Fed: Annual BAS reports to be considered, says PM

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2001
Fed: Annual BAS reports to be considered, says PM

By Linda McSweeny

CANBERRA, Feb 11 AAP - Small business may only need to submit annual Business Activity
Statements (BAS) after Prime Minister John Howard today agreed to discuss the option with
cabinet this week.

Mr Howard today accepted annual BAS reporting could be part of his new, simplified
tax regime on cabinet's priority list.

Cabinet meets tomorrow.

His decision came at the same time as Australian Business Limited (ABL) called for
annual reporting and released a survey revealing that the BAS had taken up to 11 hours
on average to complete.

"Cabinet's meeting tomorrow. That's pretty soon," Mr Howard told the Nine Network's
Sunday program.

"I never normally confirm cabinet agendas but it's a high priority.

"We've done a lot of work on it.

"We obviously want to get this fixed up and we always said we'd be willing to fine
tune the implementation if problems were arising."

When asked if he would consider annual reporting, he said: "Every option's on the table."

Coalition backbenchers and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley last week suggested annual
reporting requirements may be needed to simplify the BAS for struggling small business.

Angry backbenchers met with Mr Howard early last week to demand changes to the system.

Talkback radio callers also confronted Mr Howard over the complexity and cost of the
BAS system, with one businessman saying the changeover to the new tax system had cost
him about $20,000.

Businesses could now get a break from the burden of GST paperwork by the time they
have to file their next quarterly tax return after Mr Howard promised to fast track the
changes.

The third quarterly lodgment is due in 10 weeks.

ABL released a survey today which revealed a host of business staff were spending longer
hours at work to complete the BAS and found it difficult.

ABL urged the government give business the option of completing only an annual BAS form.

It recommended the government allow business more time to complete the BAS, reduce
the number of questions on the forms and streamline terminology.

Mr Howard said the changes would please people wanting a simpler system.

"They won't undermine the integrity of the system and they won't imperil the collections
under the system," he said.

"But they will make it easier for people who want it made easier."

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