Australian Taxation Office
Section 1: Agency overview and resources
1.1 Strategic direction
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) effectively manages and shapes tax and superannuation, and other systems that fund and support services for Australians.
In fulfilling its role of administering legislation governing taxes and superannuation, the ATO also supports the community, having roles in other areas including the Australian Business Register and a range of activities such as fuel grants and benefit schemes.
The ATO's strategic direction is outlined in its Strategic Statement 2006-10. The ATO's aspiration is to work with the community in the fair administration and effective management of the tax and superannuation systems and to add value to the nation. The ATO's commitment to the community is to administer the tax and superannuation systems fairly by helping people do the right thing, by making it as easy as possible for taxpayers to comply, and by identifying people who are not meeting their obligations and dealing with them appropriately.
The ATO's primary responsibility is to implement the Government's legislative program in respect of Acts administered by it, and to support the delivery of new Government measures. In 2008‑09, key new measures to be implemented include enhancing compliance activities, particularly for large businesses and high wealth individuals, and First Home Saver Accounts.
To ensure that the community receives the very best tax and superannuation administration, delivery of all ATO output groups are underpinned by the following areas of strategic focus for 2008‑09:
- delivering on the Government's agenda both in terms of outputs and effectiveness;
- tailoring business processes to make the taxpayer experience timely, easier and more personalised;
- addressing risk areas through the application of its Compliance Model; and
- enhancing the ATO's productive capability to ensure an efficient, effective and adaptive organisation.
Building on past successes, the ATO will continue to encourage appropriate compliance behaviours and outcomes. It will collaborate with intermediaries and the community to co-design services and tools that minimise compliance costs and that make it as easy as possible for taxpayers and business to understand and comply with their tax and superannuation rights and obligations.
The ageing population and the slowdown of labour force growth, highlights the importance of superannuation to provide a higher standard of living in retirement than would be possible from the age pension alone. Given this, and the strong growth in self-managed superannuation funds, the ATO will continue to assist superannuants and approved auditors to understand and easily comply with their superannuation rights and obligations so as to promote this objective and to provide a level playing field.
The ATO also contributes to the reduction in taxpayers' compliance costs and regulatory burdens through the use of whole-of-government approaches. In particular, the ATO will continue to be heavily involved in Standard Business Reporting and will continue to promote the wider use of information in the Australian Business Register.
Economic activity in Australia is increasingly shaped by events at the global level. Recognising this, the ATO is faced with the challenges of deterring international tax evasion and avoidance that impact on Australia. To do this effectively the ATO will continue to work with law enforcement and other agencies and tax jurisdictions.
1.2 Agency resource statement
Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all origins. The table summarises how resources will be applied to the ATO.
Table 1.1: Australian Taxation Office resource statement — Budget
estimates for 2008‑09 as at Budget May 2008
Table 1.1: Australian Taxation Office resource statement — Budget
estimates for 2008‑09 as at Budget May 2008 (continued)
1. Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2008‑09.
2. Appropriation Bill (No.2) 2008‑09.
3. Estimated adjusted balance carried forward from previous year for annual appropriations.
4. Estimated opening balance for special accounts. For further detail on special accounts see Table 3.1.3.
1.3 Budget measures
Budget measures relating to the ATO are detailed in Budget Paper No. 2, Budget Measures 2008‑09. Table 1.2 provides a summary of government measures and identifies the relevant output groups associated with each measure.
Table 1.2: Australian Taxation Office 2008‑09 Budget measures
Table 1.2: Australian Taxation Office 2008‑09 Budget measures (continued)
Table 1.2: Australian Taxation Office 2008‑09 Budget measures (continued)
Table 1.2: Australian Taxation Office 2008‑09 Budget measures (continued)
.. Not zero, but rounded to zero.
Prepared on a Government Finance Statistics basis.
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