What Is a Business Activity Statement (BAS)?
A Business Activity Statement, or BAS, is a form submitted to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that reports your business's tax obligations. If you're registered for GST, PAYG withholding, PAYG instalments, or fringe benefits tax, you'll need to lodge a BAS — no exceptions.
Think of it as your regular check-in with the ATO. You're telling them how much GST you collected, how much you paid, and what other tax obligations you've met during the period.
Who Needs to Lodge a BAS?
You must lodge a BAS if your business is:
- Registered for GST — mandatory if your annual turnover is $75,000 or more ($150,000 for not-for-profits)
- Required to withhold PAYG from employee wages
- Paying PAYG instalments on business or investment income
- Liable for fringe benefits tax (FBT) instalments
Even if you voluntarily registered for GST below the threshold, you still need to lodge.
Quarterly vs Monthly: Which BAS Schedule Are You On?
Most small businesses lodge quarterly, but the ATO may require monthly lodgement if:
- Your annual GST turnover is $20 million or more
- You've elected to report monthly