1. Select Schedule Report from the Tasks bar or select Agent Reports from the Tax button menu.
2. Select an agent from the drop-down.
3. Select Activity statement obligations report.
4. Click Request/Schedule Report.
5. In the Schedule Agent Report window select your Schedule time and click OK.
   
   
6. Click OK on the Schedule ATO Report screen.
   
   
7. The grid is updated with the scheduled time and a status of Report Requested.
8. Repeat steps 2–6 for all required agents.

After the obligations report has been downloaded, the system will automatically retrieve pre-fill data including DIN, period start, and period due.

When the pre-fill data is received, the status changes from Pre-fill Pending to Pre-fill Ready and the client name changes to a hyperlink. Select the hyperlink to create an activity statement in the current tax year. If a return does not exist for the client, you'll be prompted to create one.

See Which fields are pre-filled in activity statements? for more information.

1. Click the Client Name link for a client that doesn’t have a linked tax return.
2. In the Create Activity Statement screen select the appropriate Base Return Type.
3. If required, select Mark Income Tax Return as Not Required. This updates the Return Required field on the tax return to Not required.
4. Click Yes to generate the tax return for the current year.
   The tax return containing the pre-fill information is displayed and is added to the client, with a status of Not started.

A business using Simpler BAS:

• must only report:
  • G1 Total sales
  • 1A GST on sales
  • 1B GST on purchases
• will have their activity statement rejected if they report:
  • G2 Export sales
  • G3 Other GST-free sales
  • G10 Capital purchases
  • G11 Non-capital purchases

See Simpler BAS eligibility and GST reporting methods on the ATO website for more information.

Simpler BAS rejection codes

Pre-lodge an activity statement when you've completed it, before you send it for signature.

Pre-lodge will:

• check the integrity of the data against ATO validation rules
• check the data against ATO records
• allow you to correct the activity statement before sending it for signature, therefore avoiding delays in processing

• prevent data from being changed automatically by the ATO.

  The status in Tax is not affected by pre-lodging an activity statement.

If you don't pre-lodge, the ATO can change data based on an edit test – See Error code CMN.ATO.AS.EM060 <Label]>was reported as <supplied value> and will be corrected to <tax office value>.

Pre-lodge runs automatically when you lodge activity statements from Lodgment Manager. This ensures amounts in Tax match the amounts accepted for lodgment. 

If pre-lodge passes the ATO validation checks, the pre-lodge status changes to Pre-lodge passed.

If the pre-lodge fails ATO validation checks:

• The pre-lodge status changes to Pre-lodge rejected
• The Pre-lodge rejection report menu becomes available.
• Click Pre-lodge Rejection report to view the validation errors, and take the appropriate action.

Warning messages have been added to F3 validation in Tax, indicating if a form hasn't been pre-lodged or if it has failed pre-lodge.

• Client Name — the name on the client’s income tax return. To open an activity statement click the client name.

  If the name is greyed out, it means there is no pre-fill information available. Click Refresh in the Tasks bar to update the grid when the report status is Pre-fill ready and enable these links.
  For some environments, you may need a current year tax return to create an activity statement. See Creating a current year tax return for more information.
  If an activity statement already exists in Tax, you'll be asked if you wish to pre-fill with data from the ATO. You can overwrite the existing data by pre-filling, or you can keep your existing data.

• Client Code — click the Client Code to open the Client page.

• Agent Number — the agent reference number relevant to the activity statement.

• DIN — the Document Identification Number for the activity statement. Each Activity Statement for the taxpayer must have a unique DIN unless it is a revision. Each revision must contain the original DIN.

• Form Name — description of the activity statement.

• Period Start — start date for the period that the activity statement covers.

• Period End — end date for the period that the activity statement covers.

• Status — current status of the activity statement which can be Pre-fill Pending, Pre-fill Ready, In Progress, Sent for Signature, Lodged, or Paper Only.

• Exception — shows any issues or scenarios that may have occurred during the request or pre-fill process.

• Frequency — the frequency of the activity statement (monthly, quarterly, or annually). This is retrieved from the ATO and pre-filled.

• Date Due — when the activitystatement is due to be lodged. This date is the official due date which is closest to the Period End date.

• Pre-lodge Status — can be Not requested, Pre-lodge passed, or Pre-lodge rejected.
• ABN — Australian business number.
• Partner
• Pre-lodge Rejection File

• Statement Type — defines the type of statement in terms of the Form being used.

• TFN — tax file number.
• Lodge by client
• Lodge by agent
• Company
• Dept
• Office
• Manager
• Employee
• Family Group

Exceptions are issues or scenarios that have been detected in an activity statement. These can help you troubleshoot any problems with an activity statement.

A current year tax return is required before you're able to create an activity statement.

1. Click the Client Name link for a client that doesn’t have a linked tax return.
   The Create Activity Statement window appears.
2. In the Base Return Type field, select the appropriate entity type.
3. If required, select Mark Income Tax Return as Not Required.
4. Click Yes to generate a tax return for the current year.

A pre-filled tax return is displayed. The tax return is added to the client, with a status of Not started.