Bushfires November 2019

Devastating bushfires have been burning across large parts of New South Wales and Queensland since November 2019.

Support is available

If you’ve been impacted by these bushfires, we don’t want you to be concerned about your tax affairs. Now is the time for you, your family and community. We’ll help you sort out your tax affairs later.

When you’re ready and if you need assistance, phone the ATO’s Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218 for help.

If you prefer to speak in a language other than English, phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50 for help with your call.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can phone the Indigenous Helpline on 13 10 30.
If you have difficulty hearing or speaking to people who use a phone, you can contact the National Relay Service (NRS).

To help you, the ATO can:

give you extra time to pay your debt or lodge tax forms such as activity statements
help you find your lost tax file number (TFN) by using methods to verify your identity such as your date of birth, address and bank account details
re-issue income tax returns, activity statements and notices of assessment
help you re-construct tax records that are lost or damaged
fast track any refunds owed
set up a payment plan tailored to your individual circumstances including an interest-free period
remit penalties or interest charged during the time you have been affected

Lodgment and payment deferrals

If your business or residential address is in one of the impacted postcodes identified in either November or December, you’ll automatically be granted a two-month deferral for activity statements lodgments and payments due. You or your agent don’t need to apply for a deferral.

December impacted postcodes

New South Wales

Communities in NSW continue to experience catastrophic bush fires. Four new local government areas have been granted Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP).

Following are the additional local government areas and postcodes in NSW that have been granted through AGDRP from December.

Some postcodes below may cover several local government areas. If your postcode is listed below you are eligible for the deferrals.

Eurobodalla: 2536, 2537, 2545, 2546, 2550, 2622
Hawkesbury: 2330, 2753, 2754, 2755, 2756, 2757, 2758, 2765, 2775
Queanbeyan-Palerang regional: 2580, 2581, 2619, 2620, 2621, 2622, 2623
Shoalhaven: 2534, 2535, 2536, 2538, 2539, 2540, 2541, 2577, 2622

November impacted postcodes

Some postcodes below may cover several local government areas. If your postcode is listed below you are eligible for the deferrals.

New South Wales

Following are the local government areas and postcodes in NSW that have been granted through AGDRP in November:

Armidale regional: 2350, 2351, 2359, 2360, 2365, 2369, 2370, 2440, 2453
Bellingen: 2448, 2449, 2453, 2454, 2455
Cessnock: 2250, 2320, 2321, 2322, 2323, 2325, 2326, 2327, 2334, 2335
Clarence Valley: 2365, 2370, 2450, 2453, 2456, 2460, 2462, 2463, 2464, 2465, 2466, 2469, 2472
Coffs Harbour: 2450, 2452, 2454, 2456, 2460
Glen Innes Severn: 2365, 2370, 2371
Inverell: 2360, 2361, 2365, 2369, 2370, 2371, 2403, 2410, 4385
Kempsey: 2431, 2440, 2441
Lismore: 2470, 2471, 2472, 2477, 2480
Mid-coast: 2312, 2324, 2337, 2415, 2422, 2423, 2424, 2425, 2426, 2427, 2428, 2429, 2430, 2443
Nambucca: 2441, 2447, 2448, 2449, 2454
Port Macquarie-Hastings: 2429, 2439, 2440, 2441, 2443, 2444, 2445, 2446
Richmond Valley: 2469, 2470, 2471, 2472, 2473, 2480
Tenterfield: 2371, 2372, 2469, 2475, 2476, 4375, 4377, 4380, 4383
Uralla: 2350, 2354, 2358, 2359, 2365
Walcha: 2354

Additional postcodes may be added to the list once damage assessments have been finalised.

Additional support

These arrangements are in line with the financial assistance made available through AGDRP.

Tax practitioners and their clients affected by this natural disaster can access additional support. For information, see Natural disaster support.

These deferrals do not apply to large withholders (that is, those who have previously withheld more than $1 million annually or are part of a corporate group that has).

Employers will still need to meet their super guarantee obligations for their employees.

By law, the ATO can’t vary the contribution due date or waive the super guarantee charge on late super guarantee payments.

Not in the impacted postcode region?

If you’re affected by this disaster and you need further assistance, or your business is affected but is outside the following postcodes, call the ATO’s Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218.

You can also talk to with one of our tax or BAS specialists who will be able to work with us to provide appropriate support. Call the team at Salisburys Accountants in Albury NSW on 02 6041 3014.

Source: ATO