What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)?
Single Touch Payroll is a Federal Government initiative aimed at streamlining business reporting obligations regarding certain taxes and wage information.
Often referred to as Single Touch Payroll, or Single Touch Payroll Reporting (STPR), it was legislated on the September 16 2016, under the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Act 2016.
Under the legislation, employers will be required to report ordinary time earnings, staff wages, Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) withholding information, and superannuation contributions directly to the ATO, at each payroll cycle.
Key dates for Single Touch Payroll
Single Touch Payroll will become mandatory July 1 2018 for ‘substantial’ employers, those with 20 or more employees as of April 2018. However, it will be available to employers July 1 2017, for those who wish to begin reporting earlier.
For employers with 19 employees or less, Single Touch Payroll will also be made available July 1 2017. There currently is no information regarding whether it will become mandatory for employers with 19 employees of less.
Single Touch Payroll will provide employer payroll data in ‘real time’ to the ATO. This will allow them to monitor payroll compliance, and perform data-matching to determine if Superannuation Guarantee Charge as well as PAYG withholding obligations are met.
For employers, Single Touch Payroll will seek reduce the administrative reporting burden by providing an automated reporting system throughout the entire financial year, that ensures transparency.
Changes for Employers
- Ordinary Time Earnings, Salary or wages, and PAYG withholding information will reported in real time to the ATO, as payroll is processed periodically.
- Super contributions will be reported to the ATO as they are paid.
- Employers will need to update their payroll software to be STPR compliant, or implement STPR compliant payroll software, if they currently don’t have one.
- New employees will have the option to complete TFN and Super Choice forms online.
- STPR will become the approved form of reporting for PAYG withholding.
- Employers who use STPR to report their PAYG withholding obligations will have their PAYG withholding prefilled in their BAS by the ATO
- Employers will no longer be required to submit an annual PAYG report to the ATO.
- Employers may no longer need to supply payment summaries to employees.
Changes for Employees
- View online year-to-date pay, the tax that has been withheld as well as your super entitlements throughout the year.
- Complete pre-filled TFN and Super Choice forms online when you start a new job.
- Access a range of tax and superannuation services, lodge tax returns and track your super online, using the myGov portal.
Where to now?
July 2018 is slowly creeping up, and it’s important that employers start thinking about Single Touch Payroll, and what it will mean for their business.
Business that currently use payroll software, will need to upgrade their system to be STPR compliant. For businesses that are currently not using any payroll software, they will be required to implement STPR compliant software prior to July 1, 2018.
In addition to this, all businesses should consider the robustness of their current payroll processes, including the accuracy and efficiency in how staff are paid. Integrating a compliant workforce management system with your payroll software is a simple and effective way to ensure that you remain compliant in all aspects of the payroll process.
For more information about Single Touch Payroll, visit the ATO website.