Measures to help small businesses meet their tax obligations.

Measures to help small businesses meet their tax obligations.

On 1 June 2009 the Tax Office introduced new measures to help small businesses that are struggling to manage their tax payment obligations in the current economic climate.

Twelve-month general interest charge (GIC) free payment arrangements
Businesses with an annual turnover of less than $2 million and an activity statement debt can apply for a GIC-free payment arrangement from now until 30 June 2010.
GIC will be remitted for a maximum period of 12 months, provided the payment arrangement is maintained.
There is no limit on the amount of debt under arrangement.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible a business must:

  1. have an annual turnover of less than $2 million
  2. have an activity statement debt, and
  3. negotiate a mutually acceptable and sustainable payment arrangement with the Tax Office that is entered into between 1 June 2009 and 30 June 2010.

How does it work?

The GIC-free period applies to activity statement debts (eg GST, PAYG).
Superannuation guarantee charge (SGC) debts are not included as the GIC forms part of the employees’ entitlements.
No GIC is payable for a maximum of 12 months from the day on which the arrangement is entered into.
The actual GIC-free period (maximum of 12 months):
starts on the day on which the agreement was made, and
finishes on the day the final instalment is due.
If the arrangement defaults, the GIC-free period ends on the date of default.
If a payment arrangement entered into prior to 1 June 2009 is renegotiated after 1 June 2009, the new arrangement will be treated as a GIC-free payment arrangement subject to the eligibility criteria being satisfied.