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.
October 2021
21 October
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Pay annual PAYG instalment notice (Form N). Lodge only if you vary the instalment amount or use the rate method to calculate the instalment.
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Lodge and pay quarter 1, 2021–22 PAYG instalment activity statement for head companies of consolidated groups.
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Lodge and pay September 2021 monthly business activity statement.
28 October
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Lodge and pay quarter 1, 2021-22 activity statement if electing to receive and lodge by paper and not an active STP reporter. Pay quarter 1, 2021–22 instalment notice (form R, S, or T). Lodge the notice only if you vary the instalment amount.
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Make super guarantee contributions for quarter 1, 2021–22 to funds by this date.
Employers who do not pay minimum super contributions for quarter 1 by this date must pay the super guarantee charge and lodge a Superannuation guarantee charge statement – quarterly (NAT 9599) by 28 November 2021.
Note: The super guarantee charge is not tax deductible. -
Lodge and pay annual activity statement for TFN withholding for closely held trusts where a trustee withheld amounts from payments to beneficiaries during the 2020–21 income year.
31 October
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Final date to add new clients to your client list to ensure their 2021 tax return is covered by the lodgment program.
Note: The lodgment program is a concession to registered agents. We can ask for documents to be lodged earlier than the lodgment program due dates. -
Lodge tax returns for all entities if one or more prior year returns were outstanding as at 30 June 2021.
Note: This means all prior year returns must be lodged, not just the immediate prior year.
If all outstanding prior year returns have been lodged by 31 October 2021, the lodgment program due dates will apply to the 2021 tax return.
SMSFs in this category must lodge their complete Self-managed superannuation fund annual return by this date. -
Lodge and pay Self-managed superannuation fund annual return (NAT 71226) for (taxable and non-taxable) new registrant SMSF if we have advised the SMSF that the first-year return has a 31 October 2021 due date.
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Lodge tax return for all entities prosecuted for non-lodgment of prior year returns and advised of a lodgment due date of 31 October 2021:
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Some prosecuted clients may have a different lodgment due date – refer to the letter you received for the applicable due date.
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Payment (if required) for individuals and trusts in this category is due as advised in their notice of assessment.
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Payment (if required) for companies and super funds in this category is due on 1 December 2021.
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SMSFs in this category must lodge their complete Self-managed superannuation fund annual return (NAT 71226) by this date.
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Lodge Annual investment income report (AIIR).
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Lodge Departing Australia superannuation payments (DASP) annual report.
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Lodge Franking account tax return when both the:
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return is a disclosure only (no amount payable)
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taxpayer is a 30 June balancer.
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Lodge PAYG withholding annual report no ABN withholding (NAT 3448).
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Lodge PAYG withholding from interest, dividend and royalty payments paid to non-residents – annual report (NAT 7187). This report advises amounts withheld from payments to foreign residents for:
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interest and unfranked dividend payments that are not reported on an Annual investment income report (AIIR)
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royalty payments.
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Lodge PAYG withholding annual report – payments to foreign residents (NAT 12413). This report advises amounts withheld from payments to foreign residents for:
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entertainment and sports activities
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construction and related activities
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arranging casino gaming junket activities.
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Lodge lost members report for the period 1 January – 30 June 2021.
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Lodge TFN report for closely held trusts for TFNs quoted to a trustee by beneficiaries in quarter 1, 2021–22.