ATO seeking feedback on paperless push

The tax office announced the opening of community consultation on Digital by Default, claiming it will deliver a simpler, easier and more flexible means of interacting digitally with the ATO.

Michelle Crosby, ATO deputy commissioner, said the process will require most taxpayers to use ATO digital services to send and receive information and payments, except where they do not have the ability to do so.

“More and more, people are carrying out their day-to-day business online and in the last couple of years a focus of ours has been to make sure our digital services meet the community’s needs,” Ms Crosby said.

“For most people, it just makes more sense to use our online products, which offer a more personalised and convenient service,” she added.

Ms Crosby noted that taxpayers who continue to rely on paper products may be met with “a big change”.

“This ATO-led initiative will require people still using paper products to switch to ATO digital services. We’ll be providing time and support for those who need help to make the shift from paper to digital,” she said.

According to the tax office, the Digital by Default initiative places “the taxpayer experience at the forefront of service delivery”, a direct contrast to the recent comments of assistant commissioner Colin Walker, who claimed that a greater emphasis needed to be placed on the role of the tax agent.