Voluntary GST registration

The ATO that they have identified a number of not-for-profit organisations who have voluntarily registered for GST. In an effort to help these organisations minimise the costs associated with complying with the GST legislation, the ATO will be writing to them to help them establish why they are in the GST system.

Many organisations will have registered in order to obtain the refund of GST Input Tax credits and will be happy with this arrangement. However, it is a good time to review whether the benefits being obtained are really worth the time, effort and cost associated with being in the GST system.

The not-for-profit pack

Not-for-profit organisations who are registered for GST will be sent an information pack containing:

	a letter of introduction
	a questionnaire designed to help you determine if being registered for GST is appropriate.
	a fact sheet Cancelling your GST registration
	an Application to cancel registration form

The ATO will request that you complete and return the questionnaire whether or not you choose to cancel your GST registration.
If you do decide to cancel your registration, there will be instructions included to show you how to proceed.
The ATO have stated that the information provided in the questionnaires will not be used for compliance purposes and will only be used to identify ways of reducing the costs associated with GST obligations for the not-for-profit sector.

Published : 6 October 2005