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The ATO uses Internet Protocol (IP) technology for the Electronic Lodgment Service (ELS) and to allow expansion of its services to Tax Agents using the more common internet applications.

The ELS communications setup allows you to configure a set of ELS IP Properties for the Practice and a set of these Properties for each authorised ELS agent in the practice.

Security tab

The Security tab is used to store the Agent's ELS Security details as provided by the ATO for ELS IP lodgment. On this tab you can configure:

• ELS Approval Code — this field is used to enter or change the ELS approval code for the default agent. This code is issued by the ATO and indicates that your practice is approved to lodge via ELS.

• ELS Lodgment office — this drop-down is used to select the office of lodgment the ATO has assigned to your practice.

• ATO Code 1 (VPN user ID) — this field displays ATO Code 1 (VPN User ID) which is used by the ATO to identify the operator as a valid user. The code is provided by the ATO and is based on the practice's ELS Approval number. It is also called the VPN user ID.

• ATO Code 2 (VPN password) — this field displays ATO Code 2 (VPN password) which is used in conjunction with the ATO Code 1 to connect to the ATO Server and establish a tunnel that provides an encrypted link to the CEG. This is entered in the Passwords tab. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) Password (if you have one) and ELS Password should not be set to the same value as ATO Code 2.

• ELS User ID —this field is used to enter the ELS User ID. This is the 'login name' for the ATO CEG and is related to the ELS Approval Code (number).

• DIS Password — this field is used to display the DIS password. The DIS password and ID enable you to login to the ATO CEG. The ELS Password must not be the same as ATO Code 2.

  The DIS password is maintained automatically for you. However, in the unlikely event that you need to recover from a D01 or D03, the DIS password will need to be entered on the Passwords tab.

• Agent request form — this button provides the functionality to complete an Agent Request form (RR). When lodged the Form RR orders solicited and unsolicited reports from the ATO.

• CEG Address — this field displays the CEG addresses in the assigned order of connection. For example, the primary address connects first, if this is unavailable the second address is used, then the third, and then the fourth. The address fields are prefilled based on the practice's ELS Approval Number.

CEG Addresses

• CEG Addresses — these fields displays the CEG addresses in the assigned order of connection. For example, the primary address connects first, if this is unavailable the second address is used, then the third, and then the fourth.

The address fields are prefilled based on the practice's ELS Approval Number.

CEG Addresses are not editable. ELS IP attempts to connect to secondary CEGs automatically where it cannot connect to the Primary CEG. The order in which ELS IP tries to connect may be nominated by the user, by selecting '1' to '4' in the Use in this order checkbox adjacent to the CEG Address.

Tax defaults the CEG Address sequence from that specified by the ATO for the Practice's ELS Approval code. To restore the ATO connection sequence, delete and re-enter your Practice's ELS Approval.

Connection time

• Current Time — if this checkbox is selected, it is assumed that connection will be made on demand. Uncheck the current time checkbox and enter the time at which the ELS lodgment software will attempt an unattended connection to the ATO.

• Time between retries — this field is used to set the amount of time in hours and minutes (HH:MM) that Tax should wait between attempts to connect to the ATO CEG.

Diagnostics tab

The Diagnostics tab is only present in ELS IP Properties for the practice. These selections are used to print, save to file or display on screen the communications log of your last ELS transmission, IPELS.ini file, and AutoELS.ini file.

The options on this tab include:

• Print for Agent Ref No. — if this is the default agent for the practice then the print will include all agents who lodge using the practice defaults for ELS. You may select another authorised agent.

• View/Print Comms Log — this log file is used to analyse problems with ELS transmissions.

• View/Print IPELS.ini — used to print the IPELS.ini file. It contains the settings that are required for a successful transmission via an IP connection. These settings should not be changed without express instructions from support. You may need to send the file to Support to assist in resolving ELS lodgment problems.

• Send as email — this checkbox allows you to send the Comms.log or the .ini files as an email attachment. Select Send as email attachment and click View/Print comms.log or View/Print IPELS.ini. Preview the file on screen and click Close. Your default e-mail client opens with the file attached.

Connection tab

The Connection tab is used to store all the Agent's connection details for ELS lodgment.

The options on this tab include:

• Connection Mode — this field is used to select either Automatic or Manual mode to connect to the ATO. Manual mode can only be used to change the DIS password.

• Telstra IP Connection — select this button if you wish to connect to the ATO using the Telstra IP network. You will also need to type in the name of the Windows Dial Up Networking connection you created to connect to the Telstra IP Network.

• Dial Up Internet Connection — select this button if you wish to use a dial up connection with an ISP (Internet Service Provider), such as BigPond, Ozemail, or Pacific Internet.

You will also need to type in the name of the Windows Dial Up Networking connection you created to connect to your ISP. The VPN Client is required for this method of transmission and can not be disabled.

• Existing permanent Connection (LAN or Broadband connection) — select this button if your practice has a permanent Internet connection. For example Cable or ASDL.

• Special Condition — For users who are required to use UDP (rather than TCP/IP) to connect to the ATO, the Special Condition checkbox should be selected. Failure to select this option when necessary will result in an inability to connect to the ATO concentrator (as the connection will not get past the firewall on the PC). Select the Special Condition checkbox to ensure that the correct ATO configuration files (pcf files) for transmissions made using UDP are used as necessary.

Clients using an XP firewall on a LAN or Dial Up connection, select the Special Condition checkbox and no further action will be required.
Clients using Microsoft Small Business Server 2000, Microsoft Back Office 2000 and Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, will need to select Special Condition and configure your firewall settings to use UDP. These are detailed under Broadband Connections from a PC with a firewall.
Clients using TCP/IP and who are experiencing difficulty connecting to the ATO concentrator, select Special Condition and attempt a UPD connection. Should difficulties persist, contact the Tax Agent Info Line on 13 72 86 Fast Key Code 35 for detailed assistance.

Passwords tab

The Passwords tab is used to manage the various passwords required by the ATO for ELS IP lodgments.

ATO DIS password

• DIS Password — Agents do not have to take any action or change a DIS password.

Passwords expire every 30 days on the ATO system, and the date the current password will expire can be assessed from The Date last changed. It is recommended that every 30 days you view the Password tab and enter the newly generated DIS password into your handwritten log and store it safely.
This field displays the DIS password, that is used in conjunction with the ELS User ID to connect to the ATO CEG (Corporate External Gateway).
The CEG is the machine that actually receives the returns/report requests.
The DIS Password is 8 to 16 characters long and must contain at least one numeric character and one alphabetic character. This password is not case sensitive.
Your practice may have attached agents who lodge returns under the same ELS User ID as the main agent for the practice. Where this is the case, any change to the DIS password for the main agent will be reflected in the ELS Communications Setup for all attached agents lodging under the same ID.

• Date Last Changed — this is the date that the DIS Password was last successfully changed at the CEG.

ATO Codes

• ATO Code 1 — this field displays the ATO Code 1 (VPN User ID) used by the ATO to identify the operator as a valid user.

This code is based on the Practice ELS Approval code displayed in the Security tab.

• ATO Code 2 — this field is used to enter the ATO Code 2 (VPN password) used by the VPN Client software.

ATO Code 1 and ATO Code 2 will be sent to the practice from the ATO via registered mail. Once entered, ATO Code 2 should not be changed unless advised to by the ATO.

Telstra IP Network

• ID — this field is only available if you have selected 'Telstra Dial IP Connection' in the Connection tab.

It is used to enter the user ID that identifies the operator as a valid user on the Telstra Dial IP Network. This field should automatically pre-fill based on the Practice's ELS Approval number in the Security tab.

The information in this field can be changed if the pre-filled value is incorrect.

• Password — this field is only available if you have selected 'Telstra Dial IP Connection' in the Connection tab.

It is used to enter the Dial IP password provided to your practice by the ATO. The password is used with the Dial IP user id to access the Telstra Dial IP Network.

The Telstra Dial IP Network is the only method of connection that will be allowed to function without the VPN client. This means that if there are any difficulties in the implementation of the VPN client the ATO may decide to allow for ELS transmission via Dial IP without the VPN client.

ISP

• User ID — this field is only available if you have selected Dial Up Internet Connection in the Connection tab.

Use this field to enter the User ID that is required to log on to your ISP.

• Password — this field is only available if you have selected Dial Up Internet Connection in the Connection tab.

Use this field to enter the password that is used to log on to your ISP. The ISP Password should not be set to the same value as ATO Code 2.