Latest News
PAYGW reminders for activity statement lodgments
The ATO will be sending certain employers a reminder to lodge their activity statements. The reminder will include the amounts the ATO has on record for them, such as: PAYG withheld amounts reported through Single Touch Payroll; and any other pre-filled amounts, including GST instalments and PAYG instalments (instalment amount option). The ATO’s reminders are […]
ATO AFCX data-matching program
The ATO will acquire relevant account and transaction data (data-matching) from the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (‘AFCX’) for the 2025 to 2027 income years, including the following: Client identification details (names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, identity verification document details, IP addresses, etc); and Bank account transaction details (bank account details, transaction date and […]
Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is closing
The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (‘SBSCH’) will close on 1 July 2026. Editor: The SBSCH is a free online service provided by the Australian Government through the ATO. The SBSCH can be used by employers to pay superannuation for all their employees through a single payment. The SBSCH will then distribute the money to […]
Getting the main residence exemption right
The ATO has the following tips for taxpayers in relation to the CGT main residence exemption. They should consider if they have bought or disposed of property in the past income year. If they have sold property, were they using it solely as their primary place of residence, earning income from it (rental or business), […]
Bill to reduce student debt now law
Legislation has recently been enacted which delivers on the 2025/26 Federal Budget announcement to reduce student debts. Pursuant to this legislation: there is a one-off 20% reduction to Higher Education Loan Program debts and other student loans that were incurred on or before 1 June 2025; the minimum repayment threshold is increased from $54,435 in […]
ATO to include tax ‘debts on hold’ in taxpayer account balances
From August 2025, the ATO is progressively including ‘debts on hold’ in relevant taxpayer ATO account balances. Editor: A ‘debt on hold’ is an outstanding tax debt where the ATO has previously paused debt collection actions. Tax debts will generally be placed on hold where the ATO decides it is not cost effective to collect […]
ATO Scam Calls – What You Need To Know
As most of you should hopefully know by now, there are MANY ATO scam calls going around Australia from automated voice messages to real people impersonating your accountant or tax agent. Recently the ATO have been made aware of the current scam calls which involve a pre-recorded call impersonating the ATO and threatening Australian Taxpayers […]
Your Tax Return Due Date and Overdue Implications
It is important to understand your obligations as an Australian Taxpayer to know your tax return due date. It’s extremely important. We have broken it down for you in simple terms to better understand your tax return due date. If you are lodging your taxes using an online platform yourself, you are required to lodge […]
Single Touch Payroll For Employees
With the introduction of Single Touch Payroll for employees, the way workplaces report your tax and super information the ATO has changed. The ATO have changed the way workplaces will be reporting your tax and super information which will provide the ATO with your tax and super information on more of a frequent basis. The […]
Airbnb in the Firing Line This Tax Season
With the increased popularity in “sharing economy” accommodation Airbnb and similar properties are predicted to be in the firing line this year with the ATO. It comes as no surprise the ATO have recently commenced the ‘sharing economy (accommodation) data matching program’. Through this program the ATO will be collecting information from rental platforms such […]
Employees and Payment Summaries
The ATO has also reminded employees about employees and payment summaries. How they get their end of financial year information from their employer, showing their earnings for the year, depends on how their employer reports their income, tax and super information to the ATO. Specifically: Employers that are not yet reporting through STP will continue […]
Cryptocurrency Data Matching Program
The ATO is collecting bulk records from Australian cryptocurrency designated service providers (‘DSPs’) as part of a Cryptocurrency Data Matching Program to ensure people trading in cryptocurrency are paying the right amount of tax, and correctly meeting their tax (and superannuation) obligations. The ATO will collect data from cryptocurrency DSPs to identify individuals or businesses […]