Tax Services Sydney

Yes. Our tax team includes Chartered Accountants (CA) and Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) who are registered tax agents with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). Only registered tax agents are legally permitted to prepare and lodge tax returns on behalf of clients in Australia, and charge a fee for doing so. You can verify our registration on the TPB public register. We also have extended lodgement deadlines with the ATO, which can give our clients additional time to lodge without penalty.

Effective tax planning happens throughout the year, not just at EOFY. We advise on timing of income and expenses, superannuation contribution strategies, trust distribution planning, business structure optimisation, Division 7A compliance, instant asset write-off claims, and the use of small business tax concessions available under Australian tax law. By reviewing your position regularly, we identify and implement strategies that legally reduce your tax liability — often saving clients far more than our fees.

A BAS (Business Activity Statement) is lodged quarterly or monthly to report your GST collections and credits, PAYG withholding, and sometimes PAYG instalments. It's a regular compliance obligation for all GST-registered businesses. A tax return is lodged annually and reports your total taxable income and calculates the income tax owing for the year. If you're registered for GST and running a business, you need both. We manage the full BAS and tax return cycle for our clients as part of an integrated service.

Don't respond to the ATO without professional advice. Contact us immediately. As registered tax agents, we take over all communication with the ATO on your behalf, review the scope of the audit, prepare documentation and supporting evidence, and manage the entire process. ATO audits can be triggered by data-matching discrepancies, unusual deduction claims, or industry-wide risk reviews — we know what auditors look for and how to respond correctly to protect your interests.

Yes. We regularly help clients bring overdue lodgements up to date and negotiate with the ATO regarding penalties and payment arrangements. The ATO generally responds well to proactive engagement — the longer overdue lodgements remain outstanding, the larger the potential penalties. We also negotiate interest remission where clients have a legitimate reason for delay. Getting compliant quickly is always in your best interest, and we handle the process without judgement.

There's no universal answer — the optimal structure depends on your income level, growth plans, asset protection needs, personal circumstances, and whether you're planning to bring in investors or sell the business in future. Companies offer a flat 25% tax rate (for base rate entities) and limited liability. Trusts offer flexibility in distributing income to lower-earning beneficiaries. Sole traders are simpler but offer no asset protection. We assess your full situation and provide a clear recommendation with modelled tax comparisons before you make any structural changes.

We manage consolidated tax positions for clients with multiple entities — including operating companies, holding companies, family trusts, and SMSFs. This includes ensuring appropriate intercompany charges and Division 7A loan agreements are in place, trust deed compliance, timing of trust distributions to minimise group tax, and group financial reporting. Our senior tax advisors have extensive experience with multi-entity structures across industries including real estate, e-commerce, hospitality, and professional services.

Yes — this is a specialty of ours. E-commerce businesses face unique tax complexities including GST on imported digital services, overseas marketplace withholding taxes, transfer pricing if you operate through related entities in different countries, and FX implications on foreign income. We have specific experience with Australian sellers on Amazon, Shopify, and eBay, as well as overseas businesses entering the Australian market. We ensure your cross-border tax position is compliant, efficient, and documented correctly.

For individuals and most businesses, the standard tax return deadline is 31 October for the prior financial year (ending 30 June). However, clients lodging through a registered tax agent — like Outback Accounting — typically receive an extended lodgement deadline, often as late as 15 May the following year, provided the return is lodged on time through the agent's lodgement program. Late lodgements attract a Failure to Lodge (FTL) penalty of $330 per 28-day period (up to a maximum of $1,650 for individuals and more for larger businesses), plus any applicable interest on unpaid tax.