ATO moves toward paperless BAS lodgements

In response to the general move towards electronic media, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) will progressively implement changes to communication methods as it transitions to electronic correspondence.

The ATO has begun the process to cease issuing paper business activity statements (BAS). If your business receives a paper BAS from the ATO and you lodge manually using this form, nothing will change for you at this time. However, the ATO has advised they will stop issuing paper forms once an electronic lodgement has occurred and in the future will stop issuing paper forms altogether. 

What this means for you:

• If you currently lodge your form on paper via mail – nothing will change. The ATO will continue to provide you with a paper BAS (at least for the interim). Boyce will keep you informed of any further changes as they are announced.
• If you would like to lodge electronically – you need to register to use the ATO’s Business Portal. For further information about how to register and use the Business Portal please click here.  
• If Boyce currently lodges your BAS on your behalf – we will notify you of all relevant details and manage the lodgement process to ensure you continue to meet your compliance obligations.

Please note that a single electronic lodgement will be enough to cease the issuance of paper activity statements.

The ATO will continue to send paper activity statements for the following forms which cannot currently be despatched electronically:

• Annual GST Report
• Quarterly PAYG Instalment notice
• Quarterly GST Instalment notice
• Quarterly GST and PAYG Instalment notice

BAS timetable 2014/15:

The table below shows the quarterly activity statement generation dates throughout the 2015 financial year with general lodgement dates not subject to the agent’s extension.

* Where legislative due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the due date is the next working day.

• Businesses that elect to receive activity statements electronically will generally receive them three to four days after the generation date.
• If you have registered to use the Business Portal, you are notified by email that your activity statement is available to access and complete online.
• For activity statements printed and sent via post, the timeframe can be up to three weeks after the generation date.

If you have any questions concerning the change to the ATO’s communication processes or would like assistance to register through the Business Portal, please contact your local Boyce Accountant.

Source: www.ato.gov.au