If your business is classified as a large enterprise or part of a multinational group, there’s an important update from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that may directly affect you. In June 2025, the updated Supplementary Annual GST Return (SAGR) for the 2024–25 financial year comes into effect—and it’s more detailed and structured than ever before.
At Boa & Co. Chartered Accountants, we know how overwhelming new compliance obligations can be—especially when they come with expanded reporting requirements, governance assessments, and tighter scrutiny. Here’s what you need to know and how we can help.
Who Needs to Lodge the New SAGR?
You’ll need to complete the updated SAGR for FY 2025 if your business has received a GST assurance rating by 30 June 2024 under the ATO’s:
- Top 100 GST assurance report
- Top 1,000 GST streamlined assurance review
- Combined assurance review (CAR) with a GST assurance rating
If you received your rating after this date, your SAGR obligation will begin from the 2025–26 financial year.
And if your business is entering a new GST group through acquisition or restructuring, be aware: if your entity accounts for 50% or more of the group’s GST throughput, you may also need to lodge the SAGR—even if you’ve only recently joined.
When Is It Due?
The SAGR is due seven months after your financial year ends. For example, if your year-end is December 2024, the due date is 21 August 2025. Other deadlines vary by quarter, so it’s critical to plan ahead to avoid late penalties—especially for Significant Global Entities (SGEs), who may face steeper consequences.
What’s New in the Revised Return?
The 2025 version features 15 questions across eight sections, with increased emphasis on:
- Following up on ATO recommendations and red flags
- Assessing your GST governance (including business/system changes)
- Providing detailed reconciliation between your financial statements and your BAS
- Disclosing any uncertain GST positions or reporting errors
- Explaining how prior-period input tax credits have been treated
In particular, you’ll be expected to show evidence that your business is actively improving GST compliance and governance—especially if you want to avoid intensive future reviews.
How the ATO Uses Your SAGR
The ATO uses this data to measure trust and confidence in your GST reporting and to determine how much follow-up scrutiny your business will face. In short, a well-prepared SAGR can help reduce future audit scope, delay or exclude GST from a future CAR, or even secure lighter-touch reviews down the line.
But if your return is incomplete, inconsistent, or lacking evidence, it could invite unwanted attention—especially for large taxpayers.
What Should You Do Now?
Now is the time to act. At Boa & Co. Chartered Accountants, we strongly recommend:
- Reviewing your last GST assurance report and promptly addressing any unresolved ATO feedback
- Conducting a full GST governance self-assessment—especially if your systems, structure, or operations have changed
- Completing your GST Analytical Tool (GAT) reconciliation and retaining all supporting data
- Identifying any material GST errors or input tax credit issues before the ATO does
- Preparing documentation and objective evidence to support every response in your SAGR
Even if your business has not yet undergone a GST assurance review, now is the right time to align your GST governance with ATO expectations—and we can help you every step of the way.
Need Help? Let Boa & Co. Be Your Trusted Advisor
With increasing compliance complexity, this isn’t just another return—it’s a reflection of your business’s risk profile in the ATO’s eyes. Whether you need support in preparing your SAGR, performing reconciliations, or strengthening your GST governance framework, our team is here to help.
Call us today on 1300 952 286, email us at [email protected], or visit www.boanco.com.au to speak with a specialist and ensure your business is fully prepared.
At Boa & Co., we help large businesses navigate Australia’s tax landscape with confidence—so you can focus on growth, not red tape.