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ATO consultation report

Monthly report on ATO consultation activities.

Last updated 3 September 2026

About the ATO consultation report

This report describes ATO consultation activities in August 2026.

It contains:

Consultation matters

Statistics

Consultation matters received

1

Consultation matters completed

0

Matters under consultation

7

Advice and guidance products released for comment

4

Legislative instruments released for comment

1

Consultation matters received

[202606] Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions – Public advice and guidance.

Consultation matters completed

No consultation matters were closed in August 2026.

Advice and guidance products released for comment

Decision Impact Statements

Alcoa of Australia Ltd and Commissioner of Taxation [2025] ARTA 482

Draft Tax Ruling

TR 2026/D1 Income tax: receipt and disposal of crypto assets by an airdrop

Draft Taxation Determination

TD 2026/D2 Income tax: capital gains tax consequences of using a smart contract to wrap and unwrap crypto assets

Law Companion Ruling

LCR 2026/D5 The standard deduction for work-related expenses Legislative instruments released for comment

Draft Legislative Instruments

Draft Legislative Instrument A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Simplified Accounting Method for Restaurants, Cafes and Caterers) Determination 2026

Draft Explanatory Statements

Draft Explanatory Statement A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Simplified Accounting Method for Restaurants, Cafes and Caterers) Determination 2026

See open consultation for products open for comment.

News

Stewardship groups

The GST Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Tax Practitioner Board guidance on the use of AI
    • AI use by GST advisers and practitioners
    • AI use by taxpayers in preparing Business activity statements
    • Large business AI use cases
    • AI and digital service providers
    • AI and the ATO.
  • GST debt
    • GST performance and debt landscape
    • risks, behaviours, system pressures
    • Director penalty notices, debt recovery, fairness and safeguards.
  • Corporate Tax Association 2025 Tax Team Benchmarking Survey
  • Community and industry insights roundtable
  • Legislation and ATO update.

The Individuals Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • New Budget Measures for Individuals
  • ATO Strategy
  • Working with advocacy groups in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communications.

The Large Business Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • ATO use of AI
  • Large market reporting review
  • Board of Taxation update
  • uplifting Australian business number authentication
  • Public country-by-country reporting implementation
  • Private capital program
  • updates on Mutual Agreement Procedures and the Advanced Pricing Arrangement Program
  • Pillar Two implementation
  • Diverted Profits Tax – PSLA 2017/2
  • advice and guidance updates
  • Large market dispute resolution update
  • Treasury update
  • productivity enhancement measures
  • supplementary annual GST return implementation update.

The National Tax Liaison Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • ATO corporate plan
  • dispute resolution update
  • Public advice and guidance priorities
  • Cost of compliance framework
  • Digital services in the tax system.

An additional out of session meeting was also held to discuss ATO communication products.

The Private Groups Stewardship Groups met out of session and the topics discussed included:

  • announced budget measures relating to trusts
  • capital gains tax
  • negative gearing.

The Small Business Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • opportunities to improve
    • tailored support, guidance, and compliance for small businesses
    • payment performance and debt outcomes
    • Online services for business.

The Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group met and the topics discussed included:

  • progress of tax time 2026
  • environmental scan on issues or concerns being raised across the profession.

An additional out of session meeting was also held to discuss:

  • ATO update on fraud campaigns targeting intermediaries
  • 2026 Budget measures.

Upcoming meetings

QC43732