Announced in September and launched on 24 October, the review forms part of the government’s broader strategy to streamline regulation, lift productivity, and support business efficiency.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has tasked the Board with identifying practical, measurable opportunities to cut unnecessary tax-related red tape. The review will focus specifically on the administrative and procedural burdens that slow down businesses and tax practitioners.
Over the coming months, the Board will conduct consultation sessions with businesses, accountants, and industry groups to pinpoint the areas where tax compliance can be simplified. Submissions are open until 15 December, with public consultation events scheduled for November 2025.
Chaired by Andrew Mills, Ian Kellock, Andrea Laing, and Judy O’Connell, the Board will examine how tax laws and administrative processes can be modernised or automated to reduce compliance costs. This includes reviewing registration requirements, reporting processes, and legislative complexities that impose excessive workloads on business taxpayers.
For Australian tax professionals, the review presents an important opportunity to influence how compliance obligations are managed. Many practitioners have long expressed frustration at the cumulative burden of tax reporting, data reconciliation, and documentation requirements.
Industry bodies have already begun contributing to the discussion. CPA Australia has urged the government to prioritise simplification of BAS reporting and expand the simplified trading stock rules. They argued that these measures would deliver immediate relief to small and medium businesses.
Similarly, Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) has voiced support for the review. They will highlight persistent challenges its members face in helping clients navigate a complex and outdated system. Key concerns are the compliance obligations attached to trust structures and the disproportionate FBT burden on smaller firms.
Both organisations emphasise that simplifying Australia’s tax administration would not only reduce compliance costs but also promote fairness and boost national productivity.
For tax professionals and business owners alike, the Board of Taxation’s consultation represents a critical moment to shape meaningful reform. The opportunity could modernise compliance systems, reduce inefficiencies, and make Australia’s tax landscape more accessible and sustainable for the long term.
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