ATO Ushers In New Web Portal For Business Tax Returns

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

25 March 2004

Australian Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody yesterday launched the Business Portal, an internet gateway for businesses to access the Tax Office's online services, allowing firms to lodge their Business Activity Statements (BAS) and view their accounts via the Tax Office website.

The Portal provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, secure access to a range of information, services and functions, and will enable firms to:

• lodge activity statements and view previously lodged statements;
• view business account information;
• view and update business registration details;
• request transfers and refunds of credit amounts; and
• send and receive secure messages on a range of topics.

"As part of a program to make the tax system cheaper, easier and more personalised, we asked businesses what improvements we could make," Mr Carmody noted.

"One of the things they wanted was to be able to deal with us online. The Business Portal is a major milestone and delivers a free, secure and convenient internet service."

The ATO has also revealed that some smaller businesses may be eligible for a two week deferral on lodgement and payment if they lodge and pay online.

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