The ATO is remitting failure to lodge penalties for eligible small businesses.  Businesses which have not yet taken advantage of the ATO’s lodgement penalty amnesty only have until 31 December 2023 to do so.

Businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the amnesty:

• had an annual turnover under $10 million when the original lodgement was due;
• have overdue income tax returns, business activity statements or FBT returns that were due between 1 December 2019 and 28 February 2022; and
• lodge between 1 June and 31 December 2023.

Importantly, when taxpayers lodge their eligible income tax returns, business activity statements and FBT returns, failure to lodge penalties will be remitted without the need to apply.

The amnesty does not apply to privately owned groups or individuals controlling over $5 million of net wealth.

Directors who bring their company lodgements up to date can also have penalties remitted and, if they are reliant on company lodgements to finalise their own tax affairs, any failure to lodge penalties will be remitted.  This also applies to eligible lodgements made between 1 June and 31 December 2023.