Activity Statements – avoid ATO penalties

Last November the ATO commenced sending out electronic activity statements (pay as you go (PAYG) or goods and services tax (GST)), as a replacement to paper versions of the statements, particularly if a business has made an electronic lodgement. 

However, this has not gone well, as in some cases clients have not received notifications. Demand-for-payment letters have been sent in relation to non-payment of the November 2020 instalment.

Your December quarter activity statements may have been sent electronically, accessible via the ATO business Portal or myGov.  If you are a self-lodger the ATO would have emailed you in February to let you know that the December 2020 PAYG and GST instalment notices are due for payment by 2 March 2021.

What do you need to do?

• Check you myGov or ATO business Portal to see if your December activity statement was sent there,
• Ensure you pay your PAYG and GST instalment notices by the 2 March.

 What is the ATO doing now?

The ATO has now acknowledged that issues have arisen because of these and has committed to reviewing the changes. They have advised that Paper PAYG and GST instalment notices had been temporarily reintroduced from March 2021.

We appreciate that this has the potential to be incredibly confusing, so if you have any questions or need assistance, contact your Aspen Corporate Advisor.