This is a joint media release with Customs and Border Protection and the Australian Federal Police. Four people who pleaded guilty to charges relating to defrauding the Commonwealth have been sentenced to imprisonment in the Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday. Mr Sen Hung CHEN, 64, and hi... more

The Tax Office is reminding employers to use new personal income tax threshold rates from 1 July 2009. The new rates have been introduced following changes to the income tax thresholds announced in last year’s Federal Budget. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the new weekly an... more

The Tax Office today reminded Australia’s 11.8 million taxpayers to start getting ready to lodge their tax returns. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the Tax Office has a range of information and assistance available to help people meet the 31 October 2009 deadline. “Fro... more

The Tax Office has announced new measures to help businesses with an annual turnover of less than $2 million that are struggling to manage their tax debts in the current economic climate. In a speech to the Council of Small Business of Australia, Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo confirme... more

The Tax Office is warning people to be cautious of arrangements being promoted that involve the sale of an inactive pre 1999 self-managed super fund (SMSF) with a related unit trust. Under the arrangement, the promoter advertises the sale of a pre 1999 SMSF that has control of a related unit tru... more

Following the High Court’s decision, the Tax Office today said 7.4 million people who have already lodged their 2007-08 tax return will begin receiving their tax bonus payments from next week. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said if people have lodged their 2007-08 tax return and ... more

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo today said the Tax Office has been making it a priority to respond to requests for assistance from people in disaster declared areas of Northern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. “At the time of the recent floods I moved to reduce the burden ... more

After consultation with tax professionals Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo today said he will maintain the register of private rulings in its current form. The register is published to the Tax Office website. It is a historical record of private rulings issued by the Commissioner which a... more

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo today announced that work is underway to ensure the Tax Office can start paying the Australian Government’s tax bonus from early April 2009. “At this stage we believe most eligible people won’t have to do anything to receive the proposed... more

The Tax Office will shutdown all IT and communication systems and applications over the Christmas and New Year period to complete essential maintenance at our data centres. This means all systems and services will be unavailable from 4pm EDST Wednesday 24 December 2008 until 9am EDST Monday 5 Ja... more

The Tax Office is assuring residents affected by recent severe storm activity in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Central Queensland and surrounding areas they don’t need to worry about their tax at this time. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said this is a difficult time for many residen... more

The Tax Office has written to 3,122 trustees of self managed super funds offering them a new tax file number (TFN) for their funds. The funds’ existing tax file numbers were on a CD of scanned letters being sent to the Tax Office via an authorised (door to door) courier from the company co... more

The Tax Office and ANZ today signed Australia’s first Annual Compliance Arrangement, signalling a more open and transparent approach to managing risks concerning income tax between the Tax Office and corporate Australia. The signing supplements the existing compliance and risk management a... more

The Tax Office today reminded businesses that September quarterly activity statements and super contributions are due by Tuesday, 28 October 2008. Activity statements Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the quickest, easiest and most secure way to lodge activity statements is to use the o... more

The 31 October deadline to lodge income tax returns is fast approaching with just one month to go. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo has advised people who are preparing their own returns to start doing so as soon as possible and not to leave it until the last minute. “One of the e... more

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo today issued a taxpayer alert warning people that he intends to closely scrutinise GST refund requests that could result in windfall gains not intended by the law. The Commissioner is concerned about situations where a taxpayer seeks to obtain a GST refun... more

A new electronic calendar from the Tax Office is now available to help small businesses better manage their tax lodgment and payment deadlines throughout the year. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said Your small business tax calendar can be downloaded from the Tax Office website and pro... more

From 1 July this year many primary producers will be able to claim additional fuel tax credits, and some others will be able to claim fuel tax credits for the first time. The Tax Office is encouraging businesses in the agriculture industry to find out if they can save money on their business fue... more