What does 2021 have in store for ATO audit activity?

Much of the world has experienced some sort of shutdown this year, with governments implementing financial support strategies to keep their economies from slipping into a recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia was no exception, with support packages such as JobKeeper and cash flow boost propping up the country. In…

The latest tax audit claim stats that all accountants in Australia will want to know

Every accountant will know that reviews or audits of your client’s tax returns can sometimes be unavoidable. This is seldom a reflection of the work that is put into preparing the returns and is more often than not due to a specific crackdown by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or other State government revenue authorities. It could be through a variety of data matching or artificial intelligence sources used to assist in initiating audit…

JobKeeper payment audits and reviews are covered by Audit Shield

Tax shortcuts for working from home deductions, JobKeeper payments, and more. The Australian government is doing a good job of supporting the country through this unprecedented time of crisis but how will these actions affect audit activity for the rest of 2020? In the short term the Australian Taxation Office…

Only 1% of Australians Commonly Use Cryptocurrency, Study Reveals

A study released by the Reserve Bank of Australia has revealed that while most Australians are aware of cryptocurrencies, only a small number actually use them. “Although many respondents had heard of ‘cryptocurrencies’, very few had used a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin to actually make a consumer payment over the…

Australian Businesses are Losing Billions to Cyber Attacks

Each year, Australian businesses are losing approximately $29 billion due to cyber attacks. Officials say they receive a report of a cyber attack every 10 minutes. According to a Business SA report, the average cost of a cyber attack is $276,000. Adam Thomson, communications and engagement director of Crime Stoppers,…