Disaster Events

Recent flooding events have impacted many individuals and businesses across Australia — these can be treated as disaster events according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The ATO may provide lodgement deferrals and remission of penalties and/or interest where taxpayers or registered agents have been affected by a disaster event. These measures are designed to allow affected individuals and businesses time to focus on recovery.

If you’ve been impacted and are unsure how this applies to your obligations, support may be available. I’ve summarised below some of the assistance the ATO may provide in these events; for further details, visit www.ato.gov.au.

Lodgement Deferrals

Where a disaster event has been recognised, the ATO may automatically apply deferred lodgement due dates for activity statements, tax returns and other obligations.

Deferrals provide additional time to meet reporting requirements without the need to request an extension individually. In some cases, taxpayers or registered agents may still need to contact the ATO to confirm eligibility or request additional support depending on their circumstances.

Payment Deferrals

The ATO may allow additional time for affected individuals and businesses to pay outstanding tax liabilities.

Payment deferrals can assist with managing cash flow while recovery efforts are underway. In some cases, payment plans may also be available to help spread outstanding amounts over a manageable period.

Remission of Penalties and Interest

Where obligations have been impacted by a disaster event, the ATO may remit penalties or interest that would otherwise apply to late lodgements or payments.

Remission is generally considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account how the disaster has affected the ability to meet tax obligations.

Accessing Support

Support measures may be automatically applied where the ATO has identified taxpayers in affected postcodes. However, eligibility may vary depending on individual circumstances.

If you have been impacted by a disaster event and are unsure how this affects your obligations, it may be beneficial to review your lodgement due dates and account balances or speak with a registered agent.

Further information on available support measures can be found on the ATO website.

Support with managing lodgement obligations and ATO correspondence can help ensure that any available concessions are identified and applied where appropriate.