The
Office's response to requests for details on the
initiative indicates that its public servants might
have time to polish up their CVs and renew their
passports.
The Treasurer seemed to have the whole thing figured
out on Friday when he outlined his plans for the GST
to be paid on overseas online purchases worth more
than $100.
"We are going to have taxation officials travel
around the world visiting these companies asking
them to register for GST purposes," Mr Hockey said.
"There could be hundreds of them.
"However what we are able to do is to narrow down
the number of high-volume goods vendors."
But a response from the ATO's media unit to
questions about the new jet-setting GST collectors
indicated Tax had been caught unawares by the
Treasurer's enthusiasm.
The spokeswoman battled on however, insisting that
plans were being put in place even though the
legislation had not been drafted and consultations
with the states and territories were still underway.
"Federal, state and territory governments are still
consulting on this measure before Treasury drafts
legislation," the ATO spokeswoman said.
"We will need to consider the final legislation, but
are planning for the announced changes. "We will
consult with business and government and other
countries through the OECD to implement the measure
in the most cost effective and efficient way."
Source:
The Canberra Times, dated 25/08/2015. |