ATO urges auditors to respond to SAN misuse mailout
The ATO has advised that it will begin contacting tax agents connected with SMSF auditor number misuse from mid-February.
In a recent update, the ATO stated there is still time for SMSF auditors to respond to its 2022 SMSF auditor number (SAN) misuse mailout which issued in October 2022.
The ATO said that auditors can respond to the mailout up until 13 February 2023.
“After this date we will be contacting tax agents who have been reported as being connected with SAN misuse,” the ATO said.
The ATO reminded auditors that the mailout helps the Tax Office to verify funds that are being audited and identify instances of SAN details being incorrectly or fraudulently reported on SMSF annual returns.
“Take the time to review the client list and report SAN misuse. Even where your client lists reveal no misreporting, you should still confirm this with us so we know the funds in your client list received an audit,” the ATO stated.
“You can follow the steps in your email and respond via Secure mail in Online services for business.”
In its mailout for the 2021 year, auditors reported 1,896 instances of SAN misuse with 1,230 instances relating to SARs for the 2020 income year and 481 instances relating to SARs for the 2019 income year.
SAN misuse was connected to 683 tax agents and 24 trustees.
Out of the tax agents linked to SAN misuse, 411 were connected to one instance of SAN misuse, while 50 tax agents were connected to more than five instances of SAN misuse involving 812 funds.
Miranda Brownlee
Miranda Brownlee is the deputy editor of SMSF Adviser, which is the leading source of news, strategy and educational content for professionals working in the SMSF sector.
Since joining the team in 2014, Miranda has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest superannuation stories in Australia, and has reported extensively on technical strategy and legislative updates.
Miranda also has broad business and financial services reporting experience, having written for titles including Investor Daily, ifa and Accountants Daily.
