ATO key to removing taxing government reports

10.05.2010
Businesses can use an encrypted software key to save time dealing with up to 12 State and Federal government agencies for financial reporting and to access services from next week.

The key replaces the need to separately log into online government services with a user name and password, and will be integrated into commercial software to provide businesses with a point of access to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) portals, its electronic commerce interface, and the Australian Business Register from 17 May.

It will also allow reports to be lodged to the ATO, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and all state and territory revenue offices from July, and other government agencies are expected to sign-on.

The ATO designed the key, available in administration and standard versions, in conjunction with government and industry under the .

An ATO spokeswoman said Auskey is expected to save business up to $800 million a year.

"It is expected that over time, businesses will be able to use Auskey in place of the handful of user IDs and passwords they currently need to login to business to government online services. For many businesses, it will become the single mechanism for accessing government online services," the spokeswoman said.