As part of the Government’s commitment to reducing the regulatory burden on business, I have asked the Board of Taxation to work closely with small businesses (especially micro business) in order to identify and analyse the main costs they face in complying with taxes administered by the Australian Taxation Office.
The Board will undertake a scoping study of tax compliance costs facing the small business sector and identify the more important areas where compliance costs might be reduced. It will provide a final report in the second half of 2006. Interim reports may be provided.
I have asked the Board to concentrate on the source of concerns of the small business sector. The findings of the study will help with the Government’s ongoing efforts to reduce excessive tax compliance costs facing business, particularly the small business sector.
The Board’s report will take into account:
- the purpose and object of the law;
- the relationship between taxpayer compliance costs and government administration costs;
- costs incurred by business for non-tax reasons and any additional costs incurred by businesses or their advisors for tax reasons (tax compliance costs);
- transitional costs and ongoing tax compliance costs;
- taxpayer circumstances and commercial practices;
- other legislation; and
- any other matters the Board considers materially impact on small business tax compliance costs.
The Board of Taxation’s charter includes providing advice to the Government on the quality and effectiveness of tax legislation along with the general integrity and functioning of the tax system. Reducing compliance costs and complexity has been a focus of the Board’s recent activities.
Details about the Board of Taxation can be found at http://www.taxboard.gov.au.