Clients Right and Obligations Under Taxation Laws

Set out below is a brief explanation of some matters of general relevance concerning the operation of Australian federal taxation legislation. If you have any queries, concerns or issues with any of matters discussed below please feel free to contact us. 

The self-assessment system 

The Australian tax system operates as a self-assessment system. This means that when your Income Tax Return/s, Fringe Benefit Tax Return, Business Activity Statement/s, and Instalment Activity Statement/s are lodged the Australia Taxation Office (ATO) accepts the information in the return at face-value and issues you with an assessment notice based on that information. It is important to understand that this does not mean the assessment is final as the ATO can conduct a review or audit of the information provided in the return at a later time, subject to the time limits discussed in the topic below. 

The Commissioner’s ability to amend an assessment 

As explained above, the ATO accepts the information lodged in your Income Tax Return at face value. However, they ATO also has the power to undertake an audit and amend the assessment if they find it to be incorrect. The following rules generally apply: 

Individuals

• For most individuals with simple tax affairs, the ATO can amend an assessment within 2 years after you receive your notice of assessment. If the individual carries on a business and is not a Small Business Entity, that period extends to 4 years. (A Small Business Entity is an entity which carries on a business and has an aggregated turnover less than $2 million).  

• If the individual is a partner in a partnership or a beneficiary of a trust, the period is 4 years unless the partnership or trust is regarded as a Small Business Entity.

Companies 

• The ATO can amend a company assessment within 2 years after the company receives a notice of assessment where the company is a Small Business Entity. The same period applies where the company is a partner in a partnership or beneficiary of a trust that is a Small Business Entity. 
• In any other case, the period is 4 years.  

Trustees 

• The ATO can amend an assessment within 2 years after the trustee receives the notice of assessment if the trust is a Small Business Entity. 
• If the trustee is a partner in a partnership or a beneficiary of a trust that is not a Small Business Entity, that period extends to 4 years. 
• In any other case, the period is 4 years. 

If the ATO amends an assessment, this will potentially involve, apart from increased taxes, penalties and interest. If you discover an error in the information declared in the return, lower penalties generally apply for making a voluntary disclosure. 

Note: There are no time limits on the ATO amending an assessment where they believe there has been fraud or evasion. The Commissioner tends to take a broad view of what constitutes “evasion”. 

Obligations to keep my records 

The tax laws specifically require taxpayers to keep records that properly explain the transaction they have entered into. 

Individuals 

Individuals claiming deductions for work-related expenses are subject to the Substantiation rules in the tax laws. This requires taxpayers to keep receipts, invoices etc., of the expenses they incur. Where the expenses relate to a taxpayer travelling interstate or overseas, a travel diary may also need to be kept. Where the expenses relate to a motor vehicle, a record of the journey(s) taken, such as a log book may need to be kept. 

A failure to keep the appropriate records can lead to the ATO denying a particular deduction which may involve the imposition of penalties and interest. Substantiation records must be retained for 5 years. 

Businesses 

The tax laws specifically require a taxpayer that carries on business to keep records that record and explain all the transactions they have entered into. This includes all the documents that explain how the income and expenditure of the taxpayer was determined. Where the tax laws allow or require a taxpayer to make a choice, election, estimate or calculation documents containing particulars of these matters must be kept. All these records must be retained for a period of 5 years. There are penalties for taxpayers who fail to do so. 

Obligations to provide complete and accurate records.  

In order for our practice to be able to lodge returns on your behalf, it is your responsibility to provide us with complete and accurate records. Further, in order to lodge your return on time we will require you to provide us the relevant information as and when requested. Where you are unable to provide us with complete and accurate records, we may be unable to prepare and lodge your return. Under the Tax Agents Services Act 2009, tax agents are subject to a Professional Code of Conduct which prevents them from acting for a client where insufficient records or information exists so as to be able determine the amount of the client’s income or deductions.  

Right to seek a private binding ruling 

When preparing your return, we may identify one or more issues that are not clear under the tax laws. Where we have pointed out such issues to you, you have a right to request a Private Binding Ruling from the ATO. Upon providing the ATO with all the relevant facts, they will provide you with a ruling setting out their view on the proper tax treatment of the issue requested to be ruled upon. A Private Binding Ruling is binding on the ATO and can be relied on by you.  

Lodging a tax return where the tax liability is uncertain 

Taking a taxation position on which the law is uncertain without obtaining such a ruling may result in you lodging a tax return disclosing a tax liability with which the ATO may later disagree. If the ATO consider that that there has been an underpayment of tax it will issue an amended assessment for the tax shortfall, plus penalties plus a combination of Shortfall Interest Charge(SIC) and General Interest Charge (GIC). Penalties vary as a percentage of the additional tax assessed, depending on the nature of the disclosure. The rates can vary from 25% to 75%. Where “safe harbour” applies, penalties will not be payable. 

SIC and GIC are effectively annual interest amounts charged on the tax shortfall, calculated back to the time the original tax assessment became payable. 

Objecting to an assessment 

If the ATO issues you with an assessment that you do not agree with, you have the right to lodge an objection to that assessment. The objection must be lodged with the ATO within either 2 or 4 years. As to which period applies, this is determined in the same way as the discussion above under the heading ‘Commissioner’s ability to amend an assessment’. 

Where the ATO issues an amended assessment, the period for objecting is the greater of: 

• 60 days from the time the amended assessment is received; or 
• 2 or 4 years (whichever is applicable) from the time the original assessment was received. 

If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the objection, you have the right to have the matter reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or to appeal the matter to the Federal Court. 

Payment of disputed tax 

Once tax is assessed, it becomes a debt due and immediately collectable by the ATO. This remains the case even if the assessment is disputed. 

If there is a genuine dispute, the ATO will usually not seek collection of the entire amount owing. It is common for the ATO allow 50% of the primary tax to be paid and for the balance to remain outstanding while the matter is disputed before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Court. In other circumstances, the entire amount assessed is allowed to remain outstanding (but attracting GIC) while the review or appeal process is resolved.  

Onus of proof

If you require additional information regarding your rights and obligation under Taxation Laws, please speak with your Mazars Adviser.  

Safe Harbour

Taxpayers utilising the services of a registered tax agent have the benefit of ‘safe harbour’ (or exemption) from penalties even if: 

• Their tax return is later discovered to have contained an error; or 
• Their tax return is lodged late.  

When did the new safe harbour provisions commence 

The ‘safe harbour’ can only apply for returns lodged on or after 1 March 2010.  

How does the new safe harbour work? 

The key to benefitting from the ‘safe harbour’ should the need arise, is for you to ensure that you provide us with all of the relevant tax information in your possession. This includes any records, or documents we request from you plus any other information you think may be relevant to the preparation of your tax return. The information provided must be complete and accurate.  

It is your responsibility to provide all relevant tax information to us with sufficient time to lodge the return by its due date. The safe harbour from late lodgement penalties can also apply where a BAS, IAS, or FBT return is lodged late.  

What does the new safe harbour apply to?  

Whilst the safe harbour can apply to exempt the penalty for an error made in a tax return, it is important to note that the tax and interest will be still be payable. 

What if the safe harbour does not apply?  

Even if you are not eligible for the safe harbour, it is still possible to request the ATO to remit or reduce the penalty and for that decision to be reviewed by the administrative Appeals Tribunal if you are unsuccessful.