What Is ATO
The abbreviation ATO stands for the Australian taxation office. The Australian taxation office is a part of the Australian government. The ATO is the part of the Australian government that is responsible for the principal collection of Revenue. The ATO is also a statutory agency. The Australian taxation office is also responsible for superannuation legislation and governing the Australian federal taxation system. The part of the government that regulates the ATO is the Treasurer of Australia and the Treasury.
The ATO also performs other duties such as managing the Australian Business Register, collecting income tax, and collecting goods and services tax. Individuals and businesses must have their taxes prepared correctly and comply with the Australian taxation office’s guidelines. Having a good accounting or tax firm is critical to prevent individuals and small businesses from being audited by the ATO. There are excellent accounting and tax firms throughout Australia, such as the Walker Hill Group, that can keep businesses big and small in compliance with the ATO.
Australia’s Small Business Tax Requirements
The ATO has specific requirements that small businesses have to do to stay in compliance. They are record-keeping, payroll reporting, monthly or quarterly business activity statements, and financial year reporting.
The Importance Of Keeping Proper Records- Keeping proper records helps a business owner keep track of how well his or her business is performing. Keeping track of all the transactions and text invoices will also help the company keep track of its tax obligations. The ATO requires businesses to keep all the tax records for at least five years. If the business owner decides to sell their business, they must keep track of their tax records for at least five years after it is sold.
The Importance Of Payroll Reporting- Payroll reporting is another requirement of the ATO. How payroll is to be reported by small businesses with fewer than 20 employees has changed as of 2019. These small businesses must use single-touch software to prepare their payroll to present to the ATO.
Activity Statements Must Be Submitted- The business activity statements are essential because they help small businesses stay on top of all of their tax obligations. The activity statement can be submitted monthly, quarterly, or annually.
The Importance Of Financial Reporting- Financial reporting should be done timely and accurately. This is important because it keeps a small business from being audited by the Australian taxation office and extra fines for not complying.
Small Businesses Should Keep The Following Income Tax Records :
- bank statements and loan records
- income and sales records
- tax invoices from suppliers
- year-end records
- purchase and expense records
The Employee Records That Small Businesses Are Required To Keep:
- fringe benefit tax records
- tax file number and withholding declarations records
- superannuation records
- records of wages
The ATO is the part of the Australian government that is responsible for governing the Australian federal tax system. The ATO is specifically responsible for collecting goods and services tax, managing the Australian Business Register, and collecting income tax. The ATO is also responsible for regulating small businesses and letting them know the requirements needed to comply with the Australian government.
