Key BAS Due Dates: A Guide to Lodging Your BAS on Time

If you are registered for GST, you may be required to lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) and report GST and other tax obligations monthly, quarterly, or annually. 

However, BAS can be an intimidating process if you don’t have the right systems in place. Making sure you submit these reports on time is a common source of stress, leading many business owners to ask: ‘When are BAS statements due?’

This guide will provide key information about BAS due dates to make sure your business stays tax compliant. We’ll also explore the benefits of using accounting software to remind you of due dates, collate all necessary information accurately, and provide a seamless lodgement process.

What is BAS?

A Business Activity Statement (BAS) is a report that you submit to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) if you’re running a business that’s registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It helps the ATO ensure that your business is meeting its tax responsibilities. 

In addition to ensuring tax compliance, BAS can help your business track important metrics such as cash flow, while helping you manage your GST turnover.

Why BAS due dates matter

Meeting your BAS dates is important for staying on the right side of the ATO, and keeping your business financially healthy. If you don’t submit BAS on time, you might end up having to pay interest, or even receiving a penalty. 

Here are the key reasons why meeting BAS deadlines matters:

• Avoid penalties: Late BAS lodgements can result in fines and interest charges.

• Stay tax compliant: Submitting BAS reports on time builds a positive track record with the ATO, which can be helpful if you ever need to negotiate payment plans or request lodgement extensions.

• Reduce the risk of legal action: Repeated failures to meet BAS obligations can lead to more serious consequences, including legal enforcement.

• Keep your cash flow in check: Regular BAS lodgements can also help you to stay on top of your finances.

In short, keeping up with your BAS due dates is not just about ticking boxes—it’s about protecting your business.

Types of BAS reporting frequencies

How often you need to lodge your BAS will depend on the size of your business and its tax obligations. The ATO assigns BAS statement due dates to suit the scale and capacity of your business. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the different types:

Monthly reporting

Monthly BAS lodgement is the standard for businesses with an annual turnover of at least $20 million or annual PAYG withholding obligations of between $25,001 and $1 million.

Quarterly reporting

Meanwhile, quarterly reporting is ideal for small businesses, as it allows them the time to work out their turnover and GST amount to be paid to the ATO. We’ll provide quarterly BAS due dates in the section below. 

Annual reporting

Small businesses also have a third option, which is to pay an instalment GST amount quarterly and report their GST return to the ATO annually. The instalment amount is predetermined by the ATO, then an adjustment is made at the end of the financial year.

Key BAS due dates

When is BAS due? 

For monthly BAS reporting, statements are generally due on the 21st day of the following month. For example, your July BAS is due by 21 August.

For quarterly BAS reporting, the ATO sets standard due dates each year. These dates typically remain consistent, unless they fall on a weekend or public holiday (in which case the due date moves to the next business day). For the 2024–2025 financial year, the standard BAS due dates are:

• Q1 (July – September): 28 October 2024
• Q2 (October – December): 28 February 2025
• Q3 (January – March): 28 April 2025
• Q4 (April – June): 28 July 2025

If you lodge your BAS online, you may be eligible for an extra two weeks to lodge and pay your quarterly BAS—helping you stay on top of your BAS payment dates with less pressure. Additional time may also be available if you lodge through a registered tax or BAS agent. 

It’s important to note that this extended deadline does not apply for Quarter 2 (October–December), as its standard due date—28 February—already includes a one-month extension to account for the holiday period.

How to track your BAS due dates

Staying on top of your ATO obligations may be a hassle if you use a paper-based account management system. You’ll need to reconcile your accounts, manually feed that information into your BAS report, and submit it by the due date. This process can be both time-consuming and an inefficient use of your resources, particularly without third party support.

However, online accounting software has made the BAS process much simpler. The streamlined process enables you to input data and collate it quickly, produce account statements with a few clicks, and even submit BAS reports directly to the ATO.

QuickBooks Online allows users to submit BAS reports by setting up GST and BAS accounts and using journal entries. It also enables you to receive reminders and memos so you can keep on track with your GST obligations year-round.

With automatic reminders of BAS due dates, and tax agent capabilities such as tax calculations and BAS preparation support, QuickBooks takes the stress out of running your small business.

What Happens if You Miss a BAS Due Date?

Failing to lodge your BAS on time can have serious consequences for your business. The ATO has a system of penalties and interest charges to encourage timely lodgement and payment. Here’s what can happen:

Failure to Lodge (FTL) on time penalty

If you don’t lodge your BAS by the due date, the ATO may apply a Failure to Lodge on time (FTL) penalty. This penalty is calculated using a unit-based system. Small businesses typically face:

• 1 penalty unit for each 28-day period the BAS is overdue
• A maximum of 5 penalty units per late BAS 

These penalties apply per BAS, so multiple missed lodgements can quickly add up. This is why you need to be aware of activity statement due dates and make sure your BAS is lodged on time.

Interest charges

If your BAS includes a payment and that payment is late, the ATO may also charge general interest on the unpaid amount. This interest is calculated daily on the outstanding balance and compounds over time, increasing the amount you owe.

Impact on compliance history

Late lodgement can affect your business’ compliance history, which the ATO considers when deciding whether to grant extensions or leniency in the future. A poor compliance record can also affect your eligibility for payment plans or relief options during tough times.

Risk of further action

Continued failure to lodge or pay BAS obligations could result in debt recovery action by the ATO, including garnishee notices or director penalty notices (for company directors).

How to lodge your BAS on yime

The good news is, there are several convenient ways to submit your BAS—many of which are available online.

BAS lodgement methods include:

• ATO Online Services (via myID): Ideal for sole traders, this platform lets you manage your tax and BAS directly.

• Online Services for Business: Best suited to companies, partnerships, and trusts. You’ll need an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a secure login like myGovID.

• Business software (like QuickBooks): Accounting software with BAS lodgement features can streamline the process and help you stay compliant.

• Registered tax or BAS agent: You can also lodge your BAS through a registered professional who can offer advice and may help you access extended due dates.

Before you lodge your BAS, it’s important to reconcile your accounts. This includes:

• Ensuring your income and expenses are recorded accurately
• Checking GST amounts on purchases and sales
• Verifying payroll and superannuation records (if applicable)

Lodging your BAS on time is easier when your records are up to date and you’re using tools designed to simplify the process.