
Accountant Connect - ATO
Accountant connect –
ATO Director Penalty Notice
What is it?
- A notice to a Director under s222AOE of the Income Tax Assessment Act
- Sent to the Director’s (personal) address as recorded by ASIC
- Deemed to be served, regardless of the currency of ASIC’s records
- Non-compliance with the notice will render directors personally liable
- Issued for unpaid PAYG, withholding taxes and estimates of unpaid taxes
- To avoid the director being rendered personally liable, within 14 days:
- 1. the company’s liability must be discharged or;
- 2. an instalment agreement with the ATO must be in force or;
- 3. the company must be in Voluntary Administration; or
- 4. the company must be being wound up, ie. in liquidation
The relevance to you and your client
For your client
- Directors are made personally liable for specific unpaid company ATO debts
- Requires urgent attention – within 14 days
- Often an indicator of company insolvency
- Directors can be made bankrupt if appropriate action is not taken
- Directors are personally liable for any breach of an instalment agreement (note s222AQA of the ITAA and s588FGA of the Corporations Act)
For you as an accountant
- Your client is likely to seek your advice and urgent attention
- The opportunity is provided to resolve an immediate problem for your client and obtain further insight into its financial position
- You and your staff need to act promptly in a stressful and uncertain situation to obtain relevant information and provide solutions
- You are at risk of claim against you if you don’t advise your clients of the personal liability exposure associated with instalment agreements and any non-compliance
Why work with PPB?
- Our wide experience and ready access to the ATO Insolvency Division
- We can provide initial consultations without obligation or charge and informal or formal solutions to assist you and your client
- PPB has the knowledge, experience and expertise to give you support and provide unique, ethical solutions
- PPB is one of Australia’s leading independent Strategic and Advisory practices with a national team of 28 partners and over 200 staff providing unique and innovative solutions in our specialised services areas: