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ATO Relief for COVID-19 affected businesses

March 18, 2020

ATO COVID-19 Relief Announced

As part of the government's coronavirus response package, it has provided for the ATO to give administrative relief for some tax obligations for people affected by the coronavirus outbreak, on a case-by-case basis .

Business operatives affected by the coronavirus should contact the ATO to discuss relief options. Options include:

  • deferring by up to four months the payment date of amounts due through BAS (including PAYG instalments), income tax and FBT assessments and excise;
  • allowing businesses on a quarterly reporting cycle to opt into monthly GST reporting in order to get quicker access to GST refunds they may be entitled to;
  • allowing businesses to vary PAYG instalment amounts to zero for the April 2020 quarter; businesses that vary their PAYG instalment to zero can also claim a refund for any instalments made for the September 2019 and December 2019 quarters;
  • remitting any interest and penalties, incurred on or after 23 January 2020, that have been applied to tax liabilities; and
  • working with affected businesses to help them pay their existing and ongoing tax liabilities by allowing them to enter into low-interest payment plans.

Employers will still need to meet their ongoing SG obligations for their employees.

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