FED: ATO embarks on campaign to prepare business for GST

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-1999
FED: ATO embarks on campaign to prepare business for GST

By Debra Way

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - A small army of tax officers will visit up to a quarter of a million
businesses this year to help them prepare for the GST.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) today began the mammoth task of ensuring businesses are
ready to implement the GST by the start-up date of July 1 next year.

Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody said up to 3,000 officers would be sent around the country
to help businesses make the transition.

Two million businesses would receive a booklet over the coming weeks telling them how the
new tax system would affect them.

New Tax System Advisory Board chairman Chris Jordan said the enormous task ahead for
businesses could not be underestimated.

"The board acknowledges that business has a lot to do to prepare for the new tax system,"
Mr Jordan told reporters.

"For most businesses the GST will be reasonably straightforward but careful planning is
needed now."

He said the GST Start-Up Office would seek submissions this month from peak organisations
for allocations from a $500 million start-up assistance fund.

Mr Carmody said specific industries would be targeted from next month, with booklets
written in their particular language and terms.

More than 900 education seminars around the country would get underway in September.

He moved to assure businesses that tax officers sent to help them understand the new tax
system would not be checking up on their tax affairs.

"We will be providing the capacity for up to a quarter of a million advisory visits up
until the end of this calendar year," he said.

"And there is this unequivocal commitment from me that they are just that - advisory
visits.

"There'll be no checking out of anything to do with their tax obligations. They are there
purely to assist business in implementing reform."

The tax office would also give small businesses an electronic cashbook to help with the
transition, he said.

Businesses would be required to register and apply for an Australian Business Number by the
start of November.

Mr Carmody said businesses would not be penalised for making mistakes after July 1.

"Our enforcement activities will be directed at (the serious) end of the market, our
support will be for small business getting on with their business."

AAP daw/mfh/kr

KEYWORD: TAX BUSINESS

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