ATO's lodgment penalty amnesty is about to end
Liz Gibbs • December 1, 2023

ATO's lodgment penalty amnesty is about to end

The ATO is remitting failure to lodge penalties for eligible small businesses. Businesses which have not yet taken advantage of the ATO's lodgment penalty amnesty only have until 31 December 2023 to do so.



Businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the amnesty:

  • had an annual turnover under $10 million when the original lodgment was due;
  • have overdue income tax returns, business activity statements or FBT returns that were due between 1 December 2019 and 28 February 2022; and
  • lodge between 1 June and 31 December 2023.


When taxpayers lodge their eligible income tax returns, business activity statements and FBT returns, failure to lodge penalties will be remitted without the need to apply. The amnesty does not apply to privately owned groups or individuals controlling over $5 million of net wealth.


Directors who bring their company lodgments up to date can also have penalties remitted and, if they are reliant on company lodgments to finalise their own tax affairs, any failure to lodge penalties will be remitted. This also applies to eligible lodgments made between 1 June and 31 December 2023.


Need Help?

We understand that this can all be somewhat bewildering, so if you would like a little help, please get in touch with us for assistance. We can help with your FBT, GST, business, bookkeeping tax and SMSF requirements.


Please also note that many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances. Should you have any further questions, please get in touch with us for assistance with your SMSF, business, bookkeeping and tax requirements. All rights reserved. Brought to you by RGA Business and Tax Accountants. Liability Limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.



Micro habits big improvements
By Liz Gibbs May 8, 2025
Let’s chat about micro habits—those small, super-manageable actions that can actually lead to some pretty big improvements in how we manage our time and priorities. If you’ve ever left a workshop full of great ideas only to forget them a week later, you’re not alone. That’s where micro habits come in. They’re easy to stick with and surprisingly powerful.
Stay on top of your finances
By Liz Gibbs May 8, 2025
Running a small business can get hectic, but staying on top of your finances doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The ATO has a few helpful tips that can make managing your tax obligations a lot smoother:
CGT small business concessions
By Liz Gibbs May 2, 2025
In a recent decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal ('ART') held that a taxpayer was not entitled to the CGT small business concessions on the disposal of his interests in some farm land.
By Liz Gibbs May 2, 2025
Businesses that pay contractors for 'Taxable payments reporting system services' may need to lodge a 'Taxable payments annual report' ('TPAR') by 28 August each year.
Retirement
By Liz Gibbs May 2, 2025
The amount of money that can be transferred to a tax-free retirement account will increase to $2m on 1 July 2025.
Key tax policies
By Liz Gibbs May 2, 2025
With the 2025 Federal Election approaching, tax policy is a central topic of debate. Here’s a concise comparison of some the major parties’ key tax proposals to help you stay informed when Australia goes to the polls on 3 May 2025:
By Liz Gibbs May 1, 2025
Make Meetings Work for You: 8 Simple Strategies for Better Results
By Liz Gibbs May 1, 2025
The ATO’s updated small business benchmarking tool
subdivision
By Liz Gibbs May 1, 2025
As the urban sprawl continues in most major Australian cities, we are often asked to advise on the tax treatment of subdivision projects. Before jumping in and committing to anything, it is important to understand the tax liabilities that might arise from these projects.
IAWO
By Liz Gibbs May 1, 2025
It has been a long time coming, but the Government finally passed legislation increasing the instant asset write-off threshold for the year ending 30 June 2025 to $20,000. This was announced back in the 2024-25 Federal Budget but the Government faced a number of hurdles in terms of passing the legislation.
More Posts