This article brought to you by the ATO who are offering small businesses FREE tax assistance visits.

What is an assistance visit?

To help make it as easy as possible for you to comply with your tax and superannuation obligations, we provide a free and tailored assistance service within Australia. Visits are conducted by Tax officer's at your place of business or preferred location. At this meeting, we will work through and discuss specific tax information of interest to you. Some topics include:

• registering for an Australian business number (ABN)
• understanding and registering for the goods and services tax (GST)
• understanding employer obligations (pay as you go withholding, superannuation guarantee, and fringe benefits tax)
• understanding superannuation obligations
• understanding activity statement and record keeping requirements
• understanding the range of other taxes and obligations that might apply to your business
• lodging activity statements online via the Business Portal (includes set up and registration).

(Please be advised that from the 2010-11 income year, e-Record will no longer be available.)

If you are setting up a new small business, making changes to an existing small business (for example, taking on employees), or just need some small business tax help, our officers can help you to understand your specific tax obligations and what you need to do.

We can also help you set up and install useful programs, such as the ATO’s Business Portal which is a fast, convenient and secure way for you to lodge and view activity statements, request refunds and communicate with us on specific topics. No strings attached.

All assistance visits are covered by the Commissioner’s guarantee. This means that they are educational in nature and the information you share with our officers is confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.
Time required, when and where

Assistance visits can range from half an hour to half a day in length, depending on the information you would like our officers to discuss with you. Visits are offered between 8.00am and 6.00pm weekdays, delivered at your place of business or preferred location and are available in all capital cities and most regional areas within Australia.
Assistance in languages other than English

The ATO is committed to providing helpful and timely assistance for non-English speaking businesses. If required, a translator will accompany one of our officers to provide you with information in your language.
How to arrange an assistance visit

Small businesses needing help are encouraged to take advantage of this voluntary service. You can Register for an assistance visit online at any time, or phone 13 28 66 between 8.00am and 6.00pm weekdays and we will arrange for one of our officers to contact you to make an appointment.

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