The Senate has passed the Bill to extend Single Touch Payroll (STP) to employers with 19 or less employees, commencing 1 July 2019. This follows months of uncertainty for the small businesses, after STP was officially rolled out for employers with 20 or more employees from 1 July 2018.

“We’re not going to force people to put in a business, accounting system and payroll software.  A lot of people will have basic accounting software but not the component that does the payroll.  Some of the software providers might be looking at that as an opportunity to get people in to maybe a more upgraded sort of accounting system,” said Mr Jordan.

“With some of these low cost payroll solutions added on, they have to realize everyone is going digital – with e-invoicing, the way people order and dispatch.”

“It is the way it happens. We’re not forcing people to go digital to get the accounting software and payroll.”

You can listen to ATO STP Lead, John Shepherd speak about what small businesses can expect ahead of the 1 July 2019 deadline and the range of alternative options available.