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‘Everyone is now on notice’: ATO acquires COVID-19 data on 3m Aussies
The ATO is set to acquire the data of 3 million Australians from Services Australia as it doubles down on the COVID-19 compliance front.
Last week, the ATO published a gazette notice informing that it would now acquire data from Services Australia, formerly the Department of Human Services, to verify individuals’ eligibility criteria for JobKeeper payments, temporary early access to superannuation and temporary cash-flow boost.
Data for 3 million Australians are expected to be used for the data-matching program, running from 19 April to 24 September.
The data that will be scrutinised include identification details, government payments such as the JobSeeker payment, and when the benefit started or ceased.
Details of incarcerated individuals for the period of 1 March 2020 to 27 September 2020 will also be acquired from state and territory correctional facility regulators.
According to the Tax Office, the data-matching program will allow it to identify and address taxation risks, including identity theft, or incorrect or misleading information included in applications for the COVID-19 stimulus measures.
The Institute of Public Accountants general manager of technical policy Tony Greco believes the ATO’s gazette notice and its recently published compliance approach mean claimants should begin reviewing their circumstances.
“Everyone is now on notice,” Mr Greco said.
“The ATO will now catch up with making sure that the cash-flow boost, JobKeeper, early release of super, all those measures have been done in accordance with the policy intent and the rules.
“When these measures were being implemented, there was a lot of misinformation, the dust hadn’t settled and people can argue that they got confused.
“Now that the dust has settled and you’ve entitled yourself to any of those things and you don’t believe you’ve qualified, then it is probably better to come forward voluntarily.”
Mr Greco also believes the ATO will pay close attention to the early release of super claims, with 2.1 million individuals now having been approved for the scheme, totalling $15.9 billion in payments.
Eligible Australians will be allowed to apply up to a further $10,000 between 1 July and 24 September.
“People think, ‘I got the money; therefore, I must be OK’, but that’s a false sense of security because the whole intent was to help people in financial stress, not to open up the floodgates to people who just wanted to access their super because someone down the road was able to,” Mr Greco said.
“They now have line of sight — Single Touch Payroll is giving them so much transparency around what people are earning on a pay-cycle basis, that anyone whose circumstances haven’t changed, it is probably better to get on the phone now.
“If you think you’re not eligible, the best thing you can do right now is to ring up to say to the ATO that you think you may not be eligible.”
Jotham Lian
29 June 2020
accountantsdaily.com.au
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Chris Wybenga
B.Bus, CA
Chris is the Managing Director of the Firm who established the practice in August 1994 and has been responsible for its growth and development since that time.
Chris has over 40-years experience in the Chartered Accountancy profession, predominantly spent in small to medium sized firms, advising both small business and individuals in areas such as taxation and accounting as well as business restructuring and superannuation advice.
Chris is active in the development of young accountants both in mentoring cadets at the Firm and lecturing in taxation for the CA Program for the Institute of Chartered Accountants & New Zealand.
- 1980 – Commenced employment and part time university studies
- 1985 – Graduated Bachelor of Business from University of Technology, Sydney
- 1986 – Admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- 1988 – Registered as a Registered Company Auditor
- 1994 – Established Wybenga & Partners (formerly known as Farrar & Wybenga)
Dianne Bechara
B.Bus, CA
Dianne is responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of the practice.
Dianne has over 30-years Chartered Accountancy experience and has significant expertise in providing advice and solutions to high-net-worth individuals and their associated entities. Dianne also has considerable knowledge in the areas of taxation, business services, superannuation, and compliance.
Dianne is active in promoting gender equality in the industry through various programs and mentoring opportunities. Dianne is also committed to the development of young accountants and donates considerable time to sharing her expertise.
- 1992 – Graduated Bachelor of Business from University of Technology, Sydney
- 1993 – Commenced employment in acounting profession
- 1996 – Commenced career with Wybenga & Partners
- 1997 – Admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- 2002 – Appointed as Director of Wybenga & Partners
Roger Potter
B.Bus, CA
Roger is responsible for the HR aspect of the Firm, cultivating the culture, and maintaining the highly social environment we pride ourselves on.
Roger has over 35-years in the Chartered Accountancy profession and significant expertise in providing advice and solutions to small businesses and high-net-worth individuals. He also has extensive experience in the areas of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds and retirement strategies.
Roger is active in the development of young accountants both in mentoring cadets at the firm and lecturing in taxation for the CA Program for the Institute of Chartered Accountants & New Zealand.
- 1985 – Commenced employment and part time university studies
- 1990 – Graduated Bachelor of Business from University of Technology, Sydney
- 1992 – Admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- 1998 – Commenced career with Wybenga & Partners
- 2002 – Appointed as Director of Wybenga & Partners
Tess Uncle
B.Sc, M.Com, CA
Tess has over 22-years experience in Chartered Firms and in this time has had a broad range of experience in superannuation, taxation, and business services. In particular, Tess has had significant experience in MYOB and assisting clients in day-to-day bookkeeping activities and periodic reporting.
Tess is responsible for the Firm’s training and development needs.
Tess is active in promoting gender equality in the industry through various programs and mentoring opportunities. Tess is also committed to the development of young accountants and donates considerable time to sharing her expertise.
- 2001 – Commenced employment with Wybenga & Partners and part-time accountancy studies
- 2004 – Graduated Masters of Commerce from the University of New South Wales
- 2005 – Admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- 2007 – Promoted to Manager at Wybenga & Partners
- 2012 – Appointed as Associate Director
- 2016 – Appointed as Director of Wybenga & Partners
Schedule a Meeting with Tess
Adam Roberts
B.Bus, B.Sc, CA
Adam has over 18-years experience in Chartered Firms and in this time has had a broad range of experience in superannuation, taxation, and business services. In particular, Adam has had significant experience in MYOB and assisting clients with periodic management reporting.
Adam is responsible for the implementation of technology in the Firm and sourcing new areas of innovation and efficiency.
Adam is active in the development of young accountants and donates considerable time to sharing his expertise.
- 2005 – Commenced employment with Wybenga & Partners and part-time Accountancy Studies
- 2005 – Graduated Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Sydney
- 2007 – Graduated Bachelor of Business from the University of Western Sydney
- 2010 – Admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- 2010 – Promoted to Manager at Wybenga & Partners
- 2012 – Appointed as Associate Director
- 2016 – Appointed as Director of Wybenga & Partners