Australia – Tax Authorities’ Plans for Data Matching Program to Monitor Compliance

AU–ATO Plans Data Matching Prog to Monitor Compliance

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says it will acquire visa data from the Department of Home Affairs to identify non-compliance with obligations under taxation and superannuation laws. With this latest initiative, considering the level of detail being acquired coupled with data from Single Touch Payroll (STP) and Superannuation fund reporting, the ATO is enabled to apply a very sophisticated and highly-targeted approach to foster tax and superannuation compliance of individual employees and their employers.

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CONTACTS

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The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says it will acquire visa data from the Department of Home Affairs to identify non-compliance with obligations under taxation and superannuation laws. 

The ATO estimates it will obtain records from approximately 10 million individuals from 2020-21 through to 2022-23.2

WHY THIS MATTERS

With this latest initiative, considering the level of detail being acquired coupled with data from Single Touch Payroll (STP) and Superannuation fund reporting, the ATO is enabled to apply a very sophisticated and highly-targeted approach to foster tax and superannuation compliance of individual employees and their employers.

In light of this, all employers with employees working in Australia under a visa should review their tax, STP, and superannuation obligations in connection with these employees so that they are compliant.  Compliance with such obligations can be especially challenging where employees remain paid from their home country payroll.

The penalties for non-compliance can be significant, although the Commissioner does have certain discretions to remit the penalties when a voluntary disclosure is made by the taxpayer before an ATO audit or review is initiated. 

What Kind of Data to Be Acquired

The data to be acquired includes:

  • address history for visa applicants and sponsors;
  • contact history for visa applicants and sponsors;
  • all visa grants;
  • visa grant status by point in time;
  • migration agents (visa application preparer who assisted or facilitated the processing of the visa);
  • address history for migration agents;
  • contact history for migration agents;
  • all international travel movements undertaken by visa holders (arrivals and departures);
  • sponsor details;
  • education providers (educational institution where a student visa holder intends to undertake their study); and
  • visa subclass name.   

KPMG NOTE

Organisations with concerns about the collection of data and scrutiny by the ATO in the case of their foreign national workers and the state of their compliance should consult with their qualified tax services professionals.

FOOTNOTES

1  See ATO, “Notice of Data Matching Program - Department of Home Affairs Visa 2020-21 to 2022-23 financial years” at:  https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020G00872 .

2  Ibid. 

PEOPLE SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

Dan Hodgson

Perth, Western Australia

Partner – People Services

Tel. +61 8 9278 2053

Direct Tel. +61 8 9278 2053

Mobile: +61 416 017 131

dghodgson@kpmg.com.au 

 

Mardi Heinrich

Melbourne, Victoria

Partner – Deals, Tax & Legal People Services

Tel. +61 3 9838 4348

Direct Tel. +61 3 9838 4348

Mobile: +61 410 602 993

meheinrich@kpmg.com.au

 

Ablean Saoud

Sydney, New South Wales

Partner – Deals, Tax & Legal People Services

Tel. +61 2 9335 8550

Direct Tel. +61 2 9335 8550

Mobile: +61 421 052 596

asaoud@kpmg.com.au

 

Hayley Lock

Brisbane, Queensland

Partner – People Services

Tel. +61 7 3434 9176 

Direct Tel. +61 7 3434 9176

Mobile: +61 477 764 638

hlock@kpmg.com.au

 

Jackie Shelton

Sydney, New South Wales

Partner – Deals, Tax & Legal

Tel. +61 2 9335 8511

Direct Tel. +61 2 9335 8511

Mobile: +61 477 764 638

hlock@kpmg.com.au

 

Special contributors: Craig Robinson and Sean Heffernan.

* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Australia.

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GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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