Welcome and governance
The ATO Co-chair welcomed members and ATO attendees to the Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) Tax Time 2025 meeting.
ATO Updates
Frontline Services
We advised it's been a busy couple of weeks.
Overall, we've received 5 million individual lodgments, which is a 1% decrease from last year. Of this total, numbers are very similar for self-preparers, whilst agent-lodged returns are down 4% compared to this time last year.
We've received on average around 22,000 calls from agents each week, totalling 133,000. This is 12% down from this time last year.
Around 96.5% of Single Touch Payroll (STP) records have been finalised. This is similar to the same time last year.
IT system updates & maintenance
We noted good stability and performance across systems throughout the past fortnight. Key systems are reporting green.
ATO Digital services
We noted that digital services are operating as intended and there is nothing to report.
ATO Communications
Tax Time messaging has continued around themes of:
- claiming deductions correctly
- scam awareness and identity protection, and
- lodgment options.
Study loan changes are now law with Royal Assent received on Saturday 9 August 2025. The ATO website and the Tax professionals newsletter will contain all relevant and up to date information. The key messages are:
- No action is required for the reduction to be applied.
- People should lodge as normal and we will notify clients when the 20% reduction has been applied to their loan accounts.
- The reduction will be rolled-out in stages with most completed by the end of December 2025. More complex cases may take longer.
We have a new campaign to promote the security features of the ATO app going live 13 August 2025. The messaging will be along the lines of:
- stop fraudsters fast, and
- get some peace of mind in your pocket.
Member Insights and Experience
Members agreed that due to a conflict with a Tax Practitioners Board meeting, the next scheduled meeting on 26 August 2025 will be cancelled. Tax time matters will be covered at the September Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group meeting on 2 September 2025.