by Ariful | Aug 14, 2026 | US Updates
TITLE: Form 5472 vs the 1% Remittance Tax: A 2026 Guide for Foreign-Owned U.S. LLCs
International sellers using a U.S. LLC face two important compliance topics in 2026: Form 5472 reporting and the new 1% remittance transfer tax.
These rules are separate. Form 5472 is an information return. The remittance tax is an excise tax on certain transfers funded with physical instruments. Understanding the difference will help you avoid costly filing errors and keep your U.S. operations organised.
This guide explains the latest IRS position as of August 2026, including Form 5472 penalties, filing mechanics, enforcement risks, and what the remittance tax means for cross-border ecommerce businesses.
Start with the key distinction: Form 5472 is not a 1% tax
Form 5472 does not charge a percentage on international transfers.
It requires certain foreign-owned U.S. corporations and foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities to report transactions with related parties. A single-member U.S. LLC owned by a non-U.S. person may fall into this category.
The 1% remittance transfer tax is a separate measure introduced under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. It generally applies from 1 January 2026 when a remittance transfer from the United States is funded using:
- Cash.
- A money order.
- A cashier’s check.
- Another similar physical instrument.
The IRS announcement on the remittance transfer tax confirms that remittance providers generally collect the tax and report it through Form 720.
Your business does not report this 1% charge through Form 5472.
Check whether your foreign-owned U.S. LLC must file Form 5472
The IRS treats a domestic disregarded entity wholly owned by a foreign person as a separate corporation for limited information-reporting purposes under section 6038A.
This means a foreign-owned single-member LLC may need to file:
- A pro forma Form 1120.
- One or more Forms 5472 attached to that filing.
You may have a filing obligation when your LLC has reportable transactions with its foreign owner or another related party. Common examples include:
- Capital contributions from the foreign owner.
- Distributions to the foreign owner.
- Loans to or from the owner.
- Reimbursements between the owner and the LLC.
- Payments for services provided by a related foreign business.
- Payments for intellectual property, software, or other assets.
- Transactions connected with forming, acquiring, dissolving, or disposing of the LLC.
- Non-cash or less-than-full-consideration transactions.
Your marketplace sales to unrelated customers are not automatically Form 5472 transactions. However, the related-party activity supporting your U.S. structure may still create a reporting requirement.
The IRS Form 5472 instructions explain that a separate form is generally required for each related party with reportable transactions.
Prepare for strict processing and Form 5472 penalties
The IRS states that a penalty of $25,000 may apply for each failure to file a complete and correct Form 5472 by the due date.
The penalty may apply when you:
- Do not file Form 5472.
- File it late.
- File it in the wrong manner.
- Submit a substantially incomplete form.
- Fail to keep the required supporting records.
If the failure continues for more than 90 days after the IRS sends a notice, an additional $25,000 penalty may apply for each 30-day period, or part of a 30-day period, for each related party involved. The IRS states that there is no maximum penalty amount for these continuation penalties.
These are the main Form 5472 penalties to monitor in 2026:
- Initial failure: $25,000 per failure.
- Continuing failure: an additional $25,000 for each 30-day period after the 90-day notice period.
- Record-keeping failure: potentially subject to the same initial penalty framework.
- Interest: may continue to accrue on assessed penalties until paid.
The IRS does not describe Form 5472 enforcement as “automated” in its official instructions. However, the fixed-penalty structure and system-based processing mean that you should not rely on an informal grace period. A late or incomplete filing can create significant exposure even where the LLC has little or no taxable income.
Review the IRS international information reporting penalties page for the current penalty treatment and relief procedures.
File Form 5472 with the correct pro forma return
A foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity generally cannot file Form 5472 by itself.
Instead, attach it to a pro forma Form 1120. The IRS instructions state that the pro forma Form 1120 requires limited information, including the entity’s name, address, and specific identifying items on the first page.
For a foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity, the IRS currently requires paper or fax filing. The form cannot be filed electronically by the disregarded entity.
The IRS instructions identify the dedicated submission process:
- Write “Foreign-owned U.S. DE” across the top of the Form 1120.
- Attach the completed Form 5472 and any required schedules.
- Fax the filing at the IRS-prescribed number, or mail it to the dedicated Ogden, Utah address.
- Keep evidence of submission, including fax confirmation or tracked delivery records.
You may request additional time by filing Form 7004 by the original due date. An extension gives you more time to file. It does not remove the requirement or automatically correct incomplete information.
For a calendar-year entity, the usual filing deadline is generally in the fourth month after the end of the tax year. Confirm the exact deadline based on the owner’s U.S. tax year and the entity’s filing position.
Build a transaction record before the deadline
Do not wait until filing season to reconstruct your related-party activity.
Maintain a monthly or daily record of transactions involving:
- The U.S. LLC.
- The foreign owner.
- Any parent or sister company.
- Related foreign suppliers.
- Related service providers.
- Related payment accounts.
- Loans and capital accounts.
Your records should reconcile to the bookkeeping system and business bank statements. Keep invoices, agreements, payment references, exchange-rate calculations, loan records, distribution details, and capital contribution evidence.
This process is especially important for international ecommerce sellers. A U.S. LLC may receive marketplace settlements, pay fulfilment providers, purchase inventory, reimburse its owner, and transfer funds across several countries. Without a clear transaction trail, it becomes difficult to distinguish customer sales from related-party funding or distributions.
A structured tax compliance system for ecommerce marketplaces can help you connect payment data, accounting records, and filing requirements.
Understand the 1% remittance transfer tax
The 1% remittance transfer tax began applying to covered tra
by Ariful | Aug 13, 2026 | USA Accounting
TITLE: Australia Tax Update: GST Fraud Sentences, TPAR Deadlines, and SMSF Borrowing Changes
Australia’s tax compliance environment continues to tighten. This update covers recent GST fraud sentencings, the 28 August TPAR deadline, new SMSF borrowing restrictions, and practical BAS controls for Australian businesses and international sellers.
Understand the consequences of false BAS claims
The ATO has reported that four more individuals linked to Operation Protego have been sentenced for their involvement in fraudulent GST refund schemes.
Operation Protego targets schemes where people lodge false Business Activity Statements to claim GST refunds for businesses that do not genuinely trade. Some cases involve fictitious businesses, false invoices, or BAS lodgments made without real commercial activity.
The consequences can include:
- Imprisonment.
- A permanent criminal record.
- Repayment of fraudulent GST refunds.
- Recovery action for outstanding tax debts.
- Additional penalties and interest.
- Wider investigation of connected businesses and participants.
Recent ATO cases show that prison sentences can extend to several years. Individuals have been prosecuted for submitting false BAS, obtaining financial advantages by deception, and dealing with the proceeds of indictable crime.
The ATO’s message is direct: if you do not operate a business, do not obtain an ABN and do not lodge a BAS.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Pennie Snowden has emphasised that GST fraud is not a harmless shortcut. The ATO works with the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT), the Australian Federal Police and other agencies to identify, investigate and prosecute serious tax crime.
Read the ATO’s Operation Protego information and its latest GST fraud sentencing update.
Protect your business from risky GST schemes
Do not participate in arrangements that promise easy GST refunds or unusually large tax credits. You remain responsible for the accuracy of your BAS, even if another person prepares or lodges it for you.
Before claiming GST credits, check that:
- The purchase was made for your business.
- The supplier genuinely provided the goods or services.
- You hold a valid tax invoice where required.
- The GST amount is correctly calculated.
- The transaction is recorded in your accounting system.
- The claim is supported by bank and supplier records.
A refund is not evidence that a claim is correct. The ATO can review or amend earlier BAS periods and recover amounts that were incorrectly claimed.
Wait until after 28 August for complete TPAR pre-fill
Contractors should consider waiting until after 28 August 2026 before lodging their individual tax returns.
Businesses that pay contractors in certain industries must lodge a Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) by 28 August each year. The ATO then uses this information to pre-fill contractor income into individual tax returns.
Waiting can help you:
- Capture more complete contractor income data.
- Reduce the risk of omitted income.
- Avoid unnecessary amendments.
- Prevent a refund from being recalculated later.
- Save time comparing your records with payer information.
The recommendation is particularly relevant to contractors in industries such as:
- Building and construction.
- Cleaning.
- Courier services.
- Road freight.
- Information technology.
- Security and other specified industries.
This is not a mandatory waiting period. You can lodge earlier if necessary. However, you should not rely solely on incomplete pre-fill data.
If you lodge before 28 August, complete this checklist first:
-
Gather all invoices and payment records.
This helps you report your full assessable income even if payer data has not appeared.
-
Review bank statements and payment platforms.
This helps identify deposits that may not yet be shown in your pre-filled return.
-
Compare your records with available ATO data.
This helps you identify possible differences before lodgment.
-
Include contractor income manually where required.
This reduces the risk of an understated return.
-
Check your pre-fill again before finalising.
This helps prevent duplicated or omitted income.
The ATO’s 2026 pre-fill guidance explains when TPAR data is expected to become available. You can also use the ATO’s pre-fill availability service.
Review new SMSF borrowing rules from 10 August
New SMSF rules apply from 10 August 2026 to limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) used to acquire real property.
The key change is targeted. A new LRBA entered into from 10 August 2026 to acquire real property must generally acquire business real property. This means ordinary residential property that is mainly used for private or domestic purposes cannot generally be acquired using a new LRBA from that date.
This does not mean that every SMSF LRBA has been abolished.
Subject to the usual superannuation rules, SMSFs may still be able to:
- Continue an existing residential property LRBA entered into before 10 August 2026.
- Refinance an existing qualifying LRBA.
- Acquire residential property using cash or non-LRBA funding.
- Complete a purchase covered by a binding contract exchanged before 10 August 2026.
- Use a new LRBA to acquire qualifying business real property.
Business real property must generally be used wholly and exclusively in one or more businesses. Commercial premises used by a business may qualify. Some primary production land may also qualify, subject to specific conditions.
Review your SMSF structure immediately if you have:
- An existing LRBA.
- A proposed residential property purchase.
- A contract exchanged before 10 August 2026.
- A refinancing arrangement.
- Related-party lending or property ownership structures.
- A commercial property acquisition under consideration.
Keep the relevant loan agreements, trust documents, property contracts, settlement records and valuation evidence together. This will help demonstrate when the arrangement was entered into and whether transitional rules apply.
Read the ATO’s guidance on changes to limited recourse borrowing arrangements.
Strengthen your BAS process before the next lodgment
Australian SMEs, digital businesses and ecommerce sellers should
by Ariful | Aug 12, 2026 | UAE Updates
TITLE: Australian Business Tax Compliance Update: Key Changes and Deadlines
Australian businesses, online sellers and cross-border operators should review their compliance processes today. The key developments include changes to the first tranche of the capital gains tax and negative gearing package, an approaching Treasury consultation deadline, a higher Commonwealth penalty unit and updated personal income tax rates.
This update summarises the practical points for Australian companies, directors, contractors, digital businesses and ecommerce sellers.
Monitor the CGT and negative gearing reform position
The Australian Government has repealed some provisions from the first tranche of the negative gearing and capital gains tax reform package. However, the final scope and interaction of the reforms are still being settled.
You should not assume that every proposed measure has disappeared. Treasury is now consulting on the second tranche of legislation, which is intended to clarify how the broader reforms will operate in more complex situations.
The consultation covers issues connected with:
- Transitional rules.
- The definition of eligible new residential dwellings.
- Trusts and deceased estates.
- Partial Australian residency.
- Capital gains that span different tax periods.
- Exemptions and special housing arrangements.
- Interactions with existing CGT and negative gearing provisions.
Although this consultation includes residential property and SMSF/property borrowing reform matters, Australian businesses should focus on the wider compliance impact. Changes to tax legislation can affect company structures, trust reporting, asset records, distributions and year-end tax calculations.
Keep monitoring official Treasury and ATO updates before finalising future tax calculations. The proposed rules may continue to change as the consultation process progresses.
Read the Treasury Tranche 2 consultation materials and review the ATO’s current tax reform guidance.
Submit feedback by 21 August 2026
The Treasury consultation on the second tranche of the CGT and negative gearing reforms opened on 4 August 2026. Submissions close on Friday, 21 August 2026.
If your Australian business, trust, company or investment structure may be affected, review the consultation documents promptly. Submitting relevant commercial and compliance concerns will help you understand which issues Treasury is considering before the legislation is finalised.
You should:
- Read the draft legislation and explanatory material. This will help you identify provisions that may affect your structure.
- List any transitional concerns. Record assets, transactions or arrangements that cross the proposed commencement dates.
- Check trust and company records. Accurate ownership and distribution records will support future tax calculations.
- Submit through Treasury’s online consultation portal. This ensures your response reaches the correct government process before the deadline.
- Keep a copy of your submission. This creates an internal record of the matters your business raised.
Do not wait until the deadline if your records are incomplete. Reconciling your accounting data now will make it easier to assess the potential impact of any final rules.
Apply the $364 Commonwealth penalty unit from 1 July 2026
The Commonwealth penalty unit increased to $364 from 1 July 2026, up from $313.
The new amount applies to relevant offences and infringements committed on or after 1 July 2026. Penalty units are used across Commonwealth legislation, including certain tax, reporting and regulatory penalties.
This increase makes accurate and timely compliance even more important. A late lodgement, incorrect report or missed statutory obligation may carry a higher financial consequence where the applicable penalty is calculated by reference to penalty units.
Your business should now:
- Update internal compliance checklists.
- Confirm that accounting and payroll systems use current penalty settings.
- Review outstanding ATO correspondence.
- Check that BAS, GST, PAYG and other reports are lodged by their due dates.
- Escalate unresolved compliance issues to the responsible director or finance manager.
The ATO’s penalty unit guidance confirms the current Commonwealth amount.
Use the 15% personal income tax rate correctly
Personal income tax cuts took effect on 1 July 2026. The first marginal tax rate for Australian resident individuals has reduced from 16% to 15%.
This is not a flat 15% tax rate on all personal income. For the 2026–27 income year, the 15% rate generally applies to taxable income above the tax-free threshold up to $45,000, with higher marginal rates applying above that level.
This change is relevant to Australian companies because it may affect:
- PAYG withholding calculations.
- Employee payroll settings.
- Director remuneration records.
- Owner-manager cash-flow planning.
- Year-end individual tax calculations.
- Contractor and personal services reporting.
Update your payroll software and confirm that the correct 2026–27 tax tables are being used. Doing this will reduce the risk of incorrect withholding and later adjustments.
You can check the ATO’s personal income tax rate guidance for the current details.
Wait until after 28 August to lodge TPAR-related contractor returns
Contractors should generally wait until after 28 August 2026 to lodge their individual tax returns if they want the best opportunity to receive complete pre-filled Taxable payments annual report data.
Businesses that pay eligible contractors must lodge their TPAR by 28 August. Most contractor payment data will therefore become available for pre-fill after that date.
However, pre-fill information does not replace your own records. You must still report all assessable income, even if an amount is missing or incorrect in the ATO system.
Before lodging, contractors should:
- Compare pre-filled amounts with invoices and bank records.
- Check whether payments are reported on a cash or accrual basis.
- Confirm that GST and tax withheld amounts are correct.
- Add any income that has not been pre-filled.
- Keep supporting records for future review.
The ATO explains the timing in its 2026 contractor pre-fill guidance.
Reconcile before BAS, GST and PAYG deadlines
Australian companies and sellers should reconcile their records before preparing each BAS. This is especially important for ecommerce and digital businesses with multiple payment providers, marketplaces, bank accounts and currencies.
Your monthly or quarterly checklist should include:
by Ariful | Aug 10, 2026 | E-Commerce
If you sell through Amazon or Shopify, you gain access to customers worldwide. That reach also creates a constant flow of settlements, fees, refunds, inventory movements, VAT obligations and cross-border transactions.
An effective accounting system does more than help you file year-end accounts. It reveals which products actually make money, where cash is tied up and which compliance tasks need your attention right now.
This weekly guide covers the most important accounting and compliance priorities for UK ecommerce sellers in 2026.
Reconcile marketplace settlements before reviewing profit
Amazon and Shopify typically pay you a net amount. That payout may already exclude:
- Marketplace commissions.
- Fulfilment and storage fees.
- Advertising charges.
- Refunds and chargebacks.
- Payment processing fees.
- VAT or sales tax collected.
- Currency conversion costs.
If you record only the bank deposit, your turnover and expenses will be understated. Your VAT return may also be incomplete.
Instead, reconcile each settlement against the underlying transaction report. Your accounting records should show the gross sale, deductions and final payout separately.
A reliable weekly process should include:
- Import Amazon and Shopify transaction data.
- Post sales by tax jurisdiction and VAT treatment.
- Record marketplace fees and refunds separately.
- Match the final settlement to the bank deposit.
- Investigate differences before they accumulate.
This is one of the main reasons sellers look for an ecommerce accountant UK businesses can rely on. Ecommerce bookkeeping requires platform-specific reconciliation rather than simple bank-feed coding.
Tools such as A2X or Link My Books can help automate settlement data into compatible cloud accounting software. Automation saves time, but you still need a review process to confirm that tax codes, currencies and fee mappings remain correct.
Review contribution margin by SKU
Revenue alone does not show whether a product is profitable.
A product that sells for £30 may appear successful until you deduct:
- Product cost.
- Import duty and freight.
- Amazon referral fees.
- FBA fulfilment and storage charges.
- Shopify payment fees.
- Advertising spend.
- Packaging and returns.
- VAT or other transaction taxes.
Calculate contribution margin by SKU at least monthly. Review your highest-volume products first.
For example, a product with a £30 selling price may have £12 of product and landed costs, £5 of marketplace fees, £4 of advertising and £6 of fulfilment and returns. Its contribution before fixed overheads is only £3.
This information supports better operational decisions. You can reprice low-margin items, reduce advertising on unprofitable products or prioritise stock purchases for stronger performers.
Use accrual-based reporting where practical. It matches revenue with the costs incurred to generate it, giving you a more accurate view than simply comparing monthly payouts with bank payments.
Check UK VAT exposure every week
For a UK-established business, the compulsory VAT registration threshold is £90,000 of VAT-taxable turnover in a rolling 12-month period. You must also consider whether you expect to exceed that threshold in the next 30 days.
Review your taxable turnover across every channel, not just one marketplace. Include sales from:
- Amazon.
- Shopify.
- eBay or other platforms.
- Direct invoices.
- Wholesale customers.
- Digital services connected with your ecommerce business, where relevant.
If your business is based outside the UK, different rules can apply. Non-UK-established businesses supplying taxable goods or services in the UK may have to register without relying on the UK-established business threshold. Holding stock in a UK fulfilment centre can be particularly important.
Read the current HMRC VAT registration guidance and VAT thresholds before making a registration decision.
Once registered, maintain accurate digital VAT records. HMRC requires VAT-registered businesses to use compatible software and digital links under Making Tax Digital for VAT. Review VAT Notice 700/22 to understand the record-keeping requirements.
Configure Amazon and Shopify VAT settings correctly
Your platform settings must reflect how and where you sell.
Amazon FBA sellers may move stock between fulfilment locations. Shopify sellers may sell directly to customers in the UK, Europe, North America and other markets. Each movement can affect the VAT or sales tax treatment.
Check these areas regularly:
- Product VAT rates.
- Zero-rated and reduced-rated products.
- Customer location evidence.
- Marketplace facilitator treatment.
- Import VAT and customs documentation.
- VAT registration numbers stored in platform settings.
- Refund and credit-note treatment.
- Currency and tax reporting settings.
Shopify does not take responsibility for all of your tax reporting obligations. You remain responsible for recording sales correctly and meeting your filing requirements.
If you sell goods into the EU, check whether you need local VAT registrations or whether OSS or IOSS arrangements apply. The EU-wide distance-selling threshold is generally €10,000 for relevant cross-border consumer sales, although the correct treatment depends on your establishment, stock location and transaction structure.
We provide full-suite compliance in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and Australia. For EU markets, our approved scope focuses on modular VAT services, including registration and filings in jurisdictions such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Strengthen Amazon FBA accounting UK inventory controls
Inventory is often one of the largest assets on an ecommerce balance sheet. It is also a common source of inaccurate profit figures.
Your weekly review should compare:
- Amazon inventory reports.
- Third-party logistics records.
- Purchase invoices.
- Goods received.
- Units sold.
- Returns and damaged stock.
- Lost or reimbursed inventory.
- Inventory held in each country.
Record landed cost consistently. This should normally include the purchase price and relevant freight, duty and import costs. Consistent inventory costing gives you a more dependable cost of goods sold figure.
An effective Amazon FBA accounting UK process should also investigate unexpected changes in storage fees, removal charges and reimbursements. Small discrepancies can become material when multiplied across thousands of units.
Confirm who acts as the US importer of record
Selling to US customers creates customs obligations that are separate from income tax.
The importer of record is responsible for ensuring that goods entering the United States are properly declared. This can include responsibility for:
- Customs classification.
- Declared value.
- Country of origin.
- Duties and fees.
- Entry documentation.
- Record retention.
- Corrections and responses to customs enquiries.
by Ariful | Aug 10, 2026 | UAE Updates
TITLE: 10 August Australia Tax Compliance Checklist: Key ATO Updates for Your Business
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued several important compliance signals for Australian businesses on 10 August 2026.
The key developments affect private company loans, contractor income reporting, tax debt collection and the final electronic lodgment date for the April–June 2026 activity statement.
Use this checklist to identify what applies to your business and what you need to complete next.
Act now: Your 10 August Australia tax compliance checklist
Before the next deadline, complete these checks:
- Review Division 7A loans and update calculations using the new 8.77% benchmark interest rate for the 2026–27 income year.
- Check TPAR-related income before lodging an individual or contractor tax return.
- Confirm your Q4 activity statement status and lodge or pay by 11 August 2026 if the electronic concession applies to you.
- Review outstanding ATO debts and respond promptly to any payment reminder, garnishee notice or director penalty notice.
- Reconcile your accounting records so your BAS, GST, PAYG and year-end reporting are based on complete data.
These actions will help you avoid omissions, incorrect repayment calculations, interest costs and escalation by the ATO.
Division 7A: Benchmark interest rate increases to 8.77%
The ATO has confirmed that the Division 7A benchmark interest rate will rise to 8.77% for the 2026–27 income year.
This is an increase from 8.37% for the 2025–26 income year. The rate is based on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s variable housing loan indicator rate.
The rate is relevant to complying private company loans made to shareholders or their associates. It also affects the minimum yearly repayments required under a complying Division 7A loan agreement.
Read the ATO’s Division 7A benchmark interest rate guidance for the official rate table and related information.
Review these Division 7A items now
If your company has lent money or provided financial benefits to a shareholder or associate, check:
- The loan agreement
Confirm that the loan is documented correctly and meets the requirements for a complying Division 7A loan.
- The applicable interest rate
Use 8.77% when calculating interest for the 2026–27 income year.
- The minimum yearly repayment
Recalculate the repayment amount. A higher benchmark rate may increase the required repayment.
- The repayment history
Check that previous minimum yearly repayments were made by the relevant deadline and were not later withdrawn or redirected.
- Company records
Reconcile the director’s loan account, general ledger and bank transactions. This will help you identify private expenses, drawings or unpaid amounts that may require attention.
Do not treat a company loan as an informal arrangement. If the Division 7A requirements are not met, the amount may be treated as an unfranked dividend and included in the recipient’s assessable income.
A structured monthly or quarterly review will give you time to correct records before year-end reporting and tax calculations are completed.
TPAR: Wait until after 28 August before lodging where possible
The ATO is warning that up to $1 billion in Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) payments may be omitted or under-reported in 2026.
For Tax Time 2026, TPAR information is being used to pre-fill contractor business income for eligible individuals. The ATO expects approximately $21 billion in contractor payments to be pre-filled for around 700,000 sole traders and individuals in business.
However, the information may not be complete until reporting businesses have lodged their TPARs.
The ATO is encouraging contractors to wait until after 28 August 2026 before lodging if they receive payments that may be reported through the TPAR system. Waiting will give you a better opportunity to access complete pre-filled information and reduce the risk of amendments later.
You can review the ATO’s official pre-fill information for contractors before finalising your return.
Check your TPAR data before lodging
Use this process:
- Identify TPAR income sources. Review payments received from businesses that may have reporting obligations.
- Check pre-filled information. Compare the ATO data with your accounting records and bank statements.
- Include income that is not pre-filled. Not all business income appears in TPAR data.
- Check GST treatment. Confirm whether amounts are recorded as GST-inclusive or GST-exclusive, where applicable.
- Review expenses separately. TPAR pre-fill does not replace your responsibility to record eligible business expenses accurately.
- Keep supporting records. Retain invoices, contracts, payment reports and reconciliations in case the ATO requests evidence.
The TPAR rules may affect contractors in areas such as construction, cleaning, courier and road freight services, information technology, security and related industries.
Do not assume that missing pre-fill data means income does not need to be declared. Your own records remain the primary source for complete reporting.
Activity statement deadline: Lodge electronically by 11 August
The electronic lodgment deadline for the Quarter 4 activity statement covering April to June 2026 is 11 August 2026 for eligible businesses lodging electronically.
This deadline may apply where you use the two-week electronic lodgment concession. The standard quarterly deadline was 28 July 2026.
The ATO’s August due dates guidance confirms the 11 August deadline for Quarter 4 activity statements lodged electronically.
Complete your Q4 activity statement checklist
Before lodging, confirm:
- Sales and income are reconciled to your bookkeeping system.
- GST collected agrees with your sales records.
- GST credits are supported by valid tax invoices.
- Imports, exports and cross-border transactions have been reviewed.
- PAYG instalments have been checked.
- PAYG withholding figures agree with payroll records.
- Adjustments and private-use calculations are documented.
- The amount payable is available for payment by the due date.
If a registered BAS agent is lodging your activity statement under the relevant agent program, a different lodgment date may apply. Confirm the date with your agent instead of assuming that 11 August applies to every business.
Lodging on time remains important even if you cannot pay the full amount immediately. Late lodgment can create penalties and may increase the risk of firmer collection action.
ATO debt collection: Expect faster escalation
The ATO is returning to a firmer approach to tax debt collection. Australian businesses should not assume that pandemic-era flexibility will continue.
