Practitioner Lodgment Service (PLS)
checklist
Things to know
What are the benefits of SBR-enabled PLS software?
Using software that is SBR-enabled will simplify activities associated with government reporting http://www.sbr.gov.au/intermediaries/benefits-for-business
When will SBR-enabled PLS software be available
SBR-enabled products are already available from software providers to prepare and lodge business
activity statements. You may already be using SBR to lodge some forms.
A full listing of SBR-enabled software, and the forms it can lodge, is available online http://www.sbr.gov.au/sbr-products-register/browse-products-by-agency/australian-taxation-office-ato
What forms will I be able to lodge?
A list of reports that are available in SBR format, for many government departments, is available
online - http://www.sbr.gov.au/software-developers/sbr-enabled-reports
Will ELS be turning off?
The ATO will provide a safety net by maintaining the ELS gateway until 31 March 2017 https://www.ato.gov.au/Tax-professionals/Newsroom/Digital-interaction-with-us/Consultation-on-ELSto-SBR-transition/
Can I lodge prior year returns with PLS?
SBR-enabled software will allow you to lodge prior year forms as normal via your software package https://www.ato.gov.au/Tax-professionals/Services-and-support/Working-online/Practicemanagement-software/Moving-from-ELS-to-SBR---frequently-asked-questions/
What do I need to do for tax time?
Tax Time information will be published, as normal, on the ATO website - https://www.ato.gov.au/Taxprofessionals/Prepare-and-lodge/Tax-Time-2015/
EXTERNAL
UNCLASSIFIED
How do I keep up to date with PLS information?
You can find information about PLS on the ATO website – http://www.ato.gov.au/pls
You can also keep up to date with any updates or changes to PLS through the Tax Professionals
Newsroom and your software providers updates - https://www.ato.gov.au/Taxprofessionals/Newsroom/
What if something goes wrong?
We will let you know if we identify any issues with PLS and tell you what we will be doing to resolve
them.
We will communicate and work with you to ensure that you are not unfairly penalised when
circumstances outside of your control prevent you from lodging -
Things to do
Authenticating your software
Register for an AUSkey
You will still need an AUSkey to lodge through your PLS software - https://www.ato.gov.au/Taxprofessionals/Services-and-support/Working-online/AUSkey/
Managing your permissions
You can continue to manage your AUSkey permissions, including authorising users to access
Registered Agent Numbers or restricted clients, using Access Manager https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/In-detail/Transact-Online/Using-Access-Manager/
Hosted (cloud) software
If you use online SBR-enabled practice management software you will no longer use your AUSkey to
interact with the ATO. Instead, your software provider will do it for you. You need to notify the ATO of
your hosted software service - https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/In-detail/TransactOnline/Using-Access-Manager/#NotifyusofahostedSBRsoftwareserviceprevi
Where to go for help
Online services
Use the ATOs Online services guide to work out how best to complete your query or transaction online
- https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-professionals/services-and-support/working-online/online-servicesguides/tax-agent-online-services-guide/
The PLS Guide will help you complete normal functions when using your PLS software, or
troubleshoot issues or errors –
EXTERNAL
UNCLASSIFIED
Phone services
If there is no online option for your query you can use the registered agent phone line https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-professionals/services-and-support/phone-services/tax-agent-phoneservices-%28fast-key-code%29-guide/
What’s new and different?
Information gathering and steps prior to completing clients returns
> Additional client information required
Completion of returns
> Client details verification
Lodgment
> Error codes
Post lodgment
> Lodgment verification codes
EXTERNAL
UNCLASSIFIED