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ATO Disputes
At Munro’s, we understand that dealing with an ATO dispute can be stressful and disruptive to your business. If you’re facing challenges with the Australian Tax Office – whether it’s a disagreement over tax assessments, penalties or compliance issues – our seasoned ATO dispute specialists are here to help. We believe that every dispute is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to safeguard your business’s financial future.
The Problem:
It’s not uncommon for business owners in Perth, across Western Australia and Australia to find themselves in disputes with the ATO due to complex tax matters. Uncertainty about the correct interpretation of tax laws, unexpected audit findings or disagreements over tax liabilities can leave you feeling overwhelmed. The fear of penalties, increased scrutiny and prolonged negotiations can divert your focus from what matters most – running your business.
Our Solution:
Munro’s takes a proactive, solution-focused approach to resolving ATO disputes. We begin by thoroughly understanding your unique situation, reviewing all financial records and correspondence with the ATO. Our team then devises a strategy that not only challenges the disputed findings but also positions you favourably for future compliance. With a commitment to transparency and clear communication, we ensure you’re informed at every step.
Key Outcomes and Benefits:
- Clarity and Confidence: Gain a clear understanding of your tax position with straightforward advice.
- Reduced Financial Impact: Work towards a resolution that minimises penalties and potential costs.
- Peace of Mind: Rely on a specialist team that is responsive, trustworthy and dedicated to your best interests.
- Proactive Strategy: Benefit from a tailored dispute resolution strategy that not only addresses current issues but also prevents future disputes.
At Munro’s, our longstanding reputation since 1973 is built on the principles of honesty, clear communication and real-world solutions. We’re not just here to defend your numbers—we’re here to solve your problems and help you continue growing your business with confidence.
Read Key Points & Transcript
Perth’s Winning ATO Tax Dispute Accountants
video key points
- Our expertise in preventing tax disputes provides clients with peace of mind, allowing them to focus on their business without the worry of potential audits.
- ATO audits of our clients are rare.
- In the event of an audit, we act as an intermediary between the client and the ATO, employing strategies to resolve issues with minimal hassle.
- We leverage extensive experience and research to support clients through objections to tax assessments or decisions, with a history of success resulting in significant financial savings.
- Should an objection not resolve favourably, we can escalate to the Tribunal, where we have had success.
- We always seek to minimise tax disputes, but when needed we provide robust defence, ensuring peace of mind and business focus for our clients.
Presented by: Carl Hansen
video transcript
If you find yourself in a tax dispute, you’re going to want have an experienced winner by your side.
Munro’s have those wins.
Whilst we’re always doing our best to prevent a tax dispute in the first place, sometimes you might find yourself defending in an audit, objection or tribunal situation.
In our experience, very few of our clients are audited. We’re confident this is because we have a solid reputation for doing things the legal way.
Since audits are few and very far between, our clients immediately have peace of mind. They get on with taking care of their business, rather than worry about a potential audit.
When we do see an audit, it’s usually a high wealth review. Once your business and/or wealth is around $50 million plus, you’re likely to be pulled into the regular high wealth review program.
Our role in the process is to sit between you and the ATO, finding out what the ATO wants and helping you put the replies together to get them off your back as soon and as painlessly as possible. It’s a strategy we excel at.
There comes other times when you might need to object to a tax assessment or decision. In these instances, we use our experience and research techniques to consider the avenues to success, and where we determine a successful outcome is realistic, we help you throughout the objection process.
Over the years, our clients have saved thousands upon thousands of dollars due to successful objections.
In the extremely rare instances that an objection is not successful, but we feel confident you have been wronged by the outcome, we have the option to go to the Tribunal.
We’re limited by what we can say here, due to confidential settlements. What we can say, is that if you want to have an experienced winner by your side, then you’ll have that with us.
So, what’s it like being a client of Munro’s? You ordinarily don’t have to worry about tax disputes because we legally minimise your taxes and seldom experience ATO audits. In the cases where an audit, objection or Tribunal situation arises, you have the winning experience by your side.
ATO Objections
If you’ve had a tax return or ruling go against you, then your first option is usually to appeal via an objection.
Solution
Professional management.
Outcome
An objection result with less chance of later having go to the Tribunal.
Read Key Points & Transcript
Tax Return Objections handled by Perth Accountants
video key points
- Tax compliance can become complex, particularly when facing adverse tax returns, assessments, or rulings, highlighting the importance of understanding your options, such as filing an objection.
- The objection process serves as a critical review mechanism against potential ATO errors, especially concerning the period of amendment, where the ATO may not always be correct in amending tax returns outside the designated review period.
- Successfully navigating objections requires prompt action, given the strict timelines which vary from 60 days to up to four years, underscoring the urgency in responding to disputable ATO decisions.
- Lodging an objection demands a detailed presentation of facts, circumstances, and pertinent legislation and case law, pointing towards the complexity of achieving a favourable outcome.
- Seeking professional advice for lodging objections can be pivotal to resolving these issues efficiently and avoiding the escalation to more stressful and costly tribunals, with an emphasis on the potential public exposure of cases.
Presented by: George Trundle
video transcript
Every once in a while, the world of compliance may get more tedious. One of those situations is where a tax return, assessment or ruling goes against you. In these situations, your first available option is usually an objection.
You need to consider: is the ATO right or wrong? They’re not always correct and that’s why the objection process is made available.
A somewhat common area where we’ve seen objections being necessary is in regard to the period of amendment.
The tax legislation includes a period of review wherein the ATO and you have the right, and obligation, to amend a tax return within a specified time period. Where that time period has expired, ordinarily, neither you or the ATO can amend the return.
In several occasions, we’ve seen people subject to amended tax returns which have been processed by the ATO outside of the period of review. In other words, tax assessments handed to clients when tax legislation has not permitted the ATO to do so. In these scenarios, we have supported clients with objections and successfully had the tax assessments reversed.
It’s important to note that objections must be filed within a designated period, and this varies depending on the situations. It’s generally about 60 days – which isn’t long – but sometimes up to four years.
So, if you need to object, acting promptly is the advice.
In the formal objection, we need to set out the facts and circumstances. We also importantly need to reference applicable legislation and supporting cases.
You could lodge an objection yourself, or get professional help.
The objective is to win the objection and have the matter finalised then and there.
A key reason to obtain professional help is to achieve this objective. A failure at the objection stage either means you have to accept the unfavourable outcome, or take the matter to the Tribunal. You’d rather not end up there, because in addition to extra stress and financial costs, your case can enter the public domain
So, as is always the case for Munro’s clients. We are here to help with objections when needed. But ultimately, we’re going to do everything we can to avoid that situation in the first place.
ATO Reviews & Audits
ATO reviews, including high wealth reviews and audits, don’t have to be an overwhelmingly painful experience or tragic outcome.
Solution
A strategic approach.
Outcome
A relatively painless experience.
Read Key Points & Transcript
ATO Reviews & Audits handled by Perth Accountants
video key points
- In our experience, very few Munro’s clients have to deal with ATO reviews or audits.
- A segment of clients, identified by the ATO as “high net wealth”, routinely get captured by ATO reviews.
- Occasional reviews can arise from specific ATO data matching or other analysis efforts.
- Should you experience a review or audit, adopting a strategic approach is crucial for navigating reviews or audits smoothly and effectively.
- For guidance on managing reviews or audits strategically, please get in touch.
Presented by: Tanya Kamonphuangphan
video transcript
Some of us may never experience a review or audit, whereas some of us may get reviewed on a regular basis.
For the most part, Munro’s clients are in the former, they never experience a review or audit.
Some clients are classified as “high net wealth”, which means they are subject to an ATO review programme. Then there are some who are reviewed only in rare, one-off instances, typically associated with an ATO data matching or analysis initiative.
Whatever the case may be, we’re convinced a strategic approach to handling reviews and audits is the best way to make it as painless and successful as possible.
We can’t outline what that strategic approach is, for obvious reasons; just let you know it exists and is an option.
So, if you’re ever in the situation of a review or audit, we’re confident you’ll be pleased to be with us.
Taking the ATO to the Administrative Review Tribunal
In the rare occasion your tax dispute needs to go to the Administrative Review Tribunal (formerly known as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal), your goal will be to have a successful win as soon as possible via a settlement.
Solution
An experienced winning team.
Outcome
Winning settlements.
Read Key Points & Transcript
Winning Disputes against the ATO at the ART in Perth
video key points
- In rare instances, objections, reviews, or audits may conclude unfavorably.
- The Tribunal, distinct from the ATO, offers a platform for resolution, involving both the taxpayer and the ATO.
- Initial efforts focus on resolving disputes through mediation to avoid a hearing.
- Successful mediation culminates in a Deed of Settlement, concluding the Tribunal process.
- Should mediation fail, the matter advances to a Tribunal hearing for an independent ruling.
- At the time of recording this video, Munro’s has a 100% success rate with matters involving the Tribunal.
- If you need a winning team by your side, please feel free to let us know. We’re here to help.
Presented by: Carl Hansen
video transcript
It should rarely come to this – you have an objection, review or audit which ends against you but in our professional opinion is wrong. In the extremely limited cases where this happens, our option is to go to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal is an independent body to the ATO. It brings together the ATO, and us, to firstly see if we can resolve the matter through mediation.
Successful mediation results in a Deed of Settlement and finalisation of the Tribunal process before getting to a hearing. Otherwise, the matter goes before a hearing for the independent Tribunal to make a ruling.
At the time of recording this video, Munro’s has a 100% success rate with matters involving the Tribunal.
We’re not at liberty to disclose more, due to confidential Deeds of Settlement.
If you need a winning team by your side, please feel free to let us know. We’re here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions for ATO Disputes
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What is an ATO dispute?
An ATO dispute occurs when there is a disagreement between you and the Australian Tax Office over tax assessments, penalties or compliance issues. It can involve disputes over deductions, reporting or audit findings. -
How can Munro’s help resolve my ATO dispute?
Our ATO dispute specialists assess your financial records, clarify the issues raised by the ATO and develop a tailored strategy to contest or resolve the matter. -
What should I do if I receive an ATO audit notice?
It’s important to review the notice carefully and gather all relevant documentation. Contacting a specialist early can help you understand your position and prepare for any necessary actions. -
How long does it take to resolve an ATO dispute?
The timeframe varies depending on the complexity of the dispute. Our process is designed to resolve issues as efficiently as possible, while ensuring a thorough review and a fair outcome. -
Are your ATO dispute resolution services available Australia-wide?
While Munro’s is based in Perth, our compliance and advisory services are available to businesses throughout Australia. -
What is the price for your ATO dispute resolution service?
Our pricing is transparent and reflects the complexity of your needs. Please refer to our pricing page and contact us for a personalised quote. -
How do your clients rate your ATO dispute services?
Our clients frequently highlight our responsiveness and thorough approach. With over 100 Google reviews praising our proactive and reliable service, you can trust Munro’s to handle your dispute with care. -
Do you provide ongoing support after resolving an ATO dispute?
Yes, we not only resolve the current dispute but also advise on measures to prevent future issues. Our ongoing support includes regular reviews and updates to ensure continued compliance. -
How do I know if I need an ATO dispute specialist?
If you’re unsure about your tax position or have received communication from the ATO that you find unclear, it’s wise to consult a specialist who can provide clarity and guide you through the dispute process.
Where To Begin
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Perth WA 6000