News

Important information about your AUSkeys

You may have been contacted recently about a temporary technical issue affecting the automatic renewal of some AUSkeys. This issue has now been resolved, however doing the following will facilitate the renewal of your AUSkey and ensure you have ongoing access to government online services:

·      Upgrade your AUSkey software to the latest version by going to www.auskey.abr.gov.au and selecting AUSkey Software. 

·      If you have an AUSkey that hasn't been used for a while, use it as soon as possible by logging in at www.auskey.abr.gov.au. While you are logged in, we encourage you to check that your details are up-to-date. AUSkeys must be used at least once every 12 months to prevent them from expiring.
 

^ top

Lodge electronically for extra time

To ensure that your eligible clients get the additional four weeks for lodgment and payment available under the lodgment program, you must lodge their quarterly activity statements electronically by using:

·      the BAS Agent Portal 

·      Standard Business Reporting (SBR) software

·      the electronic commerce interface (ECI).

For more information refer to Lodgment program 2012-13 - BAS agents.
 

^ top

GST-free health supplies

From 1 July 2012, changes to the goods and services tax (GST) law ensure that health-related supplies made by health care providers, for example general practitioners, physiotherapists and chiropractors, are GST-free where these are made to:

·      insurers

·      statutory compensation scheme operators

·      compulsory third party scheme operators

·      Australian government agencies.

For more information refer to GST-free health supplies - overview.

^ top

GST - tax invoice information requirements

We have released draft ruling GSTR 2012/D3 Goods and services tax: tax invoices, which explains:

·      the minimum information requirements on tax invoices

·      when the Commissioner may treat a document as a tax invoice

·      when a recipient may treat a document, that does not meet tax invoice requirements, as a tax invoice by relying on other documents

·      when a tax invoice is not required to be issued by a supplier or be held by a recipient seeking a GST credit. 

The draft ruling is available for comment until 7 September 2012.

^ top

Does your client have effective GST governance and risk management procedures in place?

We have released a new GST governance and risk management guide for small to medium enterprises. This guide is a self-assessment tool that will assist you and your clients to:

·      identify the GST governance, risk management and assurance processes currently in place

·      determine if these processes follow best practice and assist in accurately meeting GST compliance obligations

·      identify if your clients are getting the GST credits they are entitled to.

The guide contains two interactive checklists, which can provide an easy way to quickly evaluate, or comprehensively review, governance and risk management processes as they apply to GST compliance.

^ top

Tell us about a GST mistake or omission

If you or your client become aware of a GST mistake or omission on a previous activity statement, it is important to encourage them to make a voluntary disclosure.

Making a voluntary disclosure means that if the correction increases the tax they owe or reduces their credits, your client may receive concessional treatment for the penalties that apply as a result of the unpaid tax.

For more information, refer to Make a voluntary disclosure in Guide to correcting mistakes and disputing our decisions.

^ top

PAYG instalment essentials online

If you or your clients need information on pay as you go (PAYG) instalments, you can find it online on our PAYG instalment essentials home page.

Our page contains information on many topics, including the GDP adjustment, consolidations and varying instalments. In the coming months we will be working on improving our page to make it even easier for you to navigate.

^ top

Employee or contractor - making the right decision

Is a worker an employee or contractor? Your business clients risk having to pay penalties if they get this decision wrong.

Our new Employee or contractor home page offers comprehensive, easy to understand information you and your business clients can rely on to determine if their workers are employees or contractors.

The site includes information that addresses areas of confusion and looks at the common reasons why businesses get the employee or contractor decision wrong.

^ top

Compliance program 2012-13 is here

The Compliance program 2012-13 highlights the compliance risks attracting our attention and the actions we are taking to deter, detect and deal with those who do not meet their tax and superannuation responsibilities. This year our focus includes:

·      tax fraud and avoidance schemes

·      people who fail to declare all their income

·      the highly wealthy

·      property-related tax issues

·      employers who do not meet their super obligations.

For more information, refer to Compliance program 2012-13 now available.
 

^ top

What's new?

We have selected some of the new and updated documents recently published to our website, which may be of interest to you as BAS agents.

Keydates - July to September 2012
A list of key dates for registered agents for the period July - September 2012.

System maintenance and issues
This page contains scheduled downtime and details of issues currently affecting our online services.

Proof of identity requirements for registered agents
Information about what proof of identity (POI) information you need to provide as registered tax agents and BAS agents.

Payment slip barcode error - activity statement collation packages
Broadcast sent 12 July 2012, alerting registered BAS agents of an error in the payment slip barcode in activity statement collation packages for the period ending 30 June 2012.

Activity statement generate dates
The table below shows the activity statement generation dates throughout the financial year.

Tax focus for the year ahead
In releasing the annual compliance program on 19 July, Tax Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo said it was important for the community to be given the opportunity to understand our compliance activities and practices.

ATO Second Commissioner appointed to HMRC
Tax Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo announced that our current Second Commissioner Law, Jennie Granger, has been appointed to the position of Director-General Compliance and Enforcement at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) based in London.

Retaining refunds for integrity checks
This information provides an overview of our discretion to retain certain refunds to undertake integrity checks on claims.

GST treatment of appropriations
This measure restores the policy intent that the non-commercial activities of government related entities not be subject to GST.

GST supplies by representatives who are creditors
Amendment of GST law in relation to the mortgage lending sector to clarify its operation and reduce compliance costs.

PS LA 2012/2 (GA)
GST classification of food and beverage items
New practice statement law administration has been released and is now available. It replaces the webpage, Simpler GST accounting for the food and grocery industry (NAT 7162) that ceased to have public ruling status.

GSTR 2012/3
Goods and services tax: GST treatment of care services and accommodation in retirement villages and privately funded nursing homes and hostels
This ruling clarifies when care services and accommodation provided to residents in privately funded nursing homes and aged care hostels, or in serviced apartments in a retirement village, will be GST-free. Released 11 July 2012.

PAYG payment summaries and guidelines
List of available pay as you go payment summaries and guidelines for employers.

Accounting minutes, April 2012
Minutes of the ATO Tax Practitioner Forum (ATPF) Accounting sub-group meeting held 20 April 2012.

Tax crime investigations and results
Find out about tax crime, how we are dealing with it and how you can help.

SME Communicator - July 2012
SME Communicator provides relevant information specific to businesses with an annual turnover between $2 million and $250 million.

Workforce education news - issue 2/2012
Workforce education news contains important updates about tax and super entitlements and obligations that may affect employers.

^ top