In March 2025, Rob Heferen officially took over as Commissioner of Taxation. His mission? Rebuild the ATO’s compliance muscle and tackle the growing mountain of collectable tax debt—now sitting above $50 billion.
And we’re already seeing the ripple effects. From solo tradies to multi-site businesses, clients are telling us the ATO’s suddenly a lot louder—especially around unpaid BAS and PAYG. The ATO’s patience has run out—and they’re ramping up the pressure on overdue accounts. GIC (General Interest Charges) are being applied faster, and payment plan flexibility has narrowed.
Heferen’s appointment signals the end of the post-COVID grace period. Under his leadership, the ATO is returning to assertive compliance mode, and even small debts or overdue returns are no longer flying under the radar.
What’s different now? In just the first 90 days, we’ve seen a shift from polite nudges to serious follow-ups:
Increased follow-up on outstanding lodgements (yes, even that 2021 BAS you forgot about)
A spike in ATO texts, emails, and calls chasing debt
Stricter payment plan rules and shorter leniency windows
A renewed focus on serial late lodgers or PAYG/Super underpayers
Heferen says it’s about restoring “confidence in the system”—but make no mistake, it’s a crackdown. The ATO is expecting business owners to step up.
What should you do? Don’t wait for the knock. Being proactive means the ATO is more likely to work with you—and less likely to escalate.
Let’s get ahead of the ATO. Book a review session—we’ll sort your lodgements, deal with the ATO on your behalf, and help you avoid penalties or nasty surprises.
For official guidance, check the ATO’s payment plan options and GIC rates to understand the real cost of inaction.
👉 Need assistance? Book a meeting today.
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