Australia’s taxation landscape is continually evolving, with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) leading several strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring compliance, enhancing governance, and addressing emerging tax risks.
ATO’s Strategic Focus and Programs
Next 5000 and Top 500 Programs: These programs target Australia’s wealthiest individuals and corporations. The Next 5000 program focuses on Australian resident individuals and their associate’s controlling wealth over $50 million, while the Top 500 program targets entities with over $250 million in turnover. The ATO aims to assure compliance and foster justified trust through these programs.
- Research & Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI): The ATO reported significant increases in R&DTI offsets, emphasizing the need to understand this growth and ensure appropriate claims.
- Private Wealth Adviser Program: This new initiative under the Tax Avoidance Taskforce seeks to strengthen tax and super systems’ integrity by enhancing the role of advisers in promoting compliant client behaviours.
- Risk Focus Areas: The ATO is concentrating on risks such as omitted income, dividend stripping, and capital losses, highlighting the importance of accurate reporting and compliance.
- Division 7A and Section 99B: These sections address errors and compliance issues in private company benefits and distributions from non-resident trusts, reflecting the ATO’s commitment to addressing complex tax arrangements.
ATO’s Key Focus Areas for 2023–24
The ATO’s strategic goals for the upcoming year highlight a commitment to improving tax performance and system integrity. Key areas include:
- Small Business Tax Performance: Emphasizing a digital-first approach for enhanced tax and superannuation integration to streamline processes and minimize errors.
- Cybersecurity Management: Strengthening the governance, detection, and response to cyber threats to protect client data and ATO systems.
- Collectable Debt Management: Implementing targeted strategies to recover high-value and aged debts and ensuring timely payment obligations.
- Fraud Prevention and Detection: Enhancing system integrity to counter evasion and fraud within tax and superannuation systems.
- Multinational Tax Compliance: Focusing on compliance and risk management for multinational enterprises and business groups.
- Modernising Business Registry Services: Implementing government recommendations from the independent review of the Modernising Business Registers Program.
- Superannuation Guarantee Integrity: Using data to improve compliance and ensure correct superannuation entitlements for employees.
- Investing in Data and Digital: Continuing to drive digitalization and improve client and staff experiences for more effective services.
Conclusion
The Australian Taxation Office’s commitment to enhancing tax governance, compliance, and system integrity is evident in its range of programs and focus areas. Understanding these evolving aspects is crucial for tax professionals, businesses, and individuals navigating the complexities of the Australian tax landscape.
Author: Darren O’Malley
*Correct as of 04 December 2023
*Disclaimer – this article has been produced by Kreston Stanley Williamson as a service to its clients and associates. The information contained in the article is for general comment only and is not intended to be advice on any particular matter. Before acting on any areas contained in this article, it is imperative you seek specific advice relating to your particular circumstances. Liability is limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation.
