The ATO has published on its website, updated as at 8 October 2012, details of the tax agent lodgment program for 2012-13 [it was originally released in July 2012]. Points of note include:
- The due date for lodgment and payment of the December 2012 monthly BAS will be extended from 21 January 2013 to 21 February 2013 for small businesses (ie businesses with up to $10m annual turnover) who report GST monthly and lodge electronically.
- Tax agents will again be allowed to submit self-assessed deferral requests up to 3 business days after the lodgment due date.
- For the 2013 FBT return, the ATO will again provide eligible tax agents with a lodgment deferral till 25 June 2013. To be eligible for this deferral, agents must have 25 or more FBT clients attached to their registered agent number (RAN) as at 28 May 2013. To continue to be eligible for the deferral, agents must achieve an 85% or more on time lodgment of FBT returns from their FBT client list by the deferred due date (that is 25 June).
The ATO notes that the lodgment program is moving towards a fully electronic program [the days of lodging paper tax returns definitely appear numbered].
[LTN 195, 9/10]