ATO Voluntary Disclosure Accountant
Proactively Correct Past Tax Errors, Mitigate Shortfall Penalties & Reconstruct Accurate Figures
Service at a Glance
Personalized scope & lodgementWage earners, investment property owners, CGT, crypto & standard returns
100% online video meetings (Outlook Calendar) or in-person
Direct electronic ATO portal lodgement by Registered Tax Agent
Draft explained and authorized by you before electronic submission
- Pre-lodgement draft walkthrough & written client sign-off
- Extended ATO tax agent lodgement deadlines available
- Transparent upfront quoting & zero lodgement without approval
What is a voluntary disclosure to the ATO?
A voluntary disclosure is information you give the ATO to correct or explain a mistake or omission in your tax affairs. It should be complete and accurate enough to let the ATO understand the issue and adjust the position where required. An amendment request may be the appropriate way to correct a lodged return before the ATO has raised the matter in a review or audit.
Definition & Legal Purpose
A voluntary disclosure is information you give the ATO to correct or explain a mistake or omission in your tax affairs.
It should be complete and accurate enough to let the ATO understand the issue and adjust the position where required.
Common Disclosed Discrepancies
Examples include omitted income, a deduction claimed incorrectly or errors in information included in an activity statement.
Covering undeclared overseas income, capital gains miscalculations, cryptocurrency trades, or input tax credit overclaims.
Tailored Correction Channels
An amendment request may be the appropriate way to correct a lodged return before the ATO has raised the matter in a review or audit.
Identifying the issue does not mean every case needs the same form or process. We check what was lodged, what should have been reported and the available correction pathway.
Why does timing matter?
A disclosure made before the ATO tells you about a review or audit of the relevant period is considered differently from one made during an examination. Depending on the conditions, a qualifying disclosure can reduce administrative shortfall penalties. The precise result depends on timing, the nature of the shortfall and whether a penalty applies at all.
Before ATO Audit Notification
A disclosure made before the ATO tells you about a review or audit of the relevant period is considered differently from one made during an examination.
Unprompted voluntary disclosures generally secure maximum statutory penalty reductions (often up to 80% or full penalty mitigation) under ATO administrative rulings.
During an Active ATO Audit
During an ATO review, the disclosure process may also depend on the officer's request and the deadline given.
Disclosing during an audit may still qualify for partial penalty concessions if made before the auditor uncovers the shortfall independently.
Shortfall Interest Still Applies
Do not assume a standard percentage reduction or promise of no penalty. Additional tax and applicable interest may remain payable.
While penalties may be drastically reduced, the primary tax shortfall and compounding Shortfall Interest Charge (SIC) must still be settled.
No Guaranteed Automatic Outcome:
Do not assume a standard percentage reduction or promise of no penalty. Additional tax and applicable interest may remain payable. During an ATO review, the disclosure process may also depend on the officer's request and the deadline given.
Voluntary disclosure or tax return amendment?
An amendment corrects a return or assessment already lodged. An unprompted disclosure before an ATO review may be processed in much the same way as the relevant return or statement. Once an examination is under way, information may need to be provided through the disclosure process for that review. If you disagree with an assessment raised by the ATO, an objection rather than a disclosure may be the appropriate path.
Tax Return Amendment
An amendment corrects a return or assessment already lodged.
An unprompted disclosure before an ATO review may be processed in much the same way as the relevant return or statement.
Voluntary Disclosure in Examination
Once an examination is under way, information may need to be provided through the disclosure process for that review.
Requires formal submission to the appointed ATO case auditor, providing calculation workpapers and contextual reasons.
Part IVC Formal Objection
If you disagree with an assessment raised by the ATO, an objection rather than a disclosure may be the appropriate path.
Disputes the legal correctness of the ATO's position rather than conceding an error.
Never Lodged the Return in the First Place?
We identify the distinction before preparing documents so the facts reach the ATO through the correct channel. An unlodged return is a separate issue; see our overdue tax returns page.
Income tax, BAS and audit disclosures can follow different routes
An income tax error may be corrected through an amendment or approved disclosure process. A GST mistake may be corrected on a later BAS only where the ATO's conditions are met; otherwise the earlier activity statement generally needs revision. PAYG withholding, superannuation and other obligations can have their own forms and consequences.
Income Tax Corrections
An income tax error may be corrected through an amendment or approved disclosure process.
For individual, trust, or company tax returns, formal amendment requests or approved disclosure schedules are submitted through tax agent portal interfaces.
GST & Activity Statement Corrections
A GST mistake may be corrected on a later BAS only where the ATO's conditions are met; otherwise the earlier activity statement generally needs revision.
If correction threshold limits (de minimis amounts or time limits) are exceeded, earlier quarterly activity statements must be formally revised.
PAYGW & Superannuation Obligations
PAYG withholding, superannuation and other obligations can have their own forms and consequences.
Superannuation errors require lodging formal Super Guarantee Charge (SGC) statements and trigger non-deductible statutory interest penalties.
Crucial Warning if an Audit Has Already Commenced:
If the ATO has already notified you of a review or audit, tell the officer or your adviser before lodging a general amendment. The relevant disclosure may need to be made to the officer conducting the examination or through the approved form for taxpayers under review or audit.
What information should be assembled?
The correction must be supported by records. Depending on the issue, we may request:
Original Lodged Statements & Prior Amendments
"The original return, BAS or other statement and any amended versions"
Full copies of the original tax filings and assessment notices that contain the reporting error.
ATO Letters & Statutory Deadlines
"ATO letters, audit or review notifications and relevant deadlines"
Any correspondence from the ATO to verify whether an audit clock has begun running.
Source Bank & Bookkeeping Records
"Bank records, invoices, payroll or bookkeeping reports"
Underlying financial source documents verifying the actual receipts, payments, or wage transactions.
Original Calculation Workpapers
"Working papers showing how the original figure was calculated"
Tax working papers, spreadsheet models, or notes showing why the original figure was adopted.
Substantiation of Correct Figures
"Evidence establishing the correct figure and affected periods"
Mathematical reconciliations and external contracts establishing the true tax position.
Explanation of How Error Was Discovered
"An explanation of when and how the error was discovered"
A factual account explaining the circumstances that brought the oversight to light.
Multi-Period & Multi-Entity Scope Audit:
Where more than one period or entity is affected, the scope should be established before sending an incomplete account. We can reconcile the figures, explain uncertainties and prepare a factual description of the correction.
What happens after disclosure?
The ATO may request further information and issue an amended assessment or other notice. That notice will show the resulting tax or credit position and any associated amounts. Review it against the disclosure rather than assuming the matter is finished when information is submitted.
ATO Review & Information Requests
The ATO may request further information and issue an amended assessment or other notice.
The ATO case team verifies the calculations against their third-party reporting databases and may seek clarification on specific deductions or offsets.
Notice of Amended Assessment Review
That notice will show the resulting tax or credit position and any associated amounts. Review it against the disclosure rather than assuming the matter is finished when information is submitted.
We reconcile the notice against our prepared figures, checking that penalties and interest reflect qualifying voluntary disclosure concessions.
Already Received an Imposed Penalty?
If an administrative penalty has already been imposed, our ATO penalty remission page explains the distinct question of asking the ATO to reduce it. A disclosure and a remission request serve different purposes.
How Financially Up can help
As your ATO voluntary disclosure accountant, Financially Up can review the original reporting, reconstruct the corrected position, assess the appropriate lodgment or disclosure pathway and prepare supporting calculations. We can communicate with the ATO within the agreed scope and help you understand its response.
Review Original Reporting
We analyze the original tax returns or activity statements to understand what was disclosed, identifying the exact source and nature of the omission.
Reconstruct Corrected Position
We recalculate taxable income, allowable deductions, and tax liabilities using the verified records and applicable tax law.
Determine Pathway & Prepare Calculations
We assess whether an online amendment, formal voluntary disclosure schedule, or audit response pack is required, preparing clear supporting schedules.
Liaise with the ATO & Explain Outcome
We communicate with the ATO within the agreed scope, advocate for maximum statutory penalty concessions, and explain the final assessment.
Service Boundaries & Legal Counsel:
Complex disputes, allegations of deliberate conduct or other legal matters may require separate legal advice. We will make the service boundaries clear before proceeding.
Why choose Financially Up Pty Ltd?
Financially Up is a registered tax agent with more than 10 years of experience. Our CPA and IPA professionals support clients Australia-wide through online and in-person appointments. We focus on accurate reconstruction, the correct disclosure pathway and clear communication of the tax, interest and penalty implications.
Registered Tax Agent
Officially registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB #26242127), authorized to prepare and submit official voluntary disclosures to the ATO.
CPA & IPA Qualified Team
Our team consists of qualified CPA and IPA professionals who ensure calculations and statutory disclosure schedules meet ATO technical requirements.
10+ Years of Experience
More than a decade of proven experience assisting Australian individuals and businesses in correcting past tax errors and mitigating administrative penalties.
Australia-Wide Appointments
Supporting clients across Australia through secure online meetings, with head office appointments at Australia.
Unsure How to Report a Prior Tax Mistake?
Call 1300 328 316 for a Confidential Voluntary Disclosure Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Find fast answers to common questions about our individual tax lodgements, deductions, and CPA services.
No. A correction can change the underlying tax position, and any tax properly payable remains due. Penalty treatment depends on the facts and applicable rules.
Related ATO Compliance & Correction Practices
ATO Audit Support
Audit questionnaires, records substantiation & ATO liaison.
Penalty Remission
Requesting remission of failure to lodge (FTL) and interest.
Overdue Tax Returns
Multi-year catch up returns, missing records reconstruction.
ATO Debt Help
Payment plans, GIC remission & recovery action defence.
Overdue BAS Lodgement
Catching up unlodged GST, PAYGW & super activity statements.