Practical solutions to ease administrative strain recommended in IGT Death and Taxes Review report

The Tax Institute welcomed the release of the Inspector-General of Taxation’s report today into ATO systems and processes for dealing with deceased estates (link to Report).

“The Inspector-General of Taxation’s report offers some practical solutions to help ease the administrative strain around handling tax matters associated with a deceased estate,” said Tax Institute President, Peter Godber CTA.

“The strain was particularly acute when, up until the recent exercise of the Commissioner of Taxation’s remedial power, a tax or BAS agent appointed by a legal personal representative could not access a deceased person’s tax information held in the ATO system. It made it that much more difficult for the legal representative to attend to the tax matters for the deceased estate.

The exercise of the Commissioner’s remedial power to allow agents to access a deceased person’s tax information held in the ATO system was very welcome and a sensible and intended use of the Commissioner’s remedial power in this case.”

“We are pleased to see a number of practical solutions recommended and agreed to by the ATO, including a suggestion made by the Institute for there to be a group of specialists within the ATO equipped to handle deceased estate issues (Recommendation 9),” said Mr Godber.

A link to The Tax Institute’s submission to the review is here.




ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Emmerton – Media Contact, The Tax Institute

02 8223 0029

kellyemmerton@taxinstitute.com.au

The Tax Institute is the leading forum for the tax community in Australia. Our reach includes membership of 12,000 tax professionals from commerce and industry, academia, government and public practice and 40,000 Australian business leaders, government employees and students. We are committed to representing our members, shaping the future of the tax profession and continuous improvement of the tax system for the benefit of all, through the advancement of knowledge, member support and advocacy. Read more at taxinstitute.com.au