Business

ATO jobs offer ‘foot in the door’ for high school leavers

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is offering 2021 and 2022 school leavers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Traralgon, Gosford and Newcastle a unique opportunity to get a ‘foot in the door’ of the Australian Public Service in addition to a formal qualification and on-the-job training.

The ATO’s School Leaver program provides successful candidates with: • a 12-month program that combines work experience and formal training (a certificate course) • structured on-the-job and corporate training • a permanent, fulltime job on successful completion • a supportive team environment • an inclusive and diverse workplace culture

• a starting salary of $50,977 plus super (APS 1) • opportunity for advancement to APS 2, on completion of the program.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Kristy Dam said the program offers school leavers an excellent pathway to kick off their careers, while gaining a qualification and learning valuable skills in a hands-on and supportive environment.

“The ATO is a big organisation with so many interesting potential career paths. If you’re not sure where your career may be heading or you’re not currently planning to go to uni, the ATO is a great option. We’re a diverse organisation where you can make big things happen” Ms Dam said.

Ms Dam said the ATO is looking for applicants with good communication and computer skills. Applicants also need to be resilient, flexible and independent, a team player, and be willing to learn and embrace new challenges.

Previous program participant Caleb said:

“The ATO School Leaver Program has given me the opportunity to learn new and interesting skills whilst working with a very diverse and inclusive environment. I have worked with a large and professional group of colleagues who have assisted me in every step of the way. This has helped me develop my knowledge and understanding of the ATO and has provided me with a strengthened structure for my future career.”

Applications for the 2023 ATO School Leaver Program open 8 August 2022 and close on 5 September 2022.

To be eligible for program, applicants must: • have completed Year 12 in 2021 or will complete Year 12 in 2022 • be an Australian citizen, and • clear a preengagement integrity check.

Program participants will join the ATO in February 2023 in a variety of roles such as administration, client engagement, data and analytics, and information technology.

The program is one of the ATO’s entry-level employment programs.

More information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for the program, is available on the ATO website at ato.gov.au/ schoolleaver

Shining a light on ‘off-the-books’ payments

Dodgy contractors trying to keep income ‘off-the-books’ and businesses helping them do so are being put on notice as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) continues to shine a light on shadow economy behaviour.

Paying cash in hand to avoid paying tax is a significant part of the shadow economy. However, the taxable payment reporting system (TPRS) allows the ATO to investigate this conduct.

Around $350 billion in payments made to 950,000 contractors were reported to the ATO in the last financial year. The ATO expects more than 270,000 businesses to complete a taxable payment annual report (TPAR) for the current 2021-22 year.

TPRS obligations apply to businesses in the building and construction industry, as well as businesses that provide cleaning, courier, road freight, information technology and security, investigation, or surveillance services and have paid subcontractors in relation to these services. The ATO is reminding these businesses that they will have to lodge a TPAR with the ATO by 28 August.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Peter Holt said “The TPAR is just one tool in the ATO’s toolbelt, helping crack down on $11 billion a year in missing taxes and keeping things fair for those businesses and contractors doing the right thing.”

The ATO uses

information reported on the TPAR to make

sure that businesses are

complying with their tax obligations.

incorporating the practices of GRAHAMS Solicitors & TRENCHES MCKENZIE COX Solicitors

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