2.2.4. ATO – Australian Taxation Office

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the government agency responsible for administering the tax laws in Australia. Its main role is to collect and enforce taxes, including income tax, goods and services tax (GST), and fringe benefits tax (FBT), among others.

In relation to Not-for-Profit organisations, the ATO has several roles and responsibilities.
These include:

• Registering organisations for tax purposes: NFP organisations are required to register for tax purposes with the ATO if they meet certain criteria, such as having a turnover of more than $150,000 per year or employing staff. Registration is necessary to obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) and to comply with tax laws.
• Providing guidance and support: The ATO provides guidance and support to organisations to help them understand their tax obligations and comply with tax laws. This includes providing information on issues such as deductibility of donations, GST, FBT, and income tax.
• Monitoring compliance: The ATO monitors compliance of organisations to ensure that they are meeting their tax obligations. This includes conducting audits, reviews, and investigations to identify any non-compliance and taking appropriate action.
• Providing tax concessions: NFP organisations may be eligible for tax concessions such as income tax exemptions, GST concessions, and FBT exemptions. The ATO is responsible for administering these concessions and ensuring that eligible organisations receive them.
  

Refer to Australian Taxation Office