Who or what is a BAS Agent?

 

A BAS Agent is a person who is officially registered with the required government authority and the ATO.

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They are allowed to carry out a number of tax related activities on behalf of customers.

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Customers have to specifically give the person authority to “register” as the customer’s BAS Agent.  In other words, just because you work with a bookkeeper or accountant, does not mean that they are automatically your BAS Agent.  In fact, you can choose not to use your bookkeeper or accountant as your BAS Agent.  The decision is entirely yours.

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The most common activities for your BAS Agent is the preparation and lodgement of BAS and IAS returns on your behalf with the ATO.

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Customers who are registered for GST, PAYGW, FBT, etc are required to lodge BAS and IAS returns.

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PLEASE NOTE.  Even if someone is your appointed BAS Agent, this does not mean that they can lodge your BAS or IAS return with the ATO without your knowledge.

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In fact, each BAS and IAS return has to be individually approved by you before the BAS Agent can lodge it.  You cannot give your BAS Agent a general approval to lodge every return without having to consult you on each return first pre lodgement.

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This is done to protect you so that you are always aware of what is becoming a legally enforceable tax document, with a tax debt, that is being lodged on your behalf.

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Expert Bookkeeping and Accounting Services we, as experienced bookkeepers and accountants, are registered BAS Agents and we will be only too happy to help you with your BAS and IAS obligations.  It is a service that fits in seamlessly with the bookkeeping and accounting services we provide to our customers.

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