ABOUT ABN BAS > Overview
What Is ABN BAS?
ABN BAS is a Registered BAS Agent, providing BAS Services to members of the Australian Bookkeepers Network (ABN) and their clients.
Owned and operated by qualified accountants, ABN BAS provides the following services:
1. A Quality Assurance Review of Activity Statements for BAS Agents looking for a second opinion or some peace of mind before lodging their client’s BAS; and
2. For Non-BAS Agents, ABN BAS assumes the role as the BAS Agent for your clients and attends to the review, preparation and electronic lodgement of their Activity Statements with the ATO.
Who is ABN BAS aimed at?
Registered BAS Agents
Whilst many bookkeepers have sought registration as a BAS Agent in their own right, which means they have a thorough understanding of the GST legislation, the legislation is very complex. There can be many transactions where a Registered BAS Agent may wish to seek assistance or obtain a second opinion on how to deal with a particular transaction. For bookkeepers in this position, ABN BAS offers you that shoulder to lean on and the ability to have your transactions reviewed and some guidance given. Bookkeepers are often working in isolation, and to have this level of support from a team of qualified accountants can provide you with significant peace of mind.
Non-BAS Agents
While ABN BAS encourages bookkeepers to embrace the Tax Agents Services Act and to seek registration as a BAS Agent, there may be some bookkeepers who simply are unable to do so, or choose not to do so. For example, bookkeepers who are:
- new entrants to the industry and lack the relevant experience and/or qualifications;
- nearing retirement and do not wish to pursue registration; or
- part-time or casual, such that the investment of time and money into BAS Agent status may not be economic.
Despite these bookkeepers not being BAS Agents in their own right, they remain an important part of the overall bookkeeping industry.
ABN BAS provides a means by which these bookkeepers can continue to offer general bookkeeping services to their clients, while outsourcing their client’s BAS Services to ABN BAS. Through ABN BAS, bookkeepers falling into this category can continue in the industry, while discouraging the provision of BAS services by unregistered persons.
Where Do I Stand as a Bookkeeper?
To fully understand where you, as a bookkeeper, stand in the BAS Agent landscape, we recommend the following three-step approach:
Step 1 – Ensure you have a general knowledge of the BAS Agent Laws.
Step 2 - Gain an understanding of the types of services that do and do not constitute a BAS Service. Undertaking a BAS Service while not registered is an offence and subject to penalties.
Step 3 – If you decide that you are, or will be, providing BAS Services or that your clients have a need for a BAS Agent service, consider your options for complying with the Tax Agent Services Act. If you believe that your business model is best structured without directly providing BAS services yourself, one of your options will be ABN BAS.
Click each of the above links for a detailed discussion of these three steps.
Getting Started with ABN BAS
If you would like to use the services of ABN BAS, the process of getting started is a straight-forward one.
Firstly, you need to be a member of ABN. Click here to join, or visit the ABN website for more information.
Secondly, read our Fact Sheet entitled Getting Started with ABN BAS and follow the steps.
Our FAQ page is also a great way to find out more.
