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ATO resolves BAS agent STP connection mix-up

Regulation

BAS agents have secured a win in being able to connect their clients’ single touch payroll unique software ID to the ATO, after previously being told they could not.

By Jotham Lian 8 minute read

With single touch payroll (STP) kicking off on 1 July 2018 for employers with 20 or more employees, there have been relatively few issues experienced within the industry, according to Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) executive director, Matthew Addison.

However, Mr Addison said there was an “anomaly” where BAS agents were being told they could not connect their clients' unique software ID to the ATO.

The ATO has since adjusted its processes to allow BAS and tax agents to act on behalf of clients for this purpose.

“There is a special code that their software has to provide to the business and that business has to provide that code to the tax office,” said Mr Addison.

“What that does is create a secure authentication to the software to the tax office for each STP submission.

“There was an era of time that the ATO's administrative process only allowed the business to do that, and it was an anomaly of their new system but to their credit, they have since acknowledged and fixed this.”

According to the ICB, a business can make this connection through the ATO Business Portal and the Access Manager Screen or, alternatively, either the business or their agent can phone the ATO.

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Jotham Lian

Jotham Lian

AUTHOR

Jotham Lian is the editor of Accountants Daily, the leading source of breaking news, analysis and insight for Australian accounting professionals.

Before joining the team in 2017, Jotham wrote for a range of national mastheads including the Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel NewsAsia.

You can email Jotham at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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