Applying for a lodgment deferral

Before you apply

Before you apply for lodgment deferrals, see how lodgment deferrals work to find out:

• how we grant deferrals
• which obligations are eligible
• when you don't need to apply.

You'll need to have some information ready before you apply, including full details of:

• the exceptional or unforeseen circumstances you, your practice or your clients are experiencing
• how those circumstances are affecting your ability to lodge by the due date.

Exceptional or unforeseen circumstances are outlined in PS LA 2011/15 Lodgment obligations, due dates and deferrals.

If you're requesting a payment deferral at the same time as a lodgment deferral, you'll need to provide full details of the circumstances preventing your client from paying by the due date. Your request must be consistent with PS LA 2011/14 General debt collection powers and principles.

How to apply

You can request lodgment deferrals in Online services for agents:

• select Reports and forms
• select Forms
• select Lodgment deferral.

You can request up to 40 deferrals at a time. If you need more than 40 deferrals, you can submit additional requests.

On-screen prompts will help you as you go. You can also watch our instructional videos or refer to the Online services for agents user guide for instructions.

Instructional videos

This video demonstrates how to add a single lodgment deferral.

This video explains how to add multiple lodgment deferrals.

Provide valid supporting information

You need to include valid information to support your request, so we can assess it. This includes full details of:

• the exceptional or unforeseen circumstances you, your practice or your clients are experiencing
• how those circumstances are affecting your ability to lodge by the due date
• if applicable, why you are submitting the request after the lodgment due date.

This information will allow us to take all circumstances into consideration when assessing your request. It will also help prevent delays or your request being declined.

Significant global entities and large businesses

You should submit lodgment deferral requests for significant global entities or large business, including excise taxpayers, in a separate request from those you submit for other clients.

This will ensure your request is forwarded without delay to our team of large business specialists for their consideration. They may contact you about deferral requests for those entities.

New or re-engaged clients

Only select New or re-engaged client as the lodgment deferral reason if your client's current year tax return has a lodgment due date of 31 October.

You can select a different deferral reason from the drop-down list if:

• your client has any other lodgment due date for their current year return
• you need more than 6 weeks to lodge their overdue tax returns
• your client has overdue obligations that are not tax returns.

Find out how new or re-engaged client lodgment deferrals work.

After you apply

You will receive a receipt ID when you submit your request. You can also view the request along with any others you've submitted in the previous 90 days.

Processing your request

If your request meets the agent assessed or new or re-engaged client deferral guidelines, it will be processed within 48 hours.

All other requests will be escalated for manual assessment as an ATO assessed deferral and may take up to 28 days to finalise in peak lodgment periods.

See View your submitted lodgment deferral requests for the reasons a request may be escalated for manual assessment, rejected or failed.

Notifying you of the outcome

If your request is escalated for manual assessment, we will notify you of the outcome through the practice inbox in Online services for agents. The practice inbox is different to your personal inbox. If you haven't used the practice inbox before, you may need to access it to activate it. This will ensure you receive messages about the outcome of lodgment deferral requests. See Practice mail for more information.

If your request is approved, the deferred due date will show in Online services for agents and on your practitioner lodgment service (PLS) client report.

If your request is declined or varied, we will provide a reason for the decision.

The Lodgment deferral history screen also displays the receipt ID and the outcome of requests submitted through the lodgment deferral function in the previous 90 days.