Super Contributions Due Soon

REMINDER:

If your business employs staff, you will need to make your Quarter 1 superannuation guarantee contributions by 28 October 2007.

Tax Office Announces External Debt Collection Panel

Source: ATO Media Release 2007/48

The Tax Office today announced the appointment of a panel of external collection agencies to assist with the collection of debt, including tax debts over two years old and employer superannuation guarantee charge debt.

Acting Tax Commissioner Jennie Granger said the appointments follow a successful 3 month trial conducted in 2006, which resulted in $21 million in outstanding debt being collected.

“We do understand there are situations when it can be difficult to pay an outstanding debt. What is really important is that people contact us as early as possible so we can agree on a suitable arrangement to get them back on track,” Ms Granger said.

“The panel will help us follow up more quickly and encourage people and businesses to pay their debts.

“Some of the debt to be referred for collection will be superannuation money owed to employees so will help protect retirement savings,” Ms Granger said.

The Tax Office was allocated an additional $42 million over four years in this year’s federal budget to establish and pay for the services of the panel, and expects to commence referring parcels of debt for collection activity towards the end of 2007.

The panel is required to adhere to strict privacy and professionalism guidelines and will have to report back to the Tax Office monthly on their progress and adherence to these guidelines. They will also need to meet all Commonwealth secrecy and privacy requirements.

“Our debt collection strategies, including the establishment of this panel are about fairness and creating a level playing field for everyone.

“I encourage anyone experiencing difficulties to contact us as soon as possible on 13 11 42 and we will work with them to clear any tax debt before it becomes unmanageable,” Ms Granger said.

Business Encouraged to Reassess Attitutes to Mature Workers

Today sees the release of the Mature Age Employment Practical Guide, an online, one-stop resource for employing people over 45 in Australia.

The guide is designed to address the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. It includes information on how to find and keep experienced, older workers and what HR policies and practices employers need to implement to respond to the smaller, older workforce.

The message is, if you don't keep your older workers you're heading for trouble.

“The country can’t afford to retire its most experience workers. We simply do not have queues of similarly experienced workers waiting in the wings,” Minister Stone said today in a media release.

“As the population ages, and the generations following the baby boomers continue to shrink, Australian businesses need to reassess their attitudes to mature age workers. Successful businesses will be those who retain older workers.

According to Dr Stone, “Businesses must appreciate the importance and financial benefits of keeping or recruiting mature age staff to meet their skills needs."