Tax office opens new business portal
The business portal is an Internet gateway for business to access the ATO's online services. Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody said businesses could now lodge their Business Activity Statements (BAS) and view their accounts online at the ATO Web site.
The portal provides, according to the ATO, 24/7 secure access to a range of information, services and functions. Businesses can now lodge activity statements, view previously lodged statements, view business account information and update business registration details. They can also request transfers and refunds of credit amounts, and send and receive secure messages on a range of topics online.
"As part of a program to make the tax system cheaper, easier and more personalised, we asked businesses what improvements we could make. One of the things they wanted was to be able to deal with us online. The Business Portal is a major milestone and delivers a free, secure and convenient internet service," Carmody added.
Businesses can access the portal at www.ato.gov.au. To use it, businesses must have a valid ABN, an ATO digital certificate and Internet access.
"I would encourage businesses to visit www.ato.gov.au as soon as possible so they can register before the next BAS lodgement date," Carmody said.