Activity Statement checklist before you lodge¶

Lodging an Activity Statement is much less stressful when your records are in good shape first. A few quick checks before you lodge help you catch problems early, so the figures you send to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) are right the first time.

This lesson pulls the module together into a simple, practical checklist you can run each period. You do not need to be an accountant to work through it.

In one line

Before you lodge, check that your records are reconciled, your sales and purchases are categorised, GST and any wages are captured, you have the right period, and the final amount looks right.

Why this matters¶

Most Activity Statement problems come from rushing to lodge before the books are ready. A short check first means fewer mistakes to fix later, fewer surprises in the final amount, and more confidence that what you send is correct.

What you will learn¶

How to check your records are ready before you lodge
How to confirm GST and any wages and withholding are captured
How to check the reporting period and the final amount

Understanding the concept¶

Think of this as a run-through you do each period, from the raw records down to the final number. Work through it in order.

1. Records are up to date and reconciled. Make sure every sale, fee, expense and other business cost for the period has been entered, and that your records match your bank. The ATO recommends keeping records of all sales, fees, expenses, wages and other business costs. Reconciling means your books agree with your bank statements, so nothing is missed or counted twice.

2. Sales and purchases are categorised. Check that each sale and purchase has the right treatment — for example, whether GST applies to it. The ATO reminds you to enter each invoice once only, so watch for anything entered twice.

3. GST is captured. Confirm the GST on your sales and the GST on your purchases are both included. These feed the GST figures on your statement.

4. Any wages and withholding are captured. If you have employees, check that the wages you paid and the tax you withheld for the period are included. Not every business has these — only complete the parts that apply to you.

5. You are using the right reporting period. Check the statement covers the correct period. It is easy to work on the wrong quarter or month, so confirm the dates before you go further.

6. The final amount has been checked. Look at the amount payable or refundable and ask whether it looks about right for the period. The ATO suggests entering whole dollar amounts and, if you are working figures out by hand, double-checking your calculations. If the number looks very different from usual, find out why before you lodge.

For accountants & bookkeepers

The ATO's BAS and GST tips reinforce several of these steps — enter each invoice once, leave the cents out and don't round up, complete only the labels that apply, and check you are reporting for the correct period. Lodging electronically lets you review the statement and confirm the calculated amount matches what you expect before you submit. Reconciling to the bank and to source records before lodging is what keeps the label values defensible if they are ever queried.

Example¶

Jordan runs a small landscaping business and has one part-time employee. Before lodging this quarter's statement, Jordan runs the checklist.

First, Jordan enters the last few supplier bills and reconciles the accounts against the bank — everything matches. Next, Jordan checks that each job invoiced has GST on it and that no invoice was entered twice. GST on sales and GST on purchases are both there. Because there is an employee, Jordan confirms the wages paid and the tax withheld for the quarter are included too. Jordan checks the statement is for the right quarter, then looks at the final amount. It is a little higher than last time, but that matches a busy period, so it makes sense. Jordan lodges with confidence.

Common mistakes¶

Lodging before the accounts are reconciled to the bank.
Entering the same invoice twice, which throws out the totals.
Forgetting to include wages and withholding when you have employees.
Working on the wrong quarter or month.
Not looking at the final amount, so an odd figure goes unnoticed.

How this works in myaccountant¶

In the app — myaccountant keeps your records reconciled as you categorise your sales and purchases, then prepares the statement from those figures, so the GST and any wages and withholding are pulled through for the period you choose. You can review the final amount before you lodge, and if you spot something afterwards you can fix and re-lodge or revise the statement.

Key points¶

Reconcile your records to the bank before you lodge.
Check each sale and purchase is categorised, and each invoice entered once.
Confirm GST, and any wages and withholding, are captured.
Make sure you are using the right reporting period.
Check the final amount looks right before you lodge.
A short check first means fewer mistakes to fix later.

Learn next¶

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

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