BAS agents get super extension

Business Activity Statement (BAS) agents can now legitimately play a greater role in superannuation issues, following changes announced this week by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB).

The changes reflect an assessment that BAS agents were undertaking some processes not necessarily covered by the definition of a "BAS Service".

The TPB announced that, following consultation with external stakeholders, it had expanded the scope of services BAS agents could provide beyond existing BAS services, as defined in the Tax Agent Services Act 2009.

It said BAS agents could now:

• provide services under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to the extent that they relate to a payroll function or payments to contractors;
• determine and report the superannuation guarantee shortfall amount and any associated administrative fees;
• deal with superannuation payments made through a clearing house;
• complete and lodge the taxable payments annual report to the ATO, on behalf of a client;
• send a tax file number declaration to the commissioner, on behalf of a client; and
• apply to the registrar for an Australian business number, on behalf of a client.

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Commenting on the developments, TPB chairman, Ian Taylor said the board understood that there were services commonly provided by BAS agents that did not necessarily fall within the definition of a BAS service.

"This legislative instrument now allows these to be included in the services that BAS agents can provide, without the requirement to be a registered tax agent," he said.