ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[js]

Hi,

I would have thought this was mentioned somewhere here already - and it probably is, but I couldn't see it..

So just in case this is new news, it seems the ATO is accepting credit cards for tax payments on a trial basis through to 17 April 2009.

$10,000 limit (per taxpayer, I'm assuming, rather than per transaction). 0.69% surcharge payable, and Visa and Mastercard only (sadly no AMEX).

ATO has some details of the trial on its website.

[ANstar]

I wish I'd known this a few weeks ago when I paid my 8k GSt bill!

[Flashware]

Hi,

I would have thought this was mentioned somewhere here already - and it probably is, but I couldn't see it..

So just in case this is new news, it seems the ATO is accepting credit cards for tax payments on a trial basis through to 17 April 2009.

$10,000 limit (per taxpayer, I'm assuming, rather than per transaction). 0.69% surcharge payable, and Visa and Mastercard only (sadly no AMEX).

ATO has some details of the trial on its website.

Damnit, I just paid a large tax bill

[Flashware]

I wish I'd known this a few weeks ago when I paid my 8k GSt bill!

Given we're now into Q2, I think I shall do my BAS a little earlier and give it a push through on the C/C

[ANstar]

Given we're now into Q2, I think I shall do my BAS a little earlier and give it a push through on the C/C

I might do that as well - is a bit of a pain as - but could be worth it for the points

[js]

Tell me about it... I paid > $75K in the past week or two

Mind you, at least some of it would have been capped due to their $10K limit (but still would have got through a fair bit over $10K due to different paying entities etc.....)

Anyway, if the trial goes well then it is conceivable they would add AMEX in future (with a higher surcharge, no doubt).

Interestingly the payment form seems to be outsourced to Optus, and when you type in an AMEX number it asks for the 4 digit CVV, although on the next screen gives a "Sorry, this merchant doesn't take that card type" message.

So it looks like it would be just an administrative decision for them to turn it on at some point. It would actually almost make me look forward to paying my tax bills

[Flashware]

I just noticed they don't take AMEX. Bummer.

Now to work out whether it's worth putting on the VISA or not.

[Bundy Bear]

Wow: Nice that I got my tax bill spread over more manageable easy to pay bite size pieces. I hope they extend it.

[drron]

Of course they would do it now.Just to spite me.For the first time since he was a boy drron paid no tax for the 2008 year.Same for mrsdrron and the super fund.So no CC points for me.
Unfortunately because no tax payable also missed out on the Fairy Ruddfathers second stimulus bonus.Missed it by that much!

[edman]

I didn't know about this and I'm an accountant... ATO have not mentioned it in any of their regular correspondence and updates, perhaps because it is still a trial.

I have >100k bills to pay soon, a mixture of GST/PAYG/company taxes, but I have trouble with the surcharge, there isn't a big gain to be had at say an average rate of 1c per point? Unless of course you can manage a better conversion ratio on particular redemptions. Will vary from person to person obviously.

Unfortunately for me its a moot point anyway, as my Citibank Platinum gets capped and they aren't taking Amex yet.