Deputy Commissioner Steve Vesperman said the ATO is currently looking for new members to join its Small Business Liaison Group and had recently called for expressions of interest.
“We’re committed to making it easier for small business to manage their tax and super responsibilities. The best way for us to work out what small businesses need is to have ongoing engagement with them and their industry representatives directly, the Small Business Liaison Group gives us this opportunity,” Mr Vesperman said.
“To do this well, we need the liaison group to include a range of industry bodies and other associations representing small business. We also want to work with the people who know small business the best – the owners themselves.”
Mr Vesperman said the liaison group, which includes a number of industry representatives, is just one of the ways the ATO engages and collaborates with small business.
“When it comes to delivering improved services, some of the best advice we can get is from small business operators. That’s why, in addition to the liaison group, we also have initiatives like the Small Business Consultation Panel, which is a list of small business operators who we work with on short-term consultation activities.”
“We use the feedback and information that comes out of these collaborations to improve the overall tax and super experiences for all small businesses, so it is well worth the effort.”
Liaison group members attend three meetings each year and assist with occasional out-of-session work.
Small businesses and industry associations interested in assisting the ATO can download the expression of interest information pack at https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Consultation/Getting-involved-in-consultation/Small-Business-Liaison-Group-overview-for-prospective-members/ or email SBITConsultativeForums@ato.gov.au.