Checks as you prepare¶

Filling in an Activity Statement means putting numbers into a set of boxes, called labels. It's easy to make a small slip — a box left empty, a total that doesn't quite match, or a figure typed into the wrong spot.

You don't have to spot every one of these on your own. As you fill in the statement, the software checks your figures as you go and gently flags anything that looks off. Think of it as a helpful second pair of eyes looking over your shoulder while you work, so small problems get fixed before you send.

In one line

As you fill in your statement, the software checks your figures and flags problems early — so you can fix them before you send.

Why this matters¶

Once a statement has been sent to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), fixing a mistake is more work — you may have to go back and correct it separately. Catching the same mistake while you are still filling in the form takes a moment.

Helpful checks while you work turn a possible problem into a quick edit. You stay in control, and you send with more confidence because the obvious slips have already been pointed out to you.

What you will learn¶

That your figures are checked while you fill in the statement, not just at the end
The common things a check will flag
Why catching a problem early is far easier than fixing it later

Understanding the concept¶

As you enter your numbers, the software quietly compares them and looks for things that don't seem right. The most common flags are simple ones:

A label that doesn't add up. If a total is meant to be the sum of a few boxes and it isn't, the software can point that out.
A required box left blank. Some boxes must have a figure, even if that figure is zero. If one is empty, you'll be prompted to fill it in.
An amount in the wrong place. If a figure looks like it belongs in a different box, the software can flag it so you can move it.

The ATO points out that lodging online lets you review your statement and check that the amount worked out is what you expect to pay or get back before you send. The software's checks support exactly that — they help you notice a problem while you can still fix it easily.

These checks are there to help, not to judge. A flag simply means "have another look at this one". You decide what to do, correct anything that needs it, and carry on.

For accountants & bookkeepers

Where figures are pre-filled from other reporting, the ATO advises confirming the pre-filled amounts match your own records before you save or lodge, as some can keep updating until then. The as-you-go checks are a complement to that review, not a replacement for it — a clean check does not certify the figures are correct, only that nothing obvious is out of place.

Example¶

Jordan is filling in the quarterly statement for a small landscaping business. He types the GST figures into their boxes, but accidentally leaves one required box empty.

Before he can move on, the software flags it: that box needs a figure. Jordan sees the prompt, puts in the right amount, and the flag clears. A moment later it points out that a total doesn't match the boxes above it — he had mistyped one number. He fixes the typo, the total lines up, and he finishes the statement knowing the obvious slips were caught while he was still working, not after he'd sent it.

Common mistakes¶

Ignoring a flag and sending anyway — a flag is a nudge to look again, not something to skip.
Leaving a required box blank when the answer is zero — enter the zero rather than nothing.
Assuming a clean check means the figures are definitely right — checks catch obvious slips, not every judgment call.

How this works in myaccountant¶

In the app — as you prepare your statement, myaccountant checks your figures and flags things like a total that doesn't add up or a box that still needs a figure, so you can fix them before you send. The checks happen while you work, so problems surface early rather than after lodging.

Key points¶

Your figures are checked as you fill in the statement, not only at the end.
Common flags are a label that doesn't add up, a blank required box, or an amount in the wrong place.
A flag is a helpful nudge to look again — you stay in control.
Fixing a slip while you work is far easier than correcting it after you send.
A clean check means nothing obvious is wrong, not that every figure is certified correct.

Learn next¶

General information only — not tax, super or financial advice.

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