Tax Agents and Revenue Authorities

Tax Agents

Tax Agents act on behalf of a company to review and lodge its income tax and other returns with the relevant Revenue Authority, such as the ATO.

Whilst Tax Agents may provide advice on tax treatment of items within a tax return, primary responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of information within the return rests with the company’s officers.  In Australia, the company’s Public Officer assumes this responsibility.

Australian Taxation Office

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the revenue authority for Australia.

Australian tax returns are lodged on a self-assessment basis.  The ATO audits the tax returns of taxpayers using a risk-based approach to target taxpayers most likely to be non-complying.