Our intent builds on our purpose and vision, clarifying our role and the direction we are heading as an organisation.
We help fund Australia’s present and future by administering a fair and effective tax system. As the principal revenue collection agency, we deliver on our purpose:
- We collect tax so that government can deliver services for the Australian community.
Doing this well funds essential services such as roads, hospitals, schools and emergency services, while supporting a strong economy and a fair society.
We ensure all taxpayers pay the right amount of tax through systems, processes, and interactions that reduce costs. We protect taxpayers’ rights and welcome proper scrutiny, acting with integrity, exercising sound judgment and owning our decisions.
In a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, we work with partners to design integrated services and focus our efforts where the impact is greatest.
We are skilled and ready to adapt, embracing technology, data and digital tools to create a future where tax just happens, with most obligations met by default.
United by strong leadership, and a culture of collaboration and innovation, we will deliver on our vision:
- An Australia where every taxpayer meets their obligations because
- complying is easy
- help is tailored
- deliberate non-compliance has consequences.
Complying is easy
We are shaping a future where all taxpayers can access digital services that are simple and intuitive, so obligations are largely met by default.
We are making this real by ensuring:
- lodgment obligations are streamlined or removed for more taxpayers, building on the improvements already delivered for individuals
- more tax is withheld closer to taxable event and at source, improving payment compliance and reducing the risk of taxpayers falling into debt
- pre-filling is expanded across all taxpayers using verifiable data including first party data generated through digital business and payment systems, other government agencies, employers and financial institutions.
Help is tailored
We are shaping a future where most taxpayers meet their obligations without needing our help, so we can focus on those dealing with complex affairs and those facing challenges or with less access or ability to use digital pathways.
We are making this real by ensuring:
- digital services are personalised, real-time and interactive, using prompts and nudges to help prevent errors and provide reminders
- our people have the capacity and skills to focus on complex matters requiring judgment, and support those unable to self-serve
- support is tailored to taxpayers’ circumstances, including those who are experiencing vulnerability.
Deliberate non-compliance has consequences
We are shaping a future where we quickly detect and respond to non-compliance and fraud, and visible action drives ongoing compliance.
We are making this real by ensuring:
- our people are supported by automation, artificial intelligence and analytics to prevent fraud and non-compliance in real-time and target the right cases for reviews and audits
- people who repeatedly fail to lodge or pay, and deliberate misreporting, are met with visible and firmer enforcement
- aggressive arrangements exploiting gaps in the law to avoid reporting and paying tax are detected and disrupted earlier, and systemically
- strategic litigation and penalties clearly demonstrate the consequences of non-compliance and fraud.
To deliver on our intent we are focusing on what matters most with 5 strategic shifts that form the core of the ATO Strategy.