Xero Backup for ATO Compliance

The Australian Taxation Office requires businesses to keep records for at least 5 years. Boxkite automatically backs up your Xero data to Dropbox, ensuring you have complete records for tax audits, GST reviews, and STP queries.

ATO Record Retention Requirements

Retention PeriodRecordsNotes
5 yearsIncome tax recordsFrom date of lodgement or due date
5 yearsGST recordsFrom date of transaction
5 yearsPAYG recordsFrom date payment made
5 yearsSuperannuation recordsFrom date of transaction
5 yearsFBT recordsFrom date benefit provided
IndefiniteCapital gains recordsUntil asset disposed and 5 years after

What Records Must You Keep?

All assessable income records
Expense and deduction documentation
GST taxable and GST-free sales records
GST credits (input tax) records
Employee payment summaries and STP records
Bank statements and reconciliations

What Happens Without Proper Records?

ATO Audit After 3 Years

The ATO selects your business for a random audit covering the last 3 years. They request all source documents for your BAS lodgements and income tax returns. Without organised records, you face amended assessments and potential penalties.

GST Refund Review

You've claimed a large GST refund and the ATO wants to verify it. They need to see the tax invoices that support your input tax credits. Missing invoices mean disallowed credits and possible shortfall penalties.

STP Data Query

An employee disputes their payment summary data reported through Single Touch Payroll. The ATO asks for your underlying payroll records. Boxkite backups provide the historical Xero data that generated the STP reports.

How Boxkite Helps

5+ Years of Records

Automatic daily backups accumulate over time, meeting the ATO's 5-year retention requirement.

ATO-Compliant Format

Records are stored in accessible, standard formats that the ATO accepts for electronic record-keeping.

GST Audit Ready

All your GST transaction records are preserved, supporting BAS lodgements and refund claims.

Your Own Storage

Records are backed up to your Dropbox—under your control, accessible anytime the ATO asks.

FAQs

Be ATO Audit Ready

Start protecting your Xero records today. Automatic backups ensure you always have the documentation the ATO requires.

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