Professional Body Calls for Increased Funding for ATO to Improve Efficiency and Services for Tax Agents

Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) is calling for increased funding for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to enhance its efficiency and services for tax agents. In a pre-budget submission, the professional body emphasized the importance of allocating resources to the ATO to improve service standards, especially in light of the surge in ATO debt collection activity targeting small business operators.

CA ANZ highlighted the need for additional funding to implement a booking service for efficient issue resolution, particularly in relation to tax debt collection and small business disputes. The professional body also stressed the significance of increasing funding for the ATO in preparation for the upcoming Payday Super changes, urging for reforms to Superannuation Guarantee (SG) penalties and the issuance of binding advice by the ATO.

Furthermore, CA ANZ called for a post-implementation review of recent tax agent services amendments to assess their effectiveness and alignment with the James Review recommendations. The professional body emphasized the need to reduce compliance costs and regulatory complexity for tax agents, particularly sole and small practices.

In addition to advocating for increased funding for the ATO, CA ANZ also urged the government to allocate resources to the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) to ensure the efficient regulation and administration of the tax system. The professional body’s recommendations aim to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the tax system for tax agents, their clients, and the public.