ato logo
Search Suggestion:

Key changes

Learn about key system updates in Online services for agents.

Last updated 3 October 2023

System updates

We continue to update Online services for agents to:

  • align with legislative changes
  • enhance functionality based on your feedback.

The functions available to you in the system are determined by the services you provide as a tax or BAS agent and your Access Manager permissions. This means you may not have access to view all available features.

September 2023

On demand reports – 'Client nominations' is a new on demand report available that provides a real-time view of nominations that have been completed by your client relating to client-to-agent linking. More information can be found in the 'Reports and forms' section of the Online services for agents user guide.

Excise system updates – we're updating the systems so that excise duty returns and excise claims will now be available to lodge online from September. You will also be able to view transaction history, amend previous returns you have lodged online, easily submit a Nil return, and make payments and enter into a payment plan.

July 2023

Practice mail overdue client obligations message – we're expanding our use of practice mail messages to provide you with information about your clients outstanding lodgment and/or payment obligations and necessary actions to be taken.

Where we have been unable to contact you by phone, we'll leave a voicemail advising of our attempted contact and send a practice mail message via Online services for agents.

The practice mail message will include a PDF attachment with:

  • details of the overdue obligations
  • specific actions required to meet obligations, including self-serve options
  • due dates for those actions
  • a phone number if help is required.

April 2023

Lodgment deferrals – you can now submit and view Lodgment deferral requests via the new Lodgment deferral form under the Reports and Forms menu.

Getting started – requests that meet our Agent assessed or New or re-engaged client deferral guidelines will be processed within 48 hours.

December 2022

Add client and Maintain authorisations – we're further strengthening the security of our online services to help protect you and your clients against fraud and identity-related theft.

We're progressively rolling out the new Client-to-agent linking in online services process to more taxpayers, starting with large businesses and some private groups. Taxpayers included will be required to complete an agent nomination before you can add them as a client or change existing authorisations. More information is available about which types of clients are included and what you need to do.

March 2022

Non-concessional contributions – you can now view display of historical (2018–2019 financial years onward) and current non-concessional contributions for your client's superannuation contributions.

January 2022

Digital instalment notice – a notice that contains all the relevant information for your clients to pay their instalment amounts. You can download the notice from Communication history and pass it onto your clients.

December 2021

Reports – 'Reported transactions' is a new pre-generated report available in the Client reports menu. You can view, filter and download reported transactions that occurred since 1 July 2017, for the following data types:

  • business transactions through payment systems
  • government grants
  • taxable payments.

More information can be found in the Online services for agents user guide.

On demand reports:

  • Outstanding activity statement (current + previous 3 years) – there are now additional columns of data providing a more comprehensive view of your client’s lodgment and payment obligations.
  • Income tax lodgment status (current + previous 3 years) – there are now additional columns of data providing a more comprehensive view of your client’s lodgment and payment obligations.

More information can be found in the 'Reports and forms' section of the Online services for agents user guide.

Practice mail – 'New topic' and 'Subjects' are now available in Practice mail:

September 2021

Business – the menu item 'Commonwealth procurement statement' has been updated to 'Statement of tax record'. There are additional fields to complete if your client is applying as a group head of an income tax consolidated group whose subsidiary member is tendering for a Commonwealth Government contract.

Advanced search – you can now allow 10,000 clients to be downloaded via CSV or HTML. If you have more than 10,000 clients, download your clients into separate list using filters.

Accounts and payments – the menu item ‘Excise and Resource Rent tax accounts’ has been replaced with new menu items:

  • 'Excise account'
  • 'Resource rent account'.

Accounts and payments – You can see the new GST Director Penalty account in 'Accounts Summary'.

New client forms:

  • Fuel tax credit non-GST – you can now register and claim using Online Services for Agents.
  • Product stewardship for oil – you can now register and claim using Online Services for Agents.

July 2021

Payment plans – an 'arrears' status has been added to advise if scheduled payments have been missed.

June 2021

Communication preferences – the declaration has been updated. When you set communication preferences to ‘Practice’ you are designating Online services for agents as your client’s preferred address for certain ATO communications.

March 2021

JobMaker Hiring Credit:

  • View payments – you can view payments made for JobMaker Hiring Credit claims.

Lodge an objection – this form now includes fields for you to provide the:

  • grounds for the objection
  • reasons for your client not lodging the objection on time.

It is no longer mandatory to upload an attachment to this form.

February 2021

JobMaker Hiring Credit – you can submit a JobMaker Hiring Credit claim.

January 2021

JobMaker Hiring Credit – you can view information about employees who have been nominated for the JobMaker Hiring Credit.

QC57720