ATO systems and digital services
Overall, our system health is tracking well and activities are processing as anticipated. The waiting room for Online services for individuals has not been required in the past few weeks.
Tax return processing and phone services
The high demand in our call environment has steadied, with call volumes on the registered agent phone line down by 3% from last year.
Approximately 4.4 million individual 2024 tax returns have been lodged since 1 July 2024, which is around 1% increase compared with the same time last year. Of these:
- Self-preparers – 2.8 million, around 3% increase compared with the same time last year.
- Agent prepared – 1.6 million, around 5% decrease compared with the same time last year.
Communications on when to lodge
We have encouraged taxpayers not to rush to lodge their tax return and that it’s best to wait until late July when most pre-fill information is available. Data shows that those who choose to lodge early are twice as likely to have their refunds or returns delayed as there is a higher chance of missing information, especially where there are multiple sources of income.
Marketing and communication
Our current communications focus is on encouraging taxpayers and agents to start lodging as most pre-fill data is now available.
Other communications include:
- a media release encouraging taxpayers to consider what work-related expenses they will be looking to claim in the new financial year and what records they will need to substantiate those deductions
- promotion of resources available in over 20 languages other than English, including
- guides on good record keeping and work-related expenses
- support when lodging a tax return
- the latest video for tax professionals, focusing on the importance of declaring all income sources in their clients’ tax returns
- promotion of the ATO Open Forum event on 20 August, with topics including
- eInvoicing
- client-to-agent linking
- an update from the Tax Practitioners Board on the expansion of the Code
- promotion of the fuel tax credit calculator as an easy way to work out the amount of fuel tax credits that can be claimed each BAS period
- the Tax Professionals newsletter, which will cover topics including
- strengthening foreign resident capital gains tax rules
- the expanded Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) code obligations
- what to do if you disagree with an ATO decision
- a reminder that Taxable payments annual reports (TPAR) are due on 28 August
- that the ATO is writing to employers who haven’t yet finalised their Single Touch Payroll (STP) data.
Reminders were issued about:
- tax agents
- checking the pre-fill reports in Online services for agents
- talking to clients about the disposal of shares to assist in correct reporting of any related capital gain, loss, exemption or rollover
- alcohol and fuel excise duty rates increasing on 5 August (in addition to the increase on 1 July).
Next meeting
Next meeting: Tuesday 20 August 2024.
Useful links
Some useful links are: