1 Introduction

The GST and Business Skills - an Action Guide

All businesses working in a GST environment will need to:

		decide how to get ready for GST
		identify the impact of GST on their business
		put GST into their business context

This Action Guide is structured to address the specific needs of small and medium enterprises, charitable organisations and educational bodies in Australia. These businesses operate with support ranging from a single person to complex structures. Managing in a GST environment makes different demands depending on the business.

How to use the Action Guide

You choose when to use the guide and which part to use:

		to decide what you need to do and when
		for information or education

Key to icons and colours

flags to bring attention to issues you need to consider

checklists to make it easier for you to make informed decisions. Click on some of these links and a pop-up checklist will appear.

Note: Some checklists will occur in pop-up windows (which are 'mini' versions of the browser, and are used within the GST site to emphasise or separate information from the main body of GST content). In the case of the checklist, simply left mouse click on the icon to view the pop-up window. All of the icons that have an associated action with them, (such as some checklists, links and download icons) will have a rollover action associated with them. (i.e. the icon will change when the mouse is rolled over them - indicating that a left mouse click will result in an appropriate action).

actions you need to take

tools you can use and adapt to your own business

links to sections and topics shown in the colour of the relevant section. You can click on these links to jump directly to the relevant sections.

links to the Toolkit in the Resources section to allow you to download the GST Planner.

Note: If you click on a link using the left mouse button, you will be warned that the document may be opened in a separate browser window. The opening of files within the browser is an automated process built into Internet Explorer ™ by Microsoft ™. This will happen only happen if you already have the application installed on your machine. For example, if you have Microsoft Word ™ installed on your machine and try to download the document, the document will automatically be opened in the browser window. (Netscape Navigator ™ users will also experience this type of behavior for Adobe ™ 'pdf' files). If you would prefer to download the application and view it at a later date, you should right click on the link. You should then choose 'Save Target As' from the list of options, and specify where you would like to download file to.

download and view a Microsoft Word version of the section

Note: If a section has been split into pages, then these icons will only occur on the first page within the section.

download and view a PDF version of the section. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view the PDF file.

prints the page shown

search feature allowing you to locate relevant sections based on a keyword search

closes a pop-up window

Site Navigation

Section summaries

There are five sections which can be referred to in any order:

Introduction

You discover who the Action Guide is for, why you might find it useful and how it can be used.

Your business and how it works

Experience in other countries shows that you need strong business skills to operate in a GST environment. The six topics in this section encourage you to refresh or continue building these skills so you are ready for the impacts of GST.

The impact of GST on your business

Minimise disruptions to your cashflow and possible slowdown of your business operations by understanding the impact of GST. The topics in this section help you build familiarity with GST and its terms together with a knowledge of how it affects your business transactions.

Decisions you make and actions you take

Focus on the five areas of impact - selling, buying, recording, survival and legal - and get your business ready by taking action. Working through this section you will find checklists to help make well-informed decisions about what you can, and need, to do. You create a focus for how your business will manage in the GST environment.

Resources

These include a Toolkit of templates, checklists and planning devices; Terms and Concepts for you to refer to; and a list of Information Sources which you can contact.

The GST Start-up Assistance Program

You can contact the GST Start-Up Assistance Office through their website - www.gststartup.gov.au

Or phone the Helpline: 133088

The Australian Government is funding four key initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises, charitable organisations and educational bodies to manage the change to a GST environment:

1.		This GST and Business Skills Action Guide provides information and support materials which are freely available.
2.		GST advisers: 8,000 GST advisers will use the material in the Action Guide to conduct seminars, individual consultancies and courses throughout Australia.
3.		Sector-specific bodies and associations will adapt the Action Guide to suit the needs of their own members.
4.		Direct assistance has been made available to businesses in a range of ways. Contact the GST Start-Up Assistance Office Helpline or website for more details.

The Guide was prepared by KPMG for the GST Start-up Assistance Office. We encourage you to talk to people in your community and tap into other resources available which support your business needs.

The GST Start-Up Assistance Office is managing the implementation of these initiatives.