Tax Facts - Activity Statement

Businesses use activity statements to report and pay GST, pay as you go (PAYG) instalments, PAYG withholding and fringe benefits tax. 

Also non-business individuals who need to pay quarterly PAYG instalments also need to lodge activity statements to make the payment to ATO.

If you are a business registered ABN and GST you need to lodge a business activity statement (BAS) to ATO. Your BAS is broken up into sections, called 'labels', according to different tax types, and you need to fill out different labels depending on how you choose to report and pay.

Activity statements are personalised to each business or individual. 

For businesses, activity statements may be due either quarterly or monthly. Generally, if businesses' annual turnover is less than $20 million, and total annual PAYG withholding is less than$25,000, they can lodge and pay quarterly. Businesses that exceed one or both of those thresholds will have to lodge monthly. 

Non-business individuals who need to pay PAYG instalments are generally required to lodge and pay quarterly. 

Businesses or individuals with small obligations may be able to lodge and pay annually.