Latest ATO News and Alerts

1. ATO heads to the top end to protect honest businesses from the black economy

   The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is planning to visit around 350 small businesses in Darwin in August as part of their work to tackle the black economy and protect honest Darwin businesses from unfair competition.

2. ATO protecting sunny Far North Queensland businesses from the shady black economy

   The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is planning to visit around 400 small businesses in Cooktown and Port Douglas, Far North Queensland during August and September as part of the agency’s work to tackle the black economy and protect honest businesses from unfair competition.

3. About Single Touch Payroll

   Single Touch Payroll (STP) will align your reporting obligations with your pay cycle. You will report to the ATO each time you pay your employees.

4. Guidance for incorrect ENCC determinations

   A small number of SMSF members are impacted by 'double counting' of the individual’s pension. This incorrectly inflates the member's total super balance and may cause an incorrect excess non-concessional contribution determination to issue.

5. Scam alerts

   Check for the latest tax-related scam alerts. Be wary of emails, phone calls and text message claiming to be from the ATO.

6. Unclaimed Superannuation Money Protocol review

   Feedback is sought on our proposed changes to the Unclaimed Super Money protocol, consultation period closes on 13 September 2019.

7. $10 billion back in your hands

   $10 billion dollars has been refunded to Australian taxpayers so far this tax time, an increase of over $2 billion from this time last year, with most returns being processed in under two weeks.

8. ATO watching for foreign income this Tax Time

   The ATO is urging taxpayers who receive any foreign income from investments, family members or working overseas to make sure they report it this tax time.

9. Open forums

   Open Forums provide an opportunity for you to have open, face-to-face discussions with us about matters affecting you, your clients and your practice.

10. Small Business Stewardship Group key messages 21 June 2019

    Information about the key topics discussed at the Small Business Stewardship Group meeting held on 21 June 2019.

11. Company tax

    The company tax rates in Australia from 2001–02 to 2019–20.

12. Disclosure of business tax debts

    The Government introduced a bill on 24 July 2019 that will allow the ATO to disclose business tax debt information to registered credit reporting bureaus of businesses that have not engaged with the ATO to manage their debts.

13. High Court confirms ATO can use information from data leaks

    Today the High Court confirmed that the ATO may use information obtained from data leaks, even if leaked from a law firm.

14. Reporting PAYG instalments on a company tax return

    Find out about reporting PAYG instalments on a company tax return and how to get it right.

15. Transfer pricing a key focus for ATO

    Jeremy Hirschhorn, acting Second Commissioner, Client Engagement, delivers the welcome address and opening remarks at the Tax Institute National Transfer Pricing Conference in Sydney on 14 August 2019.