The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced that it will grant a two month lodgement and payment deferral to taxpayers impacted by the recent catastrophic bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland (including Glen Innes Shire).
Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrew Watson said that people affected by the fires should focus on getting their other affairs in order and not worry about their tax obligations at this time.
“We have applied automatic lodgment and payment deferrals to postcodes impacted by the fires, meaning if you’ve been impacted by the fires you don’t need to contact the ATO or your tax professional – we’ve already done it for you,” Mr Watson said.
The quarterly Business Activity Statement (BAS) that would normally have been due on 11 November or 28 November for businesses using a tax professional will is now due on 28 January 2020.
Monthly BAS lodgers also have an extra two months to lodge and pay, with the ATO automatically extending the due date until 21 January 2020 for the form which would normally have been due on 21 November 2019.
Aside from businesses, individuals in impacted areas who have lodged their 2018-19 income tax returns and have received a bill that would normally be due on 21 November 2019 now have until 21 January 2020 to pay. The ATO has more information about help and support options on its website: www.ato.gov.au/NaturalDisasters
