Simpler BAS reporting from 1 July 2017
From 1 July 2017, Simpler BAS will be the default GST reporting method for small businesses with a GST turnover of less than $10 million.
The simplified GST reporting means that businesses will only need to report:
- Total sales
- GST on sales
- GST on purchases
Please note that this does not change the reporting cycle, record keeping requirements, or how other taxes are reported on the Business Activity Statement.
The ATO will automatically transition eligible small business’ GST reporting methods to Simpler BAS from 1 July 2017.
New small businesses that are registered for GST after 19th January 2017 are eligible to start using Simpler BAS reporting straight away.
If you have any questions about the simplified GST reporting method how this may affect your particular circumstance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Norman Ruan
Accountant
T: 02 9984 7774
E: normanr@northadvisory.com.au
Martin van der Saag
Director
T: 02 9984 7774
E: martinv@northadvisory.com.au
“From 1 July 2017, eligible small businesses were able to use a simpler, reduced-field Activity Statement — making BAS reporting less complex and time-consuming.”
About the author
Marius Fourie - Director & Business Advisor
As Director and Business Advisor, Marius uses his accounting expertise and empathetic skills to work directly with business owners and help them feel at ease with their finances.
Marius saw a common need in clients that just wasn’t being met by accounting providers.
That need was for clear, open communication and streamlined accounting services that didn’t come padded out with any unnecessary features.
Business owners just don’t have time to compare different accounting firms to see which one has the best packages with the best inclusions (many of which they would pay for but never use).
Key Takeaways
The ATO introduced easier BAS reporting from 1 July 2017 for qualifying small businesses.
This helped reduce the administrative burden for businesses with straightforward GST and PAYG reporting.
Simplified BAS removed many non-essential fields, focusing on core tax components like GST and PAYG.
Businesses no longer had to complete every possible label on their BAS if they weren’t relevant to their operations.
Eligibility was based on turnover and reporting profile — not all businesses automatically qualified.
Those with more complex reporting needs, or larger operations, continued to use the full BAS form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is “simpler BAS reporting” that started from 1 July 2017?
It was an ATO-led initiative to reduce the number of fields on Business Activity Statements for certain small businesses, so they only needed to report core items like GST and PAYG instalments, rather than completing many detailed labels on every BAS.
Who was eligible to use the simplified BAS reporting?
Small businesses that met certain turnover thresholds and reporting criteria (such as non-payroll withholding obligations or limited BAS reporting requirements) could opt for the simpler form — reducing the reporting load compared with the standard BAS.
What types of information did the simplified BAS focus on?
The simplified BAS focused on key reporting elements such as GST collected and paid, PAYG instalments (if applicable), and other major amounts due, rather than requiring completion of all possible label codes.
Did using a simplified BAS change a business’s overall tax obligations?
No — it only reduced the complexity of reporting. The underlying tax liabilities (GST, PAYG withholding, instalments, etc.) remained the same; businesses still needed to ensure that the amounts reported were accurate.
How did businesses request or start using the simpler BAS reporting?
Eligible businesses typically advised the ATO — often via their tax agent or through their online services — that they wanted to use the reduced BAS reporting option. Once recognised as eligible, the simpler form would be provided for their activity statements.
What is Simpler BAS reporting?
Simpler BAS is a simplified GST reporting method where eligible small businesses only need to report
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