Bushfire Tax Relief Assistance
11 March, 2020
Businesses in identified bushfire-impacted postcodes are eligible for support and assistance through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), including:
- deferring the due date to lodge and pay money owed as a result of business activity statements, income tax returns, fringe benefits tax returns and excise returns to 28 May 2020;
- allowing businesses that pay their Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments quarterly to vary their instalments without penalty, and also claim credits for instalment amounts already paid; and
- allowing businesses to opt in to monthly GST reporting from the start of a quarter (such as 1 April 2020), in order to get quicker access to GST refunds.
If you’ve been affected by this disaster and need assistance with your tax affairs, or your address is outside the identified postcode list, you can call the ATO Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218 (8am-6pm Monday-Friday) to discuss your circumstances.
Individuals and businesses impacted by the bushfires are not required to pay tax on any relief and recovery payments or benefits provided by the Australian Government in relation to the 2019-20 bushfires.
