Australian Taxation

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the principal revenue collection agency for the Australian Government, in charge of administering the Australian taxation system. The Australian Taxation Office is not a legal entity. The Tax Office is within the portfolio of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Tax Office is responsible for managing Australia's revenue through collections systems which include income tax, Goods & Services Tax (GST), superannuation and excise. In addition to managing collection systems, the Tax Office also administers various benefits and refunds, including income tax & GST refunds, the superannuation guarantee, higher education loans and the baby bonus.

The Commissioner of Taxation is the head of the Tax Office and is responsible for the administration of Australia's taxation system. The Commissioner of Taxation (and three Second Commissioners of Taxation) is appointed by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia for terms of seven years.

The Commissioner of Australian Taxation Office releases an Annual Report each financial year. The Annual Report outlines the Tax Office's performance and achievements for each financial year.

• Net cash collections were $264.5 billion. (1.2% above the 2009 Budget forecast for 2008–09);
• About $41.2 billion collected in GST for state and territory governments;
• Some 86% of individuals and 90% of businesses agree that the Australian Taxation Office is doing a good job, and 86% of tax agents feel that ATO systems and processes are being improved to make it easy for them to deal with Australia’s tax system.

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