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Chapter 8: Record keeping

Last updated 30 June 2006

You must support your assessment of or exemption from FIF taxation with records. The record keeping outlined in this chapter is a statutory requirement and there are prosecution provisions which may apply if you do not maintain the appropriate records.

You should also maintain attribution account records. For more information, read Chapter 6: Avoiding double taxation. If you do not keep these records, you will not be able to take advantage of:

Generally, you must keep records for five years after you prepared or obtained them, or after you completed the transactions or acts to which those records relate, whichever is the later. [section 262A]

The period in which the Commissioner may amend an assessment may be extended by an order of the Federal Court of Australia or with your consent. Where this occurs, you must keep your records for five years or to the end of the period during which the assessment may be amended, whichever is later. [paragraph 170(2)(b), subsections 170(4A) and 170(4B) and subsection 262A(4)]

You do not need to keep records where the Commissioner has notified you that retention of records is not required or if your company has gone into liquidation and finally dissolved. [subsection 262A(5)]

You must keep records in the English language or, if not in written form - for example, on magnetic tape or computer disk - in a form which can be readily accessed and translated into writing in English.

You must also keep records to allow your liability to tax to be readily worked out. [section 622]

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