The Electronic Lodgement System (ELS) is being retired. SBR is the new software format to be used by tax professionals to send reports and data to the ATO and other government agencies
The aim is to:
- Increase productivity: less time on paperwork
- Low Cost: built into the 3rd party software.
- Seamless record keeping: your records and reports are securely stored and accessible Automatically pre-filled reports: from your accounting and payroll records
- Review: allows you to check reports
- Real- time validation and confirmation: able to confirm receipt.
- Updated reporting obligations: by software providers
- Share information: via real time access
Turning off ELS
It is intended that SBR will be in place by July 2016. The ATO will provide a safety net by maintaining the ELS gateway until 31 March 2017.
From 1 April 2017 all tax return forms currently planned to be lodged electronically will need to be lodged only through SBR.
Software Changes
The key SMSF software providers are already SBR certified. These include Class Super, Supermate, and BGL360
Lodging prior year returns when ELS is decommissioned
Prior year forms will be able to be lodged via SBR-enabled software. The ATO will continue to process these forms for a limited period