Notice of Requirement to Lodge a Return for the Income Year Ended 30 June 2020

Administered by Department of the Treasury, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Legislation au F2020L00564 In force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

 

Notice of Requirement to Lodge a Return for the Income Year Ended 30 June 2020

 

 

General outline of instrument

  1.           This legislative instrument sets out which persons are required and which persons are exempt from the requirement to lodge an income tax return for the income year, and the date by which it must be lodged. The return must be in the approved form.
  2.           It further provides details on other lodgment requirements for:

(a)           franking account returns, including special rules for late balancing corporate tax entities that elect to use 30 June as a basis for determining their franking deficit tax liability

(b)           venture capital deficit tax returns

(c)           ancillary fund returns

(d)           trustees of self managed superannuation funds.

3.              This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

4.              Under subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

 

Date of effect

5.              This instrument is effective from the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

 

What this instrument is about

Requirement to lodge

6.              This instrument defines a person and sets out the requirements for a person to lodge a return in the approved form for the income year and the date by which they are to lodge under section 161 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).

7.              Section 161 of the ITAA 1936 refers to the notice to be given by the Commissioner of Taxation (the Commissioner) to require an income tax return to be lodged by a date specified.

8.              The instrument also provides for certain classes of persons to be exempt from lodgment requirements in accordance with subsection 161(1A) of the ITAA 1936.

 

Other lodgment requirements

9.              The instrument provides details on the approved form and due date for lodgment for:

(a)           a corporate tax entity to lodge a franking return, including the special rules for late balancing corporate tax entities that elect to use 30 June as a basis for determining their franking deficit tax liability. Section 214-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) refers to the notice to be given by the Commissioner to require corporate tax entities to give a franking return

(b)           an entity to lodge a venture capital deficit tax return under section 214-15 of the ITAA 1997

(c)           a trustee of a public ancillary fund or a private ancillary fund to lodge an ancillary fund return.

10.          It also provides details for a trustee of a self managed superannuation fund to lodge their income tax return as part of the Self-managed superannuation fund annual return. Section 35D of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) refers to the Commissioner’s requirement to specify by legislative instrument, a reporting period, if the length of the period is not prescribed by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994.

11.          The lodgment of member information statements by superannuation providers is required under section 390-5 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA). The instrument provides the due date for lodgment for the superannuation plans that are self managed superannuation funds.

 

Additional lodgment information

12.          Additional lodgment information is also provided including that:

(a)           the return must be in the approved form

(b)           the Commissioner may defer the time for lodgment of any return specified in this instrument

(c)           nothing in this instrument prevents the Commissioner from issuing a notice of requirement to lodge a return or a notice of requirement to provide information under section 162 or section 163 of the ITAA 1936

(d)           nothing in this instrument prevents the Commissioner or an authorised person of the Australian Taxation Office from granting an exemption from lodgment, and

(e)           penalties for non-compliance with lodgment requirements may apply.

 

What is the effect of this instrument

13.          The instrument satisfies the requirements of the Commissioner to publish certain information in a notice or legislative instrument.

14.          The instrument advises who must lodge, when they must lodge, how they should lodge and that penalties may apply if they don’t lodge.

 

Compliance cost impact

15.          Minor – there will be minimal impact for both implementation and ongoing compliance costs. The legislative instrument is minor and machinery in nature.

 

Background

16.          Since the commencement of the ITAA 1936, section 161 of that Act refers to the requirement to lodge an annual return. Every person must, if required by the Commissioner, give to the Commissioner a return for a year of income within the period specified in the notice.

17.          This legislative instrument satisfies the requirements under section 161 and related section 130 of the ITAA 1936, as well as the requirements of section 214-15 of the ITAA 1997, paragraph 35D(2)(b) of the SISA and subsection 390-5(6) of Schedule 1 to the TAA.

 

Consultation

18.          Subsection 17(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 requires, before the making of a legislative instrument, that the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate and reasonably practicable consultation has been undertaken.

19.          Public consultation has been undertaken. The draft legislative instrument and draft explanatory statement were published on the ATO Legal Database at ato.gov.au on 11 March 2020 seeking feedback and comments until the closing date of 8 April 2020. The ATO Legal Database sends emails and news feeds to direct subscribers such as tax professionals and other industry stakeholders. Consultation on the draft legislative instrument and draft explanatory statement was also announced on “What we are consulting about” at ato.gov.au. The response from the consultation process was limited, providing feedback on the timing and requirements of lodgment obligations. This feedback was reviewed and responded to on an individual basis.

 

 

 


Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Notice of Requirement to Lodge a Return for the Income Year Ended 30 June 2020

This Disallowable Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the Disallowable Legislative Instrument

This Disallowable Legislative Instrument sets out which persons are required to lodge an income tax return or a self managed superannuation fund annual return, franking return, venture capital deficit tax return or ancillary fund return for the income year ended 30 June 2020. It includes the date by which the returns must be lodged, the requirements to lodge in the approved form and the penalties that may apply.

 

Human rights implications

This Disallowable Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms as it simply provides notice for taxpayers on their obligations to lodge returns.

 

Conclusion

This Disallowable Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Overview

The legislative instrument Notice of Requirement to Lodge a Return for the Income Year Ended 30 June 2020 was enacted in 2020 to ensure compliance with income tax return lodgment requirements for the specified income year. It was introduced by the Commissioner of Taxation under the authority conferred by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) and other relevant Acts, including the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, and the Taxation Administration Act 1953. The primary policy objective of this instrument is to provide clarity and guidance to taxpayers regarding their obligations to lodge various types of returns by the specified due dates. The instrument outlines who must lodge returns, the approved forms to be used, and the penalties that may apply for non-compliance. The instrument also exempts certain classes of persons from lodgment requirements where applicable. This legislative instrument aims to facilitate the administration of tax laws by ensuring that taxpayers are aware of their obligations and the consequences of failing to comply.

Scope and Application

The legislative instrument F2020L00564 sets out the obligations for certain persons and entities to lodge specific tax returns for the income year ended 30 June 2020. It applies to individuals and entities required to file an income tax return, a self-managed superannuation fund annual return, a franking return, a venture capital deficit tax return, or an ancillary fund return. The returns must be lodged in the approved form by a specified date, and failure to comply may result in penalties. The instrument applies nationally across Australia and is issued under the authority of the Commissioner of Taxation, who has the power to defer lodgment times and grant exemptions. This legislative instrument is made under the authority of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993, and the Taxation Administration Act 1953. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within this legislative instrument, but the Commissioner has the discretion to exempt certain persons from lodgment requirements. The instrument is effective from the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Key Provisions

The Notice of Requirement to Lodge a Return for the Income Year Ended 30 June 2020 sets forth the obligations for individuals and entities to lodge various tax returns, as well as the deadlines and penalties for non-compliance. Section 6 of the instrument defines a person and outlines the requirement for these individuals or entities to lodge an income tax return in the approved form by a specified date, as mandated by section 161 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). Certain classes of individuals are exempt from these lodgment requirements under subsection 161(1A) of the ITAA 1936. Furthermore, the instrument details additional lodgment requirements for corporate tax entities, venture capital entities, and trustees of self-managed superannuation funds, among others. These include the approved form and due dates for lodgment, as well as specific rules for entities that use 30 June as a basis for determining their franking deficit tax liability. The Notice imposes obligations on taxpayers to lodge their returns by the specified due dates, in the approved form, and to comply with any additional requirements outlined in the instrument. For instance, corporate tax entities must lodge a franking return and adhere to special rules if they are late balancing corporate tax entities. Trustees of self-managed superannuation funds must also comply with the requirements to lodge their income tax return as part of the Self-managed superannuation fund annual return. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in penalties, as outlined in the instrument. The Commissioner of Taxation has the authority to defer the time for lodgment of any return specified in the instrument and may issue a notice of requirement to lodge a return or to provide information under section 162 or section 163 of the ITAA 1936. The instrument also outlines the potential consequences for non-compliance with the lodgment requirements. Penalties for non-compliance may apply, as stated in the instrument. The Commissioner may defer the time for lodgment of any return specified in the instrument, and nothing in the instrument prevents the Commissioner from issuing a notice of requirement to lodge a return or a notice of requirement to provide information under section 162 or section 163 of the ITAA 1936. The Commissioner or an authorised person of the Australian Taxation Office may also grant an exemption from lodgment, subject to certain conditions. The maximum penalties for breaches of the lodgment requirements are not specified in the instrument, but may be found in the relevant legislation. This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. It simply provides notice for taxpayers on their obligations to lodge returns and does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. The instrument has undergone public consultation, and feedback was reviewed and responded to on an individual basis. The legislative instrument is minor and machinery in nature, with minimal impact for both implementation and ongoing compliance costs.

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Area of Law
Taxation Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Offence Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Compliance Obligations

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.