ATO offers assistance to those impacted by bushfires

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has confirmed that if you have been affected by the bushfires, they don’t want to burden you further with concerns about your tax affairs.

The ATO has a comprehensive page on their website dedicated to advice and guidance following the devastating bushfires, burning since November 2019 across large parts of New South Wales and Queensland.

They have revised a number of dates for lodgement and payment deferrals for businesses and residential addresses with postcodes that have been impacted by the fires and those in the identified postcodes will automatically be granted a two-month deferral.

They have confirmed they can offer assistance by:

• giving extra time for you to pay your debt or lodge tax forms such as activity statements
• helping you to find your lost tax file number (TFN) by using methods to verify your identity such as your date of birth, address and bank account details
• re-issuing income tax returns, activity statements and notices of assessment
• helping you to re-construct tax records that are lost or damaged
• fast tracking any refunds owed
• setting up a payment plan tailored to your individual circumstances including interest-free period
• remit penalties or interest charged during the time you have been affected

However, they have confirmed that employers still need to meet their super guarantee obligations for their employees, as by law, they can’t vary the contribution due date or waive the super guarantee charge on late super guarantee payments.

If you have been affected by the bushfires and you need assistance from the ATO, there is an Emergency Support Infoline which you can call for help on 1800 806218.

Call in at your local TaxAssist Accountants and we will help in any way we can and will work with the ATO to provide appropriate support.

Date published 4 Jan 2020 | Last updated 3 Jan 2020