A BAS, or business activity statement, is the form Australian businesses registered for GST lodge with the ATO to report and pay GST, PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments. Most small businesses lodge quarterly, with the first quarter of the financial year due on 28 October, and lodging online can give you an extra 2 weeks.
If you've just registered for GST, the BAS is the form you'll see most. It sounds complicated, but for most sole traders it's a handful of boxes every three months, and most of the work is in keeping invoices and receipts tidy. Here's what it covers, when it's due, and the ATO's rules on extensions and paying late.
What a BAS reports
| Tax | BAS labels | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| GST | G1 to G24, 1A and 1B | Businesses registered for GST |
| PAYG withholding | W1 to W5 and 4 | Businesses that pay employees and withhold tax |
| PAYG instalments | Reported on the activity statement or instalment notice | People and businesses paying tax in instalments |
| Others, such as FBT instalments, luxury car tax, wine tax, fuel tax credits | Their own labels | Businesses they apply to |
If you're a sole trader registered for GST with no staff, your BAS is mostly the GST section: the GST you charged on sales, minus the GST credits on your business purchases.
Do you need to lodge a BAS?
The ATO says businesses registered for GST need to lodge a BAS. Registration is what triggers it. If you're not registered for GST, check whether the ATO has asked you to report anything else, such as PAYG instalments, which can come on an instalment notice instead.
Quarterly BAS due dates
| Quarter | Months | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | July, August and September | 28 October |
| Quarter 2 | October, November and December | 28 February |
| Quarter 3 | January, February and March | 28 April |
You lodge quarterly if your GST turnover is under 20 million dollars and the ATO hasn't told you to report monthly. Quarter 4 follows the same pattern for April to June; check the due date shown on your own BAS.
The extra 2 weeks, and the quarter it doesn't apply to
Lodging online may give you an additional 2 weeks to lodge and pay your quarterly BAS. Using a registered tax or BAS agent can also give you extra time. But the ATO says the later date doesn't apply to quarter 2, because its 28 February due date already includes a one-month extension. That's the one people get wrong over the summer holidays.
Monthly and annual BAS
- Monthly: required if GST turnover is 20 million dollars or more, or the ATO directs you. Due on the 21st of the following month, so a July BAS is due 21 August. Smaller businesses can choose monthly for smaller, more frequent payments.
- Annually: if you're voluntarily registered for GST and your GST turnover is under 75,000 dollars (150,000 dollars for not-for-profits). The annual GST return is due 31 October, or 28 February if you don't have to lodge a tax return.
How to lodge your BAS
- Online, through ATO online services for individuals and sole traders, or online services for business.
- Through a registered tax or BAS agent, who can lodge and pay for you.
- By paper, using the form the ATO posts and the pre-addressed envelope.
Once you lodge online, future BAS arrive electronically. Lost a paper BAS? The ATO says you can request a copy on 13 28 66.
Can't lodge or pay on time?
The ATO's advice is to contact it before the due date. You may be able to set up a payment plan, and its online estimator shows what a plan would cost. A general interest charge applies to anything not paid by the due date, so the sooner it's cleared, the less you pay. It's still your responsibility even if an agent handles your BAS.
GST in plain numbers
Say in a quarter you charged customers 11,000 dollars including GST, and you bought business supplies for 2,200 dollars including GST. The GST you collected is 1,000 dollars and the GST credits on your purchases are 200 dollars, so you'd pay the ATO 800 dollars for that quarter. These sums are mine, using GST at one-eleventh of a GST-inclusive price, to show how the GST section of the BAS nets out.
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Tips for your first BAS
- Keep tax invoices for business purchases so you can claim GST credits.
- Set aside the GST you collect, because it isn't your money.
- Add the due dates to your calendar, using the reminders in the ATO app if you like.
- Lodge online to get the extra time and built-in checks.
My verdict
A BAS is a routine quarterly job once you've done the first one, and the ATO's online system checks your figures as you go. Keep GST money separate, lodge online, and remember that quarter 2 doesn't get the extra fortnight. If you're ever stuck, talk to the ATO before the due date, not after. If you're setting up as a sole trader, read sole trader vs limited company for the structure basics, and Amazon KDP in Australia if you earn from publishing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a BAS in Australia?
A business activity statement that GST-registered businesses lodge with the ATO to report and pay GST, PAYG withholding, PAYG instalments and other taxes.
When is the BAS due?
For quarterly lodgers: 28 October for July to September, 28 February for October to December and 28 April for January to March.
Do I get extra time if I lodge my BAS online?
You may get an extra 2 weeks for quarterly BAS, except quarter 2, which already includes a one-month extension.
Who has to lodge a BAS monthly?
Businesses with GST turnover of 20 million dollars or more, or those the ATO directs to report monthly.
What if I can't pay my BAS on time?
Contact the ATO before the due date. You may be able to set up a payment plan; interest applies to unpaid amounts.
