Tax Facts - Activity Statement
Businesses use activity statements to report and pay a number of tax obligations, including GST, pay as you go (PAYG) instalments, PAYG withholding and fringe benefits tax. Non-business individuals who need to pay quarterly PAYG instalments also use activity statements.
Activity statements are personalised to each business or individual to support reporting against identified obligations.
Activity statements for businesses may be due either quarterly or monthly. Generally, businesses can lodge and pay quarterly if annual turnover is less than $20 million, and total annual PAYG withholding is $25,000 or less. Businesses that exceed one or both of those thresholds will have at least some monthly obligations. Non-business individuals are generally required to lodge and pay quarterly.
Businesses or individuals with small obligations may be able to lodge and pay annually. Some taxpayers may receive an instalment notice for GST and/or PAYG instalments, instead of an activity statement.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) web site provides instructions on lodging and paying activity statements. Detailed instructions are provided for each of the different tax obligations:
Tax Facts - General Value Shifting
The General Value Shifting Regime (GVSR) applies to arrangements that shift value between assets, causing discrepancies between the market values and tax values of the assets. Most value shifts happen when parties don't deal at the market value, causing one asset to decrease while the other increases.
Three scenarios are targeted under the GVSR. Exclusions apply to small values in each of the scenarios, as follows:
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Indirect value shifting (exclusion applies if total value shifts under a scheme are less than $150,000)
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Direct value shifts on interests (exclusion applies if total value shifted is equal to or less than $50,000)
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Direct value shifts by creating rights (exclusion applies if the market value of the right granted exceeds the proceeds for the grant by $50,000 or less).
Generally, the GVSR does not apply to normal commercial dealings conducted at market value, or dealings within consolidated groups. There are several other exclusions and safe harbours in the rules.
Tax Facts - Australian Business Number
The Australian business number (ABN) is a single business identifier that allows businesses to deal with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and other government departments and agencies with one identifier.
An ABN is not compulsory and not everyone is entitled to an ABN. The following entities will need an ABN to comply with other tax obligations:
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Businesses with GST turnover of $75,000 or more must register for GST and need an ABN to do this
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Non-profit organisations with GST turnover of $150,000 or more must register for GST and need an ABN to do this
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Entities seeking to be endorsed as a deductible gift recipient need an ABN to obtain that status
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Charities seeking exemption from income tax need an ABN.
Other eligible entities may choose to register for an ABN:
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Companies registered under the Corporations Law
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Business entities carrying on an enterprise
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Trustees of self-managed superannuation funds should obtain an ABN for the fund.
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If an entity makes supplies of goods or services to a business, the supplier entity generally needs to quote an ABN. If the supplier does not quote an ABN, the payer may need to withhold tax from the payment.