What is a BAS Agent?

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  • What is a BAS Agent?

A BAS Agent is issued a licence that says they can advise a client, provide certainty to a client or represent that client to the tax office in relation to:

  • All GST matters
  • All Wine Tax, Fuel Tax, Luxury Car Tax matters
  • Payment of FBT
  • All aspects of Payroll that relate to the withholding of tax amounts and the reporting of that amount to the employee and the Tax office
  • All aspects of other PAYG Withholding amounts: ie no ABN, Interest & Dividend
  • All aspects of the payment of income tax via PAYG Instalments
  • All aspects of the Taxable Payments Annual Reporting system
  • All aspects of Superannuation Guarantee system as related to payroll & the Charge

A Tax Agent can also do these and then other areas of tax also.

What does this mean?

A registered Agent may:

  • Design and set up compliance systems
  • Advise the client on how the above areas of law effect them
  • Review a client’s operations in relation to these areas of law and provide certainty to that client that they are getting it right

These tasks cannot be done by a bookkeeper who is not a registered Agent.

So, what can a Bookkeeper do who is not a BAS Agent?

  • They can follow systems designed by others
  • They can process
  • They can reconcile and produce results but not if the client is relying on those, without further action to be certain that they are meeting their obligation
  • They should raise questions and not answer them
Service BAS service
Applying to the Registrar for an ABN on behalf of a client. X
Coding transactions, tax invoices and transferring data onto a computer program for clients through processes that require the interpretation or application of a BAS provision. X
   
Confirming figures to be included on a client’s activity statement. X
Completing activity statements on behalf of an entity or instructing the entity which figures to include. X
Confirming the withholding tax obligations for the employees of a client. X
Services declared to be a BAS service by way of a legislative instrument issued by the TPB. X
Preparation and provision of a payment summary that may include reportable fringe benefits amounts and the reportable employer superannuation contributions, X
Registering or providing advice on registration for GST or PAYG withholding. X
Services under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to the extent that they relate to a payroll function or payments to contractors. X
Determining and reporting the superannuation guarantee shortfall and associated administrative fees. X
Dealing with superannuation payments made through a clearing house. X
Completing and lodging the Taxable payments annual report to the ATO on behalf of a client. X
Sending a TFN declaration to the Commissioner on behalf of a client. X

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