Steps to start Single Touch Payroll reporting in your small business

Make sure you’re prepared for 30 September 2019.

Employees working at a cafe

If you’re an employer with 19 or less employees, you need to start reporting your employees’ salary and wages, tax and super information through Single Touch Payroll (STP) by 30 September 2019.

You can do this through a software solution or through a service provider, like a registered agent.

If you already use STP-enabled payroll or accounting software you can start reporting now.

How can you be prepared?

3 things you can do before 30 September 2019 to be STP ready:

  1. Find a payroll solution that is STP-enabled and is right for you. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a list of STP-enabled products or find a service provider that can report through STP on your behalf.
  2. Ask your registered agent if you’re eligible for a reporting concession. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to report quarterly if you have an intermittent or seasonal workforce, employ members of your family, or if you have 4 or fewer employees.
  3. Ask the ATO for more time. If you know you won’t be able to start before 30 September 2019, you or your registered agent can ask the ATO for a later start date. To apply, log in to ATO’s Business Portal and select manage employees then STP deferrals and exemptions.

To learn more on how to get ready, check out the ATO’s Single Touch Payroll information.