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Identify your accounting basis

The amounts you report on your BAS depend on the accounting basis you have chosen (or are required or allowed to use).

Last updated 14 April 2019

Accounting on a cash basis

If you account for GST on a cash basis, include your amounts of GST, GST credits, sales, purchases and importations in the BAS for the reporting period in which you received or provided payment or part payment in relation to those amounts.

These may not be the full amount of the sale or purchase price.

Special rules apply in some circumstances.

See also

Accounting on a non-cash basis (accruals)

If you are using a non-cash (accruals) basis of accounting for GST, include amounts of GST, GST credits, sales, purchases and importations in the earlier reporting period in which you have:

  • received or provided any of the payment in relation to those amounts
  • issued or have been issued with an invoice in relation to those amounts.

Special rules apply in some circumstances.

You claim GST credits on importations in the same reporting period you pay the GST to Department of Home Affairs, unless you are using the deferred GST scheme.

See also

QC17458