Are you considering BAS Agents: How Can They Help with Electronic Activity Statements?
Starting 1 July 2014, the ATO will cease providing paper activity statements to individuals who have previously lodged their activity statements electronically. Consequently, if you have been manually completing and submitting your activity statements on paper and wish to maintain the same method, you don’t need to take any action, as you will still receive the paper version. However, if you prefer electronic lodgment, you may consider engaging a BAS agent for assistance.
If you have lodged the last BAS electronically (via your bookkeeper or tax agent using their own tax portal or system), you will not receive a paper copy of the BAS in the next quarter. You will then need to prepare to lodge electronically from then on. In summary, all future activity statements will be issued and lodged through the methods in which the BAS was previously lodged.
You can lodge your BAS electronically using the following methods:
- Business Portal
- Electronic commerce interface (ECI).
- Standard Business Reporting (SBR)
- Tax Agent Portal – tax agent only
- Electronic lodgement service (ELS) – tax agent only
Forms that will continue to be mailed out by paper and fall outside of the electronic system are:
- Q (Annual GST report)
- R (Quarterly PAYG instalment notice)
- S (Quarterly GST instalment notice)
- T (Quarterly GST and PAYG instalment notice).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
*Correct as of July 2014
Disclaimer – Kreston Stanley Williamson has produced this article to serve its clients and associates. The information contained in the article is of general comment only and is not intended to be advice on any particular matter. Before acting on any areas in this article, you must seek advice about your circumstances. Liability is limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation.
