If you run a business, you will probably need to lodge a business activity statement. This is a report that is submitted to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) either every month or every quarter, depending on the type of business you run.
On the basis of this report, various business taxes are paid to the relevant tax office. These taxes can include:
Every BAS is unique to a business and may or may not include all of the above types of taxes. Your BAS will only include a detailed report about those types of taxes that your business is eligible to pay.
You will be sent a form by the ATO which details everything you need to provide. The primary sections include:
There are different options of how you report GST, depending on how often you calculate, report and pay it. You will need to specify in your BAS what your reporting period is.
You will need to include the total dollar amount of salaries and wages paid, as well as the amount of tax withheld 
from those payments.
There are two options for reporting the business' income tax instalment, depending on how you report and calculate it.
Based on the information you have provided on GST and PAYG you will need to calculate how much you owe to the ATO (from sales, tax withheld etc.), as well as how much the ATO owes you (from GST on purchases and credit from PAYG income tax instalments). Combining these two numbers together will tell you a final figure of how much you owe or how much is owed to you.
Once you have completed the BAS and signed it, you need to submit it to the Australian Taxation Office before the due date for final submission. The due date is typically mentioned at the top of the BAS form.
Depending on whether you are required to submit the BAS monthly or quarterly, your due date will differ accordingly.
In the event that the final submission date is a public holiday or a weekend, the ATO allows businesses to submit the BAS on the first working day after the holiday. If you do not submit the BAS and pay the tax in a timely manner, your business could have to suffer penalty payments.
The completed business activity statement can be submitted to the ATO through several channels. These include:
If you choose to lodge your quarterly activity statements online you may be eligible for a two-week deferral.
The due date will differ for quarterly and monthly reporting:
Quarterly reporting
| Quarter | Due date |
|---|---|
| Q1: July, August and September | 28 October |
| Q2: October, November and December | 28 February |
| Q3: January, February and March | 28 April |
| Q4: April, May and June | 28 July |
Monthly reporting
Your business activity statement is usually due on the 21st day of the month following the end of the taxable period. If you are a school or associated body, you will be automatically granted a deferral of your December activity statement, which will be issued with a deferral date of 21 February.
You can pay the ATO any of the following ways:
The ATO recommends that you keep good records to stay on top of your business. In particular you should:
Keep good records.
Avoid manual errors.
Completing your BAS.
Do I have to submit a business activity statement?
It is mandatory to file a BAS for every tax period as specified by the ATO. Whether or not you have done any business in that period is irrelevant. Once you have received a BAS form from the ATO, you have to complete and submit it. If no business has been transacted in that particular tax period then the BAS for that period will be referred to as a nil report.
Can I make payments towards a future BAS?
Yes. You're able to make voluntary payments to offset future BAS liability by using any of the available payment methods. You just need your payment reference number (PRN) on hand.
I've made an error on my BAS. How do I amend it?
If the mistake was on a previous BAS you can make the correction in your current one. If you are not currently submitting a BAS then you will need to lodge a revised BAS to correct the mistake. You can do this through your myGov account, the ATO business portal, from your business software if it's enabled for Standard Business Reporting or by phoning the ATO directly.
My BAS due date falls on a weekend. What do I do?
If the due date for your business activity statement falls on a weekend or public holiday, the ATO will allow you to pay the following business day.
Lodging your tax return yourself online via myGov is free, but a professional tax agent can help you maximise your refund and save you time.
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Is a loan to a business declared on the activity statement?
Hi Fulan,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Yes, loans are also included. They are included under expenses and tagged as “non-CGT principal”. If you are having difficulty in completing your BAS form, it is best to seek help from a BAS agent.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Im confused about what material costs are when doing the bas statement.im a carpenter, so are material costs the cost of materials that I charge the client? or is it materials like tools, saw blades, drill bits and fixings and things I need for my job?
Hi Adam,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information website that helps users make better decisions. We are not BAS agents. It would be best for you to get help from a registered BAS agent to be able to prepare an accurate business activity statement. You could also get the services of an expert tax consultant to help you in this regard.
Cheers,
Anndy
My paper bas did not arrive
I rang ato to ask to resend but a week and a half and still not arrived!!
My computer is so slow I can’t do online
Have $ to pay but really worried I can’t seem to get my bas
I have never had this problem before
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that finder.com.au is an online comparison and general information service.
Unfortunately we can’t assist in this matter, we’d recommend that you get in touch with the ATO again to explain the situation regarding your BAS.
Cheers,
Shirley
Is there a threshold on earnings before a BAS need to be lodged?
I was thinking of creating an online store which I don’t think will generate more than $5000 per year.
Hi Brooke,
Thanks for your question.
When you register for an Australian business number (ABN) and GST, the Australian Tax Office will automatically send you a BAS when it is time to lodge.
Cheers,
Shirley
I have lost my current BAS form – I think it is due today what do I do ?
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your question.
If you’ve lost or haven’t received your paper BAS, you can obtain a copy by phoning the Australian Tax Office on 13 28 66. It’s probably best to let them know that it was due today as well.
Cheers,
Shirley