Over 4,000 free training courses to help small business and community groups prepare their Business Activity Statement (BAS) can be accessed through the Internet and by phone, Chris Jordan, Chairman of The New Tax System Advisory Board announced today.

BAS courses Australia-wide are listed on www.gststartup.gov.au

"People wanting to attend a BAS course merely have to type in their city or town and course options are revealed for their area," Mr Jordan said. "People can then select the course best suited to them and can access all details needed to register.

"Alternatively, business and community groups can ring GST Assist 13 30 88 for course referrals.

"We have over 8,000 bookings already for these new BAS courses and we expect a total audience for the courses of over 200,000," Mr Jordan said.

Courses are being delivered nationally on behalf of the GST Start-Up Assistance Office by TEO Training Pty Ltd, State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Institute of Management and Business Enterprise Centres, and also through State-based farming organisations.

The courses will all have a common core curriculum and be run as ‘hands-on’ workshops. There will be tailored courses specifically for small to medium businesses, micro and home-based business, the community, voluntary and cultural sector and farmers. Apart from helping business and community organisations prepare for their first monthly or quarterly BAS (or Instalment Activity Statement for those businesses which have not registered for the GST), the courses also include assistance on Pay As You Go (PAYG).

The BAS is required of all organisations which have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and who are registered for the GST. The lodgement deadline for the first monthly BAS has recently been extended by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to 4 September 2000 for businesses with annual turnover less than $20 million which have elected to lodge monthly. The first quarterly BAS is due by 11 November for businesses with annual turnover less than $20 million which lodge quarterly (unless it is a large PAYG withholder ie withholds more than $1 million) or has a Substituted Accounting Period).

Media contact: Anita Shooks, The New Tax System Advisory Board on (02) 6216 2318 or 0407 406 765.