Key Points

• The ATO are no longer issuing paper activity statements
• A single electronic lodgment will result in a change to how the next activity statement is issued
• If you have linked your myGov account to the ATO, they will no longer send you a paper activity statement or installment notice.

Full Article

Quarterly Instalment Notices Go Electronic

Quarterly installment notices will now go electronic with the ATO announcing the end of paper activity statements. The ATO will no longer issue paper activity statements once an activity statement is lodged electronically through any of the systems noted below:

• Online services by your Accountant
• Practitioner Lodgment Service (PLS) by your Accountant
• Standard Business Reporting (SBR) enabled software
• When you link your myGov account to the ATO.

You may receive one last paper activity statement if the first electronic lodgement is after the activity statement generate date. If this occurs you should continue to lodge electronically.

There are a few instances where an exception has been made by the ATO and they will continue to send paper activity statements.

Form Types R, S and T

The following forms are available through Online services for Accountants and PLS enabled software:

• R (Quarterly PAYG instalment notice)
• S (Quarterly GST instalment notice)
• T (Quarterly GST and PAYG instalment notice).

Form types R, S and T are linked to an election to pay quarterly instalments, and lodgement is only required when you are varying the instalment amount.

If the business is still registered as having a paper preference, the ATO will continue to send paper activity statements.

One-off Electronic Lodgments or Revisions

A single electronic lodgement will result in a change to how the next activity statement is issued. Businesses will need to consider this when deciding how to lodge the activity statement.

If your Accountant lodges your quarterly activity statements electronically and you lodge your own monthly activity statements by paper, the paper activity statements will stop.

If your Accountant lodges a one-off electronic revision but you normally lodge your own activity statement by paper, the paper activity statements will stop.

myGov Users – End of Paper Activity Statements

If you have linked your myGov account to the ATO, they will no longer send you a paper activity statement or instalment notice.

You can access your activity statements and instalment notices using myGov. You will receive a notification in your myGov Inbox when your activity statement or instalment notice is ready.

Accountants can view this notification in the ‘Communication history’ in Online services for agents and Accountants can still lodge, vary and revise an IAS through their preferred electronic channel.

If you have any questions or need advice and clarity specific to your situation, feel free to contact Semmens & Co on 03 8320 0320 for a free consultation.