Investment bodies are required to lodge a Quarterly tax file number (QTFN) and Australian business number (ABN) report for any quarter in which they accept a new tax file number (TFN) or ABN quotation from an investor.
For each investment referred to the report should include the:
- investor's full name and address
- investor's TFN or ABN
- investment reference number.
If no TFNs or ABNs were quoted during the reporting period, a nil QTFN report is not required to be lodged.
See also:
How to lodge
You must lodge your QTFN report online using either:
To lodge the QTFN report using File transfer facility in Online services for agents or the Online services for business you need to create a QTFN report file from your software.
This must be in a format and version that complies with the Quarterly tax file number (QTFN) and Australian business number (ABN) report specificationExternal Link.
If you have fewer than 1,000 TFN or ABNs to report, you can prepare a spreadsheet that complies with the Quarterly tax file number (QTFN) and Australian business number (ABN) reports PC spreadsheet specificationExternal Link.
Spreadsheets lodged with us must not be password protected, encrypted or compressed into a zip file.
Lodge your spreadsheet using the secure mail option within Online services for agents or Online services for business.
To lodge:
- create a New secure mail message
- select View more topics and Lodge report
- select Quarterly tax file number report lodgment - PC spreadsheet
- For Online services for agents only, select enquiry type and choose client details
- Include the following details in the message field:
- registered name of investment body
- investment body trading name
- investment body ABN
- investment body branch number
- investment body address
- period of report
- contact name, telephone number and email address
- complete the declaration and send the message
- on-screen confirmation will be provided once the message has been sent.
Due date
You need to lodge your report no later than 28 days after the end of each quarter. For example, the report for TFNs and ABNs accepted during the quarter 1 January to 31 March should be lodged no later than 28 April.
Include only the TFNs and ABNs quoted during the quarter being reported (reports must not be 'year to date').
Applying for an extension
If you are unable to lodge a QTFN report by the due date, you can apply for an extension of time. You must apply before the report due date using the secure mail option in Online services for agents or Online services for business.
To apply for an extension of time to lodge:
- create a new mail message
- select View more topics and Lodge report
- select Quarterly tax file number report extension of time
- for Online services for agents only, choose client details
- include the following detail in the message field:
- ABN
- investment body name
- reasons for the application
- quarter of the financial year of the application
- the date by which the reporter will be able to supply the QTFN report
- complete the declaration and send the message
- on-screen confirmation will be provided once the message has been sent.
We will send a response to your application using the same secure mail option.
You can set up email notifications to alert you to new mail items sent by the ATO.
How we use report information
From your report information, we check that the reported TFNs and ABNs are correct and if necessary:
- provide you with a corrected TFN
- advise you that a correct TFN or ABN could not be identified and the investor is 'deemed not to have quoted'
- advise the investor of any of the above actions.
Updating your registration details
To update the contact details for your investment body, or register the details of a new investment body, you can:
- phone us on 13 28 66
- send us an email.
TFN and ABN algorithms
The TFN and ABN algorithms are mathematical formulas that test the validity of numbers quoted as TFNs or ABNs. We recommend you use these algorithms in your software. This will minimise errors and the need for follow-up contact between your organisation, your clients and us.
Using the algorithms doesn't remove your organisation's obligation to lodge quarterly TFN and ABN reports.
The TFN algorithm is available only to organisations with a bona fide business need to test the validity of the number quoted by an investor as a TFN.
Next steps:
- Obtain the TFN algorithm
- Obtain the ABN algorithm