Current events
If your practice or clients have been affected by the recent floods, we understand that tax is not the number one priority at this time, however we encourage you to lodge if you can.
For more information, see flood support.
How we can support you and your clients
Depending on the situation, we may be able to:
- provide lodgment deferrals allowing additional time to lodge without incurring failure to lodge on time (FTL) penalties
- help you set up a payment plan or apply for a payment-only deferral for your client
- find your or your client's tax file number (TFN) by verifying identity using key information such as date of birth, address and bank account details
- re-issue documents including income tax returns, activity statements and notices of assessment (for example if needed to access government payments or concessions)
- help reconstruct tax records that are lost or damaged so your clients can claim entitlements including income tax deductions or access government payments
- prioritise any refunds owed to you or your client
- remit penalties or interest charged during the time you or your client have been affected
- work with you on a supported lodgment program to tailor solutions and get you back on track if your whole practice has been affected by a disaster.
When appropriate, your clients may also consider varying their pay as you go (PAYG) instalments.
You or your clients can phone our emergency support line on 1800 806 218 to talk to us about what support is available.
More information can be found by going to:
- Support for your practice
- Support in difficult times
- Online services for agents to access the range of support options available.
Reconstructing records
For individuals
We can help if you have clients who have lost their records due to a major disruptive event by:
- making on-site visits to help them
- reconstruct their lost or destroyed tax records
- work out reasonable estimates if their records cannot be reconstructed
- providing information we keep on record, such as tax returns, notices of assessment and payment summaries or income statements
- speaking with third parties if appropriate
- working closely with you as a tax professional.
If you reconstruct records on your client's behalf
If you wish to help your clients reconstruct their records or make reasonable estimates, we ask that you follow a process similar to ours:
- ask for information from employers, for example, PAYG payment summaries or income statements
- use information from bank accounts where income was regularly deposited
- consider contributions made to super funds.
When to make a reasonable estimate
We will accept a reasonable estimate if your client's records cannot be reconstructed. Each client must provide a signed letter declaring their estimate is true and correct and we will supply a Reasonable estimate pro-forma for them to complete.
For business
We can help if you have business clients who have lost their records due to a major disruptive event by:
- providing on-site visits to help them
- reconstruct lost or destroyed tax records
- work out reasonable estimates if their records cannot be reconstructed
- providing information we keep on record
- speaking with third parties if appropriate
- working closely with you as a tax professional.
Records we can provide
We can help by providing records of your clients':
- activity statements and tax returns, if lodged
- pay as you go (withholding) annual reports, if lodged by employers.
If you reconstruct records on your client's behalf
If you wish to help your clients reconstruct their records or make reasonable estimates, we ask that you follow a process similar to ours:
- use bank and other third-party information, including information from suppliers
- use activity statements that have already been lodged, along with information from the affected business or individual, to reconstruct their tax returns
- consider all information we have on record to work out a trend-based average, preferably over three years, this average includes
- tax statistics
- other external industry norms and factors in economic events.
When to make a reasonable estimate
We will accept a reasonable estimate if your client's records cannot be reconstructed, However, each client must provide a signed letter declaring their estimate is true and correct and we will supply a Reasonable estimate pro-forma for them to complete.
If you or your clients are affected by a recent disaster event, we have a range of options to help you.