GST still ignored

THE Institute of Chartered Accountants has started counting the number of times it has advised its clients to register for an Australian Business Number.

Institute executive director Stephen Harrison said a disturbingly large section of the Australian business community was ignoring accountants’ pleas to register.

It appears some business people think the GST will be scrapped if enough companies express their dissatisfaction with the new system.

“The cold hard fact of the matter is come 1 July, the GST will be law that must be implemented as simply and cleanly as possible,” Mr Harrison said.

“We are finding many small to medium enterprises have not received their ABN lodgement forms with many unaware they are even required to apply for the business number.

“The excessively high number of businesses that have not applied for an ABN demonstrates a lack of understanding among the business community as to the seriousness of this issue.”