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Prior year review

Rates for a lodged year can often be reconstructed. Where a materially lower rate was available and evidenced, an amendment may be worth making.

When this is worth doing

Two situations come up repeatedly. The first is an employer who used a published all-day tariff because it was the only rate they could find, when a cheaper permit rate existed and could have been obtained. The second is an employer who paid FBT on a site where, on a proper survey, no station within the radius actually cleared the threshold — so there was no liability at all.

Both are correctable, within the amendment period, if the rate can be substantiated to the same standard as a current-year report.

What makes it harder than a current year

Rates for a closed year have to be reconstructed rather than observed. Archived publications carry the most weight; operator records are often available for a year or two back; beyond that, evidence thins quickly.

We will tell you upfront if a site looks unlikely to reconstruct cleanly, before you commit. A prior year rate we cannot evidence to the same standard is worse than useless — it invites the review it was meant to survive.

What we do not do

We determine and evidence the rate. We do not prepare or lodge the amendment, advise on whether to amend, or deal with the ATO on your behalf — those are tax agent services. Your registered tax agent takes our determination and decides what to do with it.

How it runs

Assessment first, fee second

  • Tell us the site, the year, and the rate you used
  • We check what evidence is likely to be recoverable for those dates — at no charge
  • We quote per site, or tell you it is not worth pursuing
  • If we proceed and cannot evidence a rate, you pay nothing for that site
Note on the amendment period

FBT amendment periods are limited. Check your position with your tax agent before commissioning work on an older year.

Ask about a prior year

Order a report

Give us the car park address and the dates a benefit was provided. We survey the rest and come back within 24 hours.

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