The accuracy of the content is not guaranteed. Please rely only on the authorised document. With just two months until The New Tax System starts, requests for free GST advisory visits by business has risen to 10,000 a week, Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody announced today. "More than 80,000 businesses have requested a free, personalised advisory visit with our GST experts and we have now visited over 60,000 businesses Australia-wide," said Mr Carmody. "The strong interest in our advisory visits, together with the recent surge in applications for the Australian Business Number (ABN) shows that business is making a concerted effort to prepare for the tax changes. Over 1.6 million businesses have now applied for an ABN. "The Tax Office is pulling out all stops to help business prepare for the changes. With 1 July fast approaching, GST field officers are available day and night to provide tailored advice and assistance for businesses in metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas. "During the free visits, field officers can explain how the GST works and how to calculate it, explain the Business Activity Statement, registration for an Australian Business Number, record keeping and the importance of making cash flow decisions. "Field officers can also provide our free electronic record-keeping package, E-Record, which allows businesses to simply enter daily sales and expenses and generate the information needed to calculate their net GST. "Field Officers have visited a range of business from footy clubs, bee-keepers, button makers, second-hand dealers, dairy farmers - to name a few," said Mr Carmody. "The free visits are made only after a request is made by the business. The business can set the time and duration of the visit. Visits can be booked by calling 13 24 78. "I would like to reiterate my guarantee that the visits are for educational purposes only. Field officers on advisory visits will give the taxpayer a letter with my personal guarantee that no information discussed or included in the visit will be used for any other purpose. "Feedback from businesses who have had an advisory visit has been very positive. The GST field officer advisory visits complement the continuous support being provided through the tax reform Internet site www.taxreform.ato.gov.au, our telephone infolines (for business the number is 13 24 78), and our range of printed material including fact sheets and detailed publications (also available on the website or by mail by calling 13 24 78)". CANBERRA
|
