TAX ALERT - Single Touch Payroll Reporting Rules Extended to Small Business
Lowe Lippmann Chartered Accountants
Introduction
The extension of Single Touch Payroll (STP) to small business entities, which are employers with 19 or fewer employees, has finally passed both houses this week, after amendments were tabled late last year.
This means that employers with 19 or fewer employees will have to report under STP rules from 1 July 2019. Business with 20 or more employees began reporting from 1 July 2018.
The ATO has published a list of 24 companies intending to provide STP solutions, with the list to be updated over time to include information about the products these companies will offer. Suppliers such as MYOB, Xero and Reckon have each put forward STP product proposals.
In a previous blog, we discussed the changes to the accounting standards relating to classification of current / non-current liabilities on the balance sheet. We have been receiving a number of questions on this topic and have provided some practical scenarios below as well as some actions for you as we approach 30 June reporting dates.
High Court special leave application granted to appeal Bendel Case decision The Australian Taxation Office has been granted special leave to appeal to the High Court from the Full Federal Court decision in FCT v Bendel [2025] FCAFC 15. During March 2025 we released a Tax Alert ( see here ) explaining the current view of the ATO following the Full Federal Court decision that an unpaid present entitlement (or UPE) owed by a discretionary trust to a corporate beneficiary is not a “loan” for Division 7A purposes. The ATO also issued an Interim Decision Impact Statement ( see here ) in response to the Full Federal Court decision, providing information for taxpayers and advisers in relation to the details of the case and issues decided by the court.
Year-end tax checklists for Individuals and Businesses We have recently prepared two Year End Checklists which help explain some common strategies that may be considered for Individual and Businesses taxpayers. Year End Checklist for Individuals – click here Year End Checklist for Businesses – click here
