the estimates regime to counter illegal phoenix behaviourProvide your feedback on our draft Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG) on the extension of the estimates regime to goods and services tax (GST), luxury car tax (LCT) and wine equalisation Tax (WET).25 Jul 2019
Tax assistance for North Queensland floodsIf the North Queensland floods have affected you or your clients, we can assist. Read about how we can work with you to find a solution based on your circumstances.