ATO reveals a web chat for business

   Tax Agency launched a chat service on the web, called "click to chat" so that small business owners can speak directly to the regulator, in an effort to reduce costs. 

Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan announced the initiative Friday at a national summit on small business in Melbourne. This part of efforts by the Tax Office to improve the broader relationships with small businesses and reducing paperwork. 

The agency is increasingly relying on taxpayers to self-assess - in other words, do the right thing - not to start a long and costly audit of the company. 

In 2012 nearly 6,000 small business taxpayers who falsely accused of doing the wrong thing by the Tax Office as part of a crackdown on the cash economy. 

And the debt of the Tax Office, about 60 percent owned by small businesses continues to grow. It rose to nearly $ 18 billion in 2012-13. 

"When debt is small business, our focus is on prevention - understand what drives and create debt and how we can work with you to get out of debt," Jordan said. 

Small businesses are moving from paper to digital information activities in the coming months. Mr. Jordan said that this is "the new business approach to manage the debt." 
Steps to reduce document also produce greater cost savings for tax officials, who face massive funding cuts under the administration of Abbott. 

Tax Agency has had layoffs 3000, and is about to lose another 1,500 in the coming years. 
Mr. Jordan said small businesses "get into trouble" should contact the Tax Office. "We can work with you to find a solution that suits their circumstances," he said. "Making life easier for small businesses is a priority for the ATO." 

He said the agency is working to reduce call center waiting times, provide consistent advice, reducing the technical jargon and provide quick access to business portal of mobile phones and tablets. 
Tax Office has also launched an online news service that companies can subscribe and get relevant news from the ATO. "This is a movement about newsletters, giving an online store where a one-stop news and tax alerts and get retirement," he said. 

It also offers a new technology called business reporting standards that encourage companies to move to a digital network, by integrating with business and accounting software. "It allows computers to communicate with each other, eliminating the need to fill out some forms and reports," Jordan said. 
He said the Tax Office had invited small business owners to join a new panel in the tax office who will work to solve your problems. "The panel continues to grow and there are now 100 registered owners of small help us in 'as required companies", "he said. 

There is also a "Fix-It team Small Business" - a group of small companies - see the solution to the problem of small businesses. Fix-it squad next examine ways to help small businesses to change the legal structure of the sole proprietor of a small property company said.

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