Government tenders to require satisfactory tax compliance. Bidding on Commonwealth government tenders could soon be more complex, with the government seeking to exclude businesses that do not have a satisfactory tax record from the tender process.

Government tenders to require satisfactory tax compliance. It would apply from 1 July 2019 to all tenders with an estimated value of over $4m (including GST) and includes construction services. Businesses that wish to tender must generally be up-to-date with their tax obligations including both registration and lodgement requirements and not have any outstanding debt.

Do you run a business that would like to bid on lucrative Commonwealth government contracts or is likely to do so in the future? From 1 July 2019, the government is seeking to exclude from the tender process those businesses that do not have a “satisfactory tax record (STR)” as a part of its measures to tackle the black economy. The initiative would apply to all tenders with an estimated value of over $4m (including GST) for all goods and/or services including for construction services.

Those companies wishing to tender must either provide a satisfactory STR that is valid for at least 2 months or more at the time of the tender closing, or in circumstances where a satisfactory STR has not been issued, provide an STR receipt demonstrating that an STR has been requested from the ATO and then provide the STR no later than 4 business days from the close of tender and before the awarding of the contract.

To obtain a satisfactory STR from the ATO, the business must:

• be up-to-date with registration requirements (ie ABN, GST, TFN etc);
• have lodged at least 90% of all income tax returns, FBT returns and BASs that were due in the last 4 years or the period of operation if less than 4 years;
• not have $10,000 or greater in outstanding debt due to the ATO on the date the STR is issued. Note this does not include debt subject to a taxation objection, review or appeal or debt that is a part of a payment plan with the ATO.

When an STR is issued, it will usually be valid for 12 months from the time of issue. However, those businesses that do not hold an Australian tax record with the ATO of at least 4 years will generally receive STRs that are only valid for 6 months.

There may also be additional requirements in relation to obtaining STRs for subcontractors, foreign companies, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures and tax consolidated groups tendering for Commonwealth government contracts from 1 July 2019.

Depending on how well the policy runs in its first year, the government is open to introducing further criteria to determine an STR, such as whether the business:

• meets its superannuation law requirements and PAYG withholding obligations;
• discloses information about its tax affairs under the voluntary tax transparency code;
• has had court order penalties imposed on its directors; and
• its related parties have had convictions for phoenixing behaviour, bribery or corruption.

Note this initiative is not designed to replace existing due diligence and checks that are already undertaken, including those relating to business practices that are dishonest, unethical or unsafe, not entering into contracts with businesses that have had a judicial decision against them relating to employee entitlements and who have not satisfied any resulting order (not including decisions under appeal).

Government tenders to require satisfactory tax compliance, want to get your tax obligations in order?

Get on the front foot with your business by getting all your tax obligations in order. Contact Hunter Partners today for all your income tax, FBT and GST needs, Hunter Partners have the expertise to help you with any tax issue, no matter how complex. If you’re planning to expand your business, Hunter Partners can help you map out a plan for a smooth evolution.

Hunter Partners are Accountants, Tax Agents and Financial Planners. We can assist you with all aspect of your accounting, tax and financial planning requirements, call Hunter Partners on (07) 4723-1223.