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The ATO is increasing its focus on overdue debt recovery

The ATO has recently announced that it will significantly increase its focus on debt recovery.

The ATO has advised that this will include:

  • Issuing outstanding tax debt reminder letters after 6 days of a tax debt becoming due
  • Issuing more formal debt recovery action after 23 days of a tax debt becoming due (such as issuing garnishee notices and/or Director Penalty Notices)
  • Potentially commencing formal debt recovery against the taxpayer (such as court action) within 28 days of a tax debt becoming due.

The ATO has also stated that, going forward, remissions of General Interest Charge (GIC) that have been imposed on taxpayers will only apply in exceptional circumstances.

It is clear that the ATO is significantly increasing focus on their debt recovery and taxpayers may find that ATO recovery action occurs very quickly after a tax debt due becomes overdue.

What can taxpayers do?

Where a tax debt cannot be paid by its due date, it is more important than ever that there is engagement with the ATO and a payment arrangement is put in place.  By way of example, a payment arrangement may result in the repayment of the ATO tax debt outstanding over say 12 monthly instalments. 

The advantage of entering into an agreed payment arrangement with the ATO is that the ATO will not take any debt recovery action on the debt while the taxpayer complies with the terms of the agreed payment arrangement.  You will however be liable for Interest (GIC) on the debt over the payment plan period.

Contact us

Need advice on a tax debt? Contact your BG Private advisor or our Tax Advisory Partner, Tim Olynyk, on +61 3 9810 0700 or

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