GST Start-Up Web Site

New GST Business Skills Help Packages for small business and community groups—released today.

Chris Jordan, Chair of the New Tax System Advisory Board, welcomed the release of a new GST assistance package to help small businesses and community groups.

Re-pricing and The New Tax System designed to provide a basic guide on how businesses should prepare and change their prices.
GST Handbook: Voluntary Sector designed to address the impact of the GST on the way community groups operate. The handbook is targeted to people who aren't necessarily accountants, but look after a group’s finances.
GST and Business Skills – Checklist designed to help small businesses and community groups identify practices and processes to ensure GST-readiness by 1 July.

Mr Jordan said, "All three publications examine the impact of The New Tax System and how to adjust business practices with practical, easy-to-read examples - whether you're a shop-owner or a community organisation."

Mr Jordan went on to remind small businesses today, "The GST is going to have an impact on your prices – there’s no single answer for every situation, that’s why it’s vital to review your pricing as soon as possible to be ready for 1 July."

"The Re-pricing and The New Tax System booklet lists basic guidelines on how to prepare and adjust prices for the GST in an easy-to-read format and it’s only ten pages long", explained Mr Jordan.

Mr Jordan explained "the booklet will help ensure that consumers receive the full benefit of price changes. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) will monitor price movements and take necessary action to ensure that the full benefits of the tax changes flow through to consumers."

Elimination of wholesale sales tax;
Reduced suppliers’ prices;
Lower operating costs; and
Administration costs offset by benefits to business.

The booklet offers a practical method to review business cost structures and re-price goods and services so that they comply with the new ACCC guidelines.

"This booklet is the product of a combined effort between the GST Start-Up Assistance Office, the ACCC, accounting and business advisory group Hayes Knight, CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The booklet is funded through the GST Start-Up Assistance Office’s Business Skills Education programme," explained Mr Jordan.

Mr Brian Sheppard from the Institute of Chartered Accountants explains, "We particularly recommend that readers work through the simple example in the booklet, which will reinforce the principles behind the commentary, with the aid of the step-by-step explanations provided. At the very least, the understanding gained will allow small and medium business proprietors to identify areas requiring closer attention, or possibly professional assistance from an accountant", said Mr Sheppard.

CPA Australia's Director of Member Services, Mr Barry Cooper, said that the Guidelines were a major step towards providing clarity on the pricing issue.

"If followed correctly, the guidelines will enable businesses to establish accurate prices, avoid infringing ACCC guidelines and maintain their competitiveness," said Mr Cooper.

Help is also here for the community sector. The GST Start-Up Assistance Office and the Australian Taxation Office have developed products to form a comprehensive GST and The New Tax System-help package for the community sector.

The GST Handbook for the Voluntary Sector looks at the business skills needed by treasurers and accounting administrators to operate in a GST world.

Mr Jordan urged charities, sporting and community groups to register for the GST. "If you haven’t registered, it’s vital that you do so before 31 May. Charities will need an ABN if your organisation is seeking tax-exempt or deductible gift status", he said.

The Australian Taxation Office has three publications on taxation for the community sector:

CharityPack – for charities;
ClubPack – for clubs, societies and associations which are not charities;
Giftpack – for organisations that wish to receive income tax deductible gifts.

"For some community organisations, this will be their first time operating within the tax system. The handbook is a practical guide to help organisations operate in a GST world."

These publications are free and are being distributed through a range of industry associations. However, copies can also be obtained by calling GST Assist on 13 30 88.

Media contacts: Anita Shooks (New Tax System Advisory Board) 02 6216 2318
Sophia Kalogeropoulos (GST Start-Up Assistance Office) 02 6263 4454


	24 May 2000 New GST Business Skills Help Packages for small business and community groups—released today. Chris Jordan, Chair of the New Tax System Advisory Board, welcomed the release of a new GST assistance package to help small businesses and community groups. The package includes the three publications: Re-pricing and The New Tax System designed to provide a basic guide on how businesses should prepare and change their prices. GST Handbook: Voluntary Sector designed to address the impact of the GST on the way community groups operate. The handbook is targeted to people who aren't necessarily accountants, but look after a group’s finances. GST and Business Skills – Checklist designed to help small businesses and community groups identify practices and processes to ensure GST-readiness by 1 July. Mr Jordan said, "All three publications examine the impact of The New Tax System and how to adjust business practices with practical, easy-to-read examples - whether you're a shop-owner or a community organisation." Mr Jordan went on to remind small businesses today, "The GST is going to have an impact on your prices – there’s no single answer for every situation, that’s why it’s vital to review your pricing as soon as possible to be ready for 1 July." "The Re-pricing and The New Tax System booklet lists basic guidelines on how to prepare and adjust prices for the GST in an easy-to-read format and it’s only ten pages long", explained Mr Jordan. Mr Jordan explained "the booklet will help ensure that consumers receive the full benefit of price changes. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) will monitor price movements and take necessary action to ensure that the full benefits of the tax changes flow through to consumers." The booklet highlights changes to business cost structures, including: Elimination of wholesale sales tax; Reduced suppliers’ prices; Lower operating costs; and Administration costs offset by benefits to business. The booklet offers a practical method to review business cost structures and re-price goods and services so that they comply with the new ACCC guidelines. "This booklet is the product of a combined effort between the GST Start-Up Assistance Office, the ACCC, accounting and business advisory group Hayes Knight, CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The booklet is funded through the GST Start-Up Assistance Office’s Business Skills Education programme," explained Mr Jordan. Mr Brian Sheppard from the Institute of Chartered Accountants explains, "We particularly recommend that readers work through the simple example in the booklet, which will reinforce the principles behind the commentary, with the aid of the step-by-step explanations provided. At the very least, the understanding gained will allow small and medium business proprietors to identify areas requiring closer attention, or possibly professional assistance from an accountant", said Mr Sheppard. CPA Australia's Director of Member Services, Mr Barry Cooper, said that the Guidelines were a major step towards providing clarity on the pricing issue. "If followed correctly, the guidelines will enable businesses to establish accurate prices, avoid infringing ACCC guidelines and maintain their competitiveness," said Mr Cooper. Help is also here for the community sector. The GST Start-Up Assistance Office and the Australian Taxation Office have developed products to form a comprehensive GST and The New Tax System-help package for the community sector. The *GST Handbook for the Voluntary Sector* looks at the business skills needed by treasurers and accounting administrators to operate in a GST world. Mr Jordan urged charities, sporting and community groups to register for the GST. "If you haven’t registered, it’s vital that you do so before 31 May. Charities will need an ABN if your organisation is seeking tax-exempt or deductible gift status", he said. The Handbook examines issues such as: Planning for the GST; Treatments of typical supplies made; Preparing Business Activity Statements. The Australian Taxation Office has three publications on taxation for the community sector: CharityPack – for charities; ClubPack – for clubs, societies and associations which are not charities; Giftpack – for organisations that wish to receive income tax deductible gifts. "For some community organisations, this will be their first time operating within the tax system. The handbook is a practical guide to help organisations operate in a GST world." These publications are free and are being distributed through a range of industry associations. However, copies can also be obtained by calling GST Assist on 13 30 88. Media contacts: Anita Shooks (New Tax System Advisory Board) 02 6216 2318 Sophia Kalogeropoulos (GST Start-Up Assistance Office) 02 6263 4454


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