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Aussie2024(Newbie)Newbie
5 Jan 2024

Hello, I was a sole trader 6 years ago, closed my business due to tough times and started working at a job where my tax gets automatically taken, my abn was shut down about the same time. I owe about 41k. About 37k of that is gst but I have no possible way to pay it I've got 2 kids who I need to pay for and times are really tough. I've heard that you can't have a gst debt wiped but is this true as this debt is really stressing me out. Obviously any tax return I've been getting already goes to this debt.

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1,348 views
2 replies

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Most helpful reply

KylieATO(Community Support)Community Support
5 Jan 2024

Hi @Aussie2024,


I completely understand this would be a lot of stress for you. The best thing is to do is to chat to us about what options are available, we always do our best to try and help.


The contact information is listed under Lodge and Pay, give our colleagues a call on Monday so they can work out how we can help and you can stop worrying.

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Most helpful reply

KylieATO(Community Support)Community Support
5 Jan 2024

Hi @Aussie2024,


I completely understand this would be a lot of stress for you. The best thing is to do is to chat to us about what options are available, we always do our best to try and help.


The contact information is listed under Lodge and Pay, give our colleagues a call on Monday so they can work out how we can help and you can stop worrying.

YEP(Devotee)Devotee
6 Jan 2024

@Aussie2024


You have a number of options available to you if you do not like been pursued over this debt and after 6 years maybe you have already explored all of them.


GST should have been remitted to the ATO after you collected if from your customers as it belongs to the Federal Government to be used on behalf of all taxpayers. The Federal Government does not permit someone to retain GST or any other type of revenue that should have been remitted to them, and with that amount will more than likely keep pursuing it until its been paid off, otherwise everyone would be doing it and the Federal Government would have no funds to do anything with.


The outstanding debt are funds that you were never entitled to and I would be surprised if you have not already spoken with the ATO numerous times about this over the years and do not have a payment arrangement in place already.








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