Respectfully Disagreeing with the ATO in Relation to Tax Disputes

Abstract

Disputes are an inevitable part of taxation and seem to be on the rise. Achieving the best possible outcome of a dispute is key for all parties involved. This requires a knowledge of the taxpayer’s rights and how best to exercise them in a robust yet respectful way when engaging with the ATO. A response to an ATO position paper is generally the last chance for a taxpayer to press their case in detail in a relatively informal manner. Once an assessment or amended assessment has issued, a taxpayer’s options for disputing a liability narrow markedly, largely being limited to the procedure set out in Part IVC of the Taxation Administration Act. This 2 hour seminar will look at some of the practical issues that have encountered in dealing with the ATO of late, practical approaches to disputing an assessment with the ATO, and a review of the ATO’s new strategies to resolve disputes for small business taxpayers and finished off with a panel discussion on how we can engage with the ATO on behalf of clients to obtain the best outcomes for all involved.