ATO Annual Report 2017 performance review

THE House Committee on Tax and Revenue has resolved to commence its annual review of the Commissioner of Taxation’s Annual Report 2016–17.

As Australia’s principal revenue collection body, the annual report is a key mechanism for the ATO’s accountability to the Government and the Australian community. The 2017 annual report was tabled in Parliament in October in accordance with section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. 

Chair of the Committee Mr Kevin Hogan MP observed that the Committee’s annual report review process has broadened in scope since the formation of the Committee in May 2013 and, accordingly, is now being conducted once a year instead of biannually.

“The Committee’s examination of the ATO report not only enables Members to monitor technical advances under the agency’s Reinvention Program but also to probe more challenging aspects of other ATO operations, both internal and external,” Mr Hogan said.

“The Committee’s inquiry may cover, for example, the ATO’s fraud control management in the wake of Operation Elbrus, the administration of the Australian Business Register and business debt, and the results of the ongoing audit of cash dominant industries.”

To facilitate optimum feedback on the ATO’s administration of these and other matters discussed in the Annual Report, the Committee invites submissions to be lodged by 2 March 2018.

Public hearings for the inquiry will be held with the Commissioner of Taxation and the Inspector-General of Taxation, and with tax advisory bodies, other stakeholders and members of the public in early 2018.

The 2017 Annual Report of the Australian Taxation Office is available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Annual-report-2016-17/

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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