The ATO will work with affected businesses to defer payments and instalments of income tax, activity statements, PAYG instalments, FBT and excise payments by up to six months.

Businesses that have a turnover of less than $20 million and are reporting quarterly and are due a GST refund will have the option to move to monthly reporting to get quicker access to the refunds.

Quarterly PAYG instalment payers will have the option to vary their PAYG Income Tax instalments on their activity statement for the March 2020 quarter and also claim a refund for any instalments made for September 2019 and December 2019 quarters.

The ATO will not apply penalties or charge interest to varied instalments for the 2019-2020 financial year.

Businesses that lodge monthly can contact the ATO to get access to the same concessions.

For businesses affected by COVID-19 the ATO will consider remitting interest and penalties incurred after 23 January 2020.

Businesses affected can contact the ATO for assistance with existing and ongoing tax liabilities by entering a low interest payment plan.