If you run a small business anywhere from Epping to Craigieburn, Broadmeadows to Greensborough, your Business Activity Statement (BAS) is one of those recurring jobs that’s easy to put off — and easy to get wrong when you’re rushing.
How often do you need to lodge?
Most small businesses lodge quarterly, with due dates falling roughly a month after each quarter ends. Businesses registered for GST with turnover under the threshold can sometimes move to annual GST reporting, while larger businesses may need to lodge monthly. A registered tax agent can also access extended lodgement deadlines that aren’t available if you lodge yourself.
The most common GST mistakes we see
- Claiming GST credits on GST-free purchases — items like basic food, some health services, and certain exports don’t attract GST, so there’s nothing to claim back.
- Mixing up cash and accruals reporting — using the wrong basis for your business can distort what you owe.
- Forgetting private-use adjustments — if you use a business vehicle or phone partly for personal use, your GST claim needs to reflect that.
- Missing the PAYG withholding and instalment labels — these are easy to overlook if you’re doing it manually.
Bookkeeping is the real foundation
A clean BAS starts with clean books. If your bank feeds, invoices, and receipts are reconciled throughout the quarter — not scrambled together the night before the deadline — your BAS becomes a five-minute review instead of a stressful reconstruction project. This is exactly why we pair bookkeeping and payroll support with BAS lodgement for many of our small business clients.
Let us handle it
Whether you’re a tradie in Wollert, a café owner in Preston, or run a consulting business from home in Doreen, we can take BAS off your plate entirely — from bookkeeping through to lodgement with the ATO. Get in touch to find out how we can streamline your quarterly reporting.