STP checklists

The ATO developed two checklists to help you prepare for STP reporting.

On this page:

• Get ready checklist – includes the initial steps, such as choosing how you will report through STP.
• Start reporting checklist – will help you take the right steps before sending your first STP report to us.

Get ready checklist

You can download and print a copy of the Single Touch Payroll Get ready checklist.

1. Work out how you will report through STP

The first step is to work out how you will report through STP. This may depend on the size of your business and if you currently use payroll or accounting software.

You can choose one of the following options:

• report using STP-enabled software – Find STP softwareExternal Link on the STP product register
  • if you currently use STP-enabled software, go to step 2
  • if you don’t, talk to your tax or BAS agent for advice on choosing the right product to suit your business needs

• ask a third party, such as a registered tax or BAS agent or a payroll service provider, to report through STP for you.

If you’re an employer with 1–4 employees, you can choose a no-cost or low-cost STP solution. There are also concessional reporting options available to you.

2. If you use payroll software, talk to your provider

Find out how your payroll software provider will offer STP reporting. This may be through an update to your existing software, or an additional service.

Older software products, such as those purchased off-the-shelf, may not be updated to offer STP reporting. Your provider will tell you which of their products offer STP.

Also remember to:

• find out what support they will give you to help your transition to STP
• upgrade or install your software when ready
• subscribe to any communications they provide – for example, email, newsletter or social media updates.

3. Talk to your staff about STP

Check that the right people in your business know about STP – especially the person or people responsible for running your payroll.

This is also a good time to ensure you are:

• paying your employees correctly
• calculating your employees’ super entitlements correctly
• addressing overpayments correctly
• maintaining accurate information, including names, addresses and date of birth records.

Fixing up any errors in your payroll now will help you report successfully.

4. Start reporting

Once you are ready you should start reporting. Read our Start reporting checklist before you send your first STP report to us. This will help you send your report successfully.

We will help and support you through your first year of reporting. If you make a mistake, you will be able to make corrections. The first year is a transitional year and penalties won’t generally apply.

For more details about what you need to report, how to make corrections and how to finalise your STP data, see our Single Touch Payroll employer reporting guidelines.

5. Apply for more time if you need it

Employers with 19 or less employees

If you’re not ready to start reporting, you will need to apply for a deferral.

If you have closely held payees

You don’t need to start reporting for these payees until 1 July 2020. There is no need to apply for a deferral.

Employers with 20 or more employees

You should be reporting through STP from 1 July 2018, or have a deferral in place.

6. If you need more support

If you need more support you can:

• speak to your registered tax or BAS agent
• subscribe to receive business updates from us
• follow the ATO on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• phone us on 13 28 66.