Contract IT services · AUD
$400k+ → $20k a month
ATO debt moved onto a payment plan the business could keep, and did.
- Payroll shortfall found early; finance in place within a week.
- Back on solid ground, and still trading.
ATO debt & payment plans · Brisbane-based · Australia-wide
Behind with the ATO?
Get your lodgements current with your tax agent, see your cash 13 weeks ahead, and back a payment plan the business can actually keep. Then fix what caused the debt, so it doesn't come back.
Gavan S. Porter FCPA · Brisbane-based fractional and turnaround CFO · Helped a business with $400k+ of ATO debt onto a $20k-a-month payment plan
Sound familiar?
How ATO debt usually builds.
- 01BAS lodged late, or not at all.
- 02GST and PAYG money used to pay other bills.
- 03Super guarantee falling behind, now that it's due with each pay.
- 04Letters and calls from the ATO you've been putting off.
- 05An old payment plan that's been defaulted on.
How I help
A realistic plan to put to the ATO, and one you can keep.
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1
Get lodgements current
Where do we really stand?
Work with your tax agent to bring BAS and returns up to date, so the real debt is known and the ATO will talk about a plan.
You getThe true ATO position, in one number.
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2
Forecast the cash
What can the business afford?
Build a 13-week cash forecast that covers wages, suppliers, new GST and PAYG as it falls due, and what's left for the old debt.
You getA repayment amount backed by the numbers.
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3
Back the proposal
What can we offer the ATO?
Your tax agent puts the proposal to the ATO. I give them the numbers behind it: how much, how often, and why it's realistic. Realistic plans are the ones that stick.
You getA payment plan proposal you can stand behind.
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4
Fix the cause
Why did we fall behind?
Pricing, margins, slow-paying customers, or no system for putting tax money aside. Fix the root cause so new tax is paid on time.
You getSystems to help you stay current with the ATO.
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5
Keep it on track
How do we not default?
Weekly cash tracking against the forecast, so a tight month is spotted early and dealt with before a payment is missed.
You getA weekly cash check and early warning.
Your callYou decide at every step. I work alongside your accountant and tax agent, not instead of them. I'm not a registered tax or BAS agent: lodgements, tax advice and dealings with the ATO go through your registered agent.
Result
$400k+ owed. A plan that held.
A growing contract IT services business with old tax debts, overdue suppliers and no finance expert in-house.
I found the payroll shortfall early and finance was in place within a week. Then, working with the business's tax agent, the $400k+ ATO debt was moved onto a $20k-a-month payment plan, built on my cash forecast. The plan held, and the business kept trading.
For directors
A guiding hand, alongside the experts.
When the pressure is personal, you shouldn't have to work it out alone. I can be a guiding hand alongside the experts as you weigh up Safe Harbour, loan options and what to do about a Director Penalty Notice, including suggesting independent insolvency and restructuring practitioners who may suit your situation. I receive no referral fees or commissions.
If you've received a Director Penalty Notice
Act straight away. Directors can be personally liable for unpaid PAYG withholding, GST and super guarantee. A Director Penalty Notice gives you 21 days from the date on the notice, not the day it arrives, and if lodgements are more than three months late some options are already gone. Get legal or restructuring advice immediately. I'll pull the numbers together quickly and help you work through the options with them.
Safe Harbour considerations
Safe Harbour can protect directors from personal liability for insolvent trading, but not from ATO director penalties, while they pursue a credible plan for a better outcome. It has conditions, including keeping tax lodgements up to date and paying employee entitlements. Safe Harbour considerations are worked through in conjunction with other specialists, such as restructuring practitioners and lawyers. My part is the finance: the 13-week cash forecast, numbers you can rely on, and the plan.
Loan options
Access to a network of specialist business-finance brokers, who review the options that suit your situation and the size of your business. They assess and arrange the finance. I help you weigh each option against a payment plan, with the numbers behind it.
Common questions
ATO debt: questions answered.
Can my business get an ATO payment plan?
Often, yes. The ATO will usually consider a payment plan when your lodgements are up to date and you can show you can afford the repayments while paying new tax as it falls due. Smaller debts can sometimes be set up online. Larger ones usually need a proposal backed by numbers.
Does interest keep building while I'm on a payment plan?
Generally, yes. Interest keeps accruing on the outstanding debt while you're on a plan, and since 1 July 2025 it's no longer tax-deductible. So a realistic plan that clears the debt sooner usually costs less overall.
Do you replace my accountant or tax agent?
No. I work alongside them. I'm not a registered tax or BAS agent, so your tax agent looks after lodgements, tax advice and dealings with the ATO. I build the cash forecast and the plan that shows what the business can afford, and help fix whatever caused the debt.
What should I do if I've received a Director Penalty Notice?
Act straight away. Directors can be personally liable for unpaid PAYG withholding, GST and super guarantee. A Director Penalty Notice gives you 21 days from the date on the notice, not the day it arrives, and if lodgements are more than three months late some options are already gone. Get legal or restructuring advice immediately. I'll pull the numbers together quickly and help you work through the options with them.
Can finance help clear the ATO debt?
Sometimes. Refinancing ATO debt or funding working capital can make sense, but not always. I can introduce you to specialist business-finance brokers who review the options that suit your situation and the size of your business. They assess and arrange the finance, and I receive no commission. You can then weigh it up against a payment plan.
What about Safe Harbour considerations?
Safe Harbour considerations are worked through in conjunction with other specialists, such as restructuring practitioners and lawyers, who advise directors on whether it applies. It can protect directors from personal liability for insolvent trading, but not from ATO director penalties. My part is the finance: the 13-week cash forecast, numbers you can rely on, and a credible plan for a better outcome.
Next step
The earlier we look, the more options you have.
Worth 20 minutes to see if it's a fit? Call +61 408 812 120, email gavan@gspadvisory.co, or send a message.