The ATO promotes technology to meet tax and super obligations

The ATO is laying the groundwork for more individual taxpayers to complete and lodge their returns online.

Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan told the Tax Institute up to five million people will be eligible to complete and lodge their 2014/15 return using myTax

And he said in 2016 myTax will be the ATO’s preferred return, regardless of whether people have simple or complex tax affairs.

“All going smoothly, by then e-Tax, the veteran of almost 20 tax times and itself a pioneer of electronic lodgement, will be hanging up its e-boots.

“People will be able to use our app to capture tax-related deductions ‘on the go’. The app will record, classify and will upload work-related deductions data direct to their myTax return.”

The Commissioner announced from September the ATO is piloting an “OK letter” to more than half a million taxpayers confirming their 2015 return is closed from further review, audit or compliance activity.

“By using pre-filling and background analytics we can provide this confirmation to these taxpayers.

“This initiative reflects our emphasis on helping and rewarding people who comply with their obligations.”
He also highlighted a more client-friendly approach to resolving disputes and a more proactive approach to debt management.

“We are intervening earlier to prevent debts from escalating beyond people’s control – connecting with people to ensure they stick to repayment arrangements and prevent things getting worse.”

The Commissioner also launched a Reinventing the ATO Blueprint which can be found at www.ato.gov.au/reinventing
“This describes the kind of experience that Australians want to have when they deal with the ATO and will guide everything we do in coming years.”

A full transcript of the Commissioner’s speech can be found on the ATO website.