Services · ATO Debt Support
Behind with the ATO?Let’s make a plan.
Practical help getting on top of business tax debt.
No jargon. No obligation. No hard sell.
You’re not the only one
Tax debt is one of the most common problems we see in small business, and one of the most stressful. It usually starts small — a BAS paid late while the business waited on a big invoice, super pushed back a month to cover wages. Then it builds, the letters start arriving, and it becomes the thing you’d rather not think about.
The ATO would generally rather work with a business than against it, especially one that engages early and comes with a realistic plan. That’s where we come in.
We don’t give tax advice, and we work alongside your accountant or registered tax agent. Our job is the business side — understanding how the debt happened, what the business can realistically afford to repay, and making sure it doesn’t happen again.
How our ATO debt support works
Where you stand
What is owed, what falls due next, and what happens if nothing changes. No judgement — just the facts.
What you can afford
A cashflow-based view of what the business can realistically repay each month without falling behind again.
A plan that holds
Help preparing for an ATO payment plan, working with your accountant or tax agent, so the arrangement is one you can keep.
Fix the cause
Cashflow, pricing and systems changes so tax is set aside as you go, not found at the last minute.
Act early — it matters
The earlier you deal with ATO debt, the more options you have. Once reminder letters turn into a Director Penalty Notice, the options narrow quickly. Warning signs to watch for:
- BAS lodged but not paid
- Super paid late, or not at all
- Tax money set aside being used for wages
- ATO letters you haven’t opened
- A payment plan that has already fallen over
- Not knowing exactly how much you owe
The ATO’s own information on payment plans is at ato.gov.au. If you’re not sure where to start, call Garry on 0416 067 395.
Get on top of it — and stay there.
A payment plan is the start. Fixing the cashflow that caused the debt is what stops it coming back. That’s the part most people skip, and the part we focus on. See Cashflow Analysis.
A typical ATO debt scenario
A busy hospitality business had fallen behind on two quarters of BAS and some super while it covered wages through a quiet winter. The owner had stopped opening the ATO letters. Sales were healthy again, but every spare dollar was going to suppliers who were chasing hardest.
We worked out exactly what was owed and what the business could realistically repay each month from its cashflow. Working with the owner’s tax agent, we prepared for a payment arrangement the business could keep, then set up a simple weekly routine to put GST, PAYG and super aside as sales came in.
A payment plan the business could actually keep, and tax set aside as it goes — so the debt doesn’t come back. A typical scenario, based on the kind of businesses we work with. Details are illustrative.
ATO debt: common questions
Can my business get a payment plan with the ATO?
In many cases, yes. The ATO offers payment plans to businesses that engage early and can show a realistic plan to repay. The ATO’s current information is at ato.gov.au. We help you work out what the business can realistically afford, so the plan you put forward is one you can keep.
What is a Director Penalty Notice?
A Director Penalty Notice (DPN) is a notice from the ATO that can make company directors personally liable for certain unpaid company tax debts, such as PAYG withholding, GST and the superannuation guarantee charge. If you receive one, act immediately and speak to your accountant or registered tax agent.
Do you deal with the ATO on my behalf?
We work alongside your accountant or registered tax agent, who can communicate with the ATO for you. Our role is the business side — understanding the debt, what the business can afford and fixing the cashflow that caused it — so the arrangement put to the ATO is realistic.
What if the business can’t afford the repayments?
That’s exactly what our affordability work is for. We look at cashflow, pricing and costs to find room in the budget. If the numbers genuinely don’t work, we’ll tell you honestly and make sure you speak to the right professional about your options.
How much does ATO debt support cost?
Our fees are based on the size and turnover of your business. After a free first consultation we give you a fixed price, agreed up front. See Our Fees.
Part of the Business Review Programme
We work with your accountant or finance broker. Whatever the service, we work alongside the advisers you already trust, so our advice and theirs point in the same direction. We share what we find, with your permission, and keep everyone on the same page.
ATO debt support is one of the areas we cover in the Business Review Programme, which looks at your Numbers, Systems and Marketing together. If you want the full picture, start there. If you only need help with this one area, we can do that on its own.
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