CPAs
call for blanket extension for all tax agents due to software problems |
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By John Rolfe
CPA Australia |
Wednesday, August 8, 2001 |
CPA Australia
today called for a blanket two-week extension for all tax agents for
the June quarter BAS, due to Electronic Lodgment Service (ELS) software
problems.
Currently the two-week extension only applies to those who received
their software late because the producers were unable to respond to
all the tax changes in time. 'That extension is not enough,' said
CPA Australia's CEO Greg Larsen. 'Our members are telling us that
those who received their software on time have encountered numerous
software glitches, including rejection of returns and inoperable schedules.
This is adding hours to the time they need to complete each BAS.'
The June quarter BAS is due on Monday, 13 August, but the CPAs are
calling urgently for the ATO to extend the deadline for all tax agents
to Monday, 27 August. Mr Larsen said that the CPAs were disappointed
with the response from the ATO, which had 'failed to recognise the
extent of the problem and was being unfair to those struggling to
lodge the fourth quarterly BAS.' 'This June BAS is the most demanding
of all the quarterly BASs because it is the last one of the year,'
said Mr Larsen. 'They require extra reconciliation work and many practitioners
are doing this BAS for their clients for the first time. Many clients
did the previous BAS themselves, and have handed over to their agent
this time, in order to catch errors from their previous BASs.'
Approximately 6 000, or half, of all tax agents are currently not
entitled to the extension. Along with their clients, they face penalties
and interest if they don't make Monday's deadline. |
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