BAS and GST Lodgement for Parramatta Businesses
Clear guidance on GST thresholds, BAS due dates, PAYG obligations and keeping your activity statements accurate and on time. Sydney accounting and tax specialists
Content reviewed and verified by Graham Chee, with FCPA-led practice at Local Knowledge, Mascot NSW. Continuous CPA Australia member since 1986. Prior career at Goldman Sachs, BNP Investment Management and Merrill Lynch.. Last reviewed October 2026. Next review scheduled for January 2027.
TL;DR
Clear guidance on GST thresholds, BAS due dates, PAYG obligations and keeping your activity statements accurate and on time. [Sydney accounting and tax specialists](https://www.sydney.accountants)
Key Takeaways
- The GST threshold is $75,000. A business generally needs GST registration when its current or projected GST turnover reaches $75,000. The threshold is $150,000 for a non-profit organisation. Taxi and ride-sourcing drivers generally need GST registration regardless of turnover. GST turnover is based on business income, not profit, and generally excludes GST itself, input-taxed sales and certain other excluded sales.
- Quarterly BAS is the usual cycle below $20 million. Businesses with GST turnover under $20 million generally report GST quarterly unless the Australian Taxation Office has directed otherwise or the business uses an approved different cycle. The standard quarterly due dates are 28 October for July to September, 28 February for October to December, 28 April for January to March, and 28 July for April to June.
- Monthly BAS usually applies from $20 million. Businesses with GST turnover of $20 million or more generally report monthly. A smaller business may also choose monthly reporting, which can suit businesses regularly expecting GST refunds. Monthly activity statements are normally due on the 21st of the following month. The December monthly statement generally has a 21 February due date.
- PAYG withholding is separate from GST. PAYG withholding is the tax withheld from wages and certain other payments. Small withholders, with annual withholding of $25,000 or less, generally pay quarterly. Medium withholders, from $25,001 to $1 million, generally pay monthly. Large withholders above $1 million follow a more frequent payment cycle set by the ATO. Single Touch Payroll reporting does not remove the need to report the correct W1 and W2 amounts on the activity statement.
- PAYG instalments are prepayments towards income tax. The ATO may place a business or individual into the PAYG instalment system based on business or investment income reported in a tax return. Instalments are commonly quarterly, although other cycles can apply. An instalment variation should be based on supportable current-year figures because interest may apply if an estimate is too low.
BAS and GST lodgement without the stress
A practical guide for Parramatta business owners
Parramatta businesses generally need GST registration when current or projected GST turnover reaches $75,000. Once registered, they report GST through a business activity statement, usually quarterly when turnover is below $20 million and monthly when turnover is $20 million or more. Standard quarterly BAS due dates are 28 October, 28 February, 28 April and 28 July, while monthly statements are generally due on the 21st of the following month.
Graham Chee, FCPA, CPA, GRCP, GRCA, principal of Local Knowledge, writes from a practice that combines FCPA-grade compliance with institutional experience gained at Goldman Sachs, BNP Investment Management and Merrill Lynch. Sydney Bookkeeping services are provided by Local Knowledge Pty Ltd, a CPA public practice and registered tax agent established in Mascot in 2003.
Our approach is simple: get the bookkeeping sorted, reconcile the figures, check each BAS label and lodge by the correct due date keeping your Parramatta bookkeeping BAS-ready. Every file receives FCPA sign-off, with work completed under professional standards including the CPA Code of Ethics. This provides reasonable assurance that the activity statement is consistent with the records available.
Six BAS and GST points you need to understand
The thresholds, cycles and due dates that matter
The GST threshold is $75,000. A business generally needs GST registration when its current or projected GST turnover reaches $75,000. The threshold is $150,000 for a non-profit organisation. Taxi and ride-sourcing drivers generally need GST registration regardless of turnover. GST turnover is based on business income, not profit, and generally excludes GST itself, input-taxed sales and certain other excluded sales.
Quarterly BAS is the usual cycle below $20 million. Businesses with GST turnover under $20 million generally report GST quarterly unless the Australian Taxation Office has directed otherwise or the business uses an approved different cycle. The standard quarterly due dates are 28 October for July to September, 28 February for October to December, 28 April for January to March, and 28 July for April to June.
Monthly BAS usually applies from $20 million. Businesses with GST turnover of $20 million or more generally report monthly. A smaller business may also choose monthly reporting, which can suit businesses regularly expecting GST refunds. Monthly activity statements are normally due on the 21st of the following month. The December monthly statement generally has a 21 February due date.
PAYG withholding is separate from GST. PAYG withholding is the tax withheld from wages and certain other payments. Small withholders, with annual withholding of $25,000 or less, generally pay quarterly. Medium withholders, from $25,001 to $1 million, generally pay monthly. Large withholders above $1 million follow a more frequent payment cycle set by the ATO. Single Touch Payroll reporting does not remove the need to report the correct W1 and W2 amounts on the activity statement.
PAYG instalments are prepayments towards income tax. The ATO may place a business or individual into the PAYG instalment system based on business or investment income reported in a tax return. Instalments are commonly quarterly, although other cycles can apply. An instalment variation should be based on supportable current-year figures because interest may apply if an estimate is too low.
Lodgement and payment are related but different obligations. A BAS should still be lodged by its due date even if the business cannot pay the full amount. Registered agents may receive additional time under the ATO lodgment program in eligible cases, but an extension should never be assumed. Weekend and public holiday rules can also move a due date to the next business day.
How BAS works in day-to-day Parramatta businesses
Practical examples from cafes, trades and growing businesses
A cafe near Church Street may receive card deposits after merchant fees have already been deducted. The BAS should normally start with the cafe's gross sales, not just the smaller amount deposited into the bank. Merchant fees then need their own correct GST treatment.
A sparky working across North Parramatta, Harris Park and Western Sydney may have progress payments, materials, tools, fuel, subcontractors and vehicle costs. We check that valid tax invoices support GST credits, that private use is handled correctly and that wages or loan repayments have not been treated as GST-bearing expenses. Building and construction businesses may also have a taxable payments annual report obligation in addition to BAS.
A growing startup in Parramatta CBD or the Westmead health precinct may have payroll before it has strong sales. Even when little GST is payable, PAYG withholding can still create a BAS liability. Single Touch Payroll totals, payroll reports and the general ledger should agree before W1 and W2 are lodged.
Common errors we fix include reporting net card deposits as sales, claiming GST on wages, coding loan principal as an expense, claiming all vehicle GST where there is private use, duplicating transactions from bank feeds, missing cash sales, using an invalid supplier invoice, and mixing cash-basis figures with accrual-basis reports.
We also see GST claimed on expenses that have no GST, including many bank charges, residential rent and some government fees broader financial guidance for business owners. Other problems include missing GST on commercial rent or asset sales, failing to adjust for bad debts, and carrying old unreconciled balances from one quarter to the next.
The records behind the BAS matter. The ATO generally requires relevant tax records to be kept for five years. Fair Work requires employee records to be kept for seven years, and ASIC says companies must keep financial records for seven years. From 1 July 2025, the super guarantee rate is 12%, with standard quarterly contribution due dates of 28 October, 28 January, 28 April and 28 July. Super is not usually reported on the BAS, but it belongs in the same cash-flow calendar.
Our step-by-step BAS process
How we help Parramatta businesses stay on top of each due date
Confirm your reporting obligations
We check your GST basis, reporting frequency, accounting method, PAYG withholding status, PAYG instalments and ATO due dates. We also identify whether payroll, super or industry reporting needs attention.
Reconcile the records
We reconcile bank accounts, card facilities, sales platforms, payroll, GST control accounts, loans and major balance-sheet items. Missing invoices and unusual entries are listed clearly so they can be resolved before lodgement.
Review and lodge
We review GST collected and claimed, compare payroll reports with W1 and W2, check PAYG instalments and investigate movements from the previous period. The BAS is then prepared through Local Knowledge Pty Ltd, with FCPA sign-off on every file.
Plan the payment and next cycle
You receive a clear summary of the amount payable or refundable and the relevant date. If cash flow is tight, we encourage early contact with the ATO rather than leaving the BAS unlodged. We then set the records up for a cleaner next quarter or month.
BAS questions Parramatta owners often ask
Straight answers to common concerns
Q.Does the $75,000 GST threshold mean sales or profit?
It means GST turnover, not profit. This is generally your gross business income excluding GST and certain excluded sales. The ATO considers current turnover and projected turnover, so a fast-growing business should not wait until its year-end accounts are complete.
Q.Can I lodge quarterly instead of monthly?
Businesses below $20 million GST turnover generally report quarterly unless the ATO has assigned another cycle. Businesses at or above $20 million generally report monthly. A smaller business can sometimes elect monthly reporting, but the effect on administration and cash flow should be considered first.
Q.What if I cannot pay the BAS by the due date?
Lodge it on time if possible. Lodging confirms the correct debt and avoids adding a late-lodgement issue to the payment problem. The ATO may consider a payment arrangement based on the circumstances, but approval and terms are not guaranteed.
Q.Why does my BAS show PAYG when my GST is low?
A BAS can include several obligations. PAYG withholding relates to tax taken from wages and certain payments, while PAYG instalments are prepayments towards expected income tax. These amounts can create a payable BAS even when GST collected and GST credits are close to equal.
Q.Do I still need a BAS review if my bookkeeping software produces a report?
Yes. A report only reflects how transactions were entered. It will not by itself resolve missing sales, duplicate entries, private expenses, incorrect tax codes or differences between payroll and the general ledger. Reconciliation and professional review provide reasonable assurance that the reported figures are supported.
Keep your next Parramatta BAS sorted
Get expert guidance before the due date becomes urgent
BAS is easier when the work is done step by step. Keep business and private spending separate, save valid tax invoices, reconcile payroll and bank accounts, and review the figures before the due date.
Sydney Bookkeeping is delivered by Local Knowledge Pty Ltd, a principal-led CPA public practice and registered tax agent. Graham Chee, FCPA, CPA, provides oversight and FCPA sign-off on every file. We can help identify errors, bring overdue periods up to date and establish a systematised monthly or quarterly process for your Parramatta business.
Key authority sources include the Australian Taxation Office guidance on GST turnover, activity statement due dates, PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments; Fair Work Ombudsman guidance on employee records; and ASIC guidance on company financial records. ATO dates or reporting cycles can change according to the entity and its circumstances, so confirm the due date shown on the activity statement or through your registered agent.
Contact our team for personalised guidance based on your business structure, reporting cycle and current records.
About the Author
Graham Chee, FCPA, CPA, GRCP, GRCA
Principal and Founder, Local Knowledge
Graham Chee is the principal and founder of Local Knowledge, an FCPA-led Australian practice that brings institutional-grade compliance, investment-structure and intellectual-property experience directly to owner-managed businesses. Graham is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA since November 2005, continuous CPA member since 1986) and holds the OCEG Governance, Risk & Compliance Professional (GRCP) and Governance, Risk & Compliance Auditor (GRCA) designations. His prior career includes senior roles at Goldman Sachs, BNP Investment Management and Merrill Lynch. Graham was previously portfolio manager of the Asian Masters Fund (IPO December 2007 – 31 December 2009), which returned +29% in AUD terms versus the MSCI Asia Pacific (ex Japan) benchmark. He signs off on 100% of client files personally.
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Every business situation is different. Information on this page is general and does not replace advice based on your records and circumstances. Due dates and thresholds should be confirmed against current ATO guidance.
Graham Chee FCPA, CPA, GRCP, GRCA · Principal, Local Knowledge · Mascot NSW · CPA-signed files