BAS Lodgement Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Businesses in Australia
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If you’re running a business in Australia, lodging your BAS (Business Activity Statement) is a vital part of staying ATO-compliant. While it might sound intimidating, BAS reporting can be a smooth process—especially when you understand what’s required and follow a simple checklist.
At AAA Tax Agent & Accounting Services in Ropes Crossing, NSW, we help small businesses, freelancers, and sole traders stay on top of their BAS obligations. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to lodge BAS, what to include, and what happens if you miss a deadline.
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What is BAS?
The Business Activity Statement (BAS) is a form submitted to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) by registered businesses to report and pay:
BAS lodgement frequency depends on your GST turnover:
Turnover | Lodgement Frequency | Due Date |
Under $10M | Quarterly | 28th of the month after each quarter (e.g. Q1 due April 28) |
Over $20M | Monthly | 21st of the following month |
Voluntary | Annually (some sole traders) | 31 October (same as tax return) |
⏱️ Quick Tip: If you lodge through a registered tax or BAS agent like AAA Taxagent, you may receive extended deadlines.
Step-by-Step BAS Preparation Checklist
Here’s a simplified roadmap to help you stay organised and compliant:
Step 1: Check Your Lodgement Frequency
Are you lodging monthly, quarterly, or annually?
Confirm your ATO reporting cycle in your ATO business portal or via your agent.
Step 2: Gather All Relevant Data
Invoices issued (sales with GST)
Receipts for business purchases
Bank statements and software records (Xero, MYOB, etc.)
Step 3: Calculate GST Collected & Paid
GST on sales (10%) – What you’ve collected from clients
GST on purchases – What you’ve paid on business expenses
Use the difference to calculate your GST payable or refund
Step 4: Report PAYG Withholding
If you employ staff, include:
Salaries and wages paid
PAYG withheld from employee payslips
Make sure superannuation payments are up to date, even though they aren’t reported in the BAS.
Step 5: Include PAYG Instalments (if applicable)
If you’re required to pre-pay income tax, enter the instalment amount provided by the ATO
Step 6: Lodge and Pay on Time
Lodge online via the ATO Business Portal, through your accounting software, or let AAA Taxagent handle it for you.
Pay any outstanding balance by the due date.
