The ATO advised me that if there are no wages paid in a quarter then we still need to lodge a nil report. How can I do this in QuickBooks please?

Hi there, miranda9.

If you've registered your file to electronically lodge BAS and PAYG to ATO, then you'll need to make sure the GST tax settings the PAYG withholdings have been ticked.

If you are lodging PAYG and BAS under the same frequency (like quarterly), then you can lodge the 0 PAYG together with the BAS. However, you can lodge it separately in the Employees tab. Then, lodge the IAS and put 0 if the PAYG frequency is monthly.

You can also lodge it outside QuickBooks Online (QBO) if you haven't registered the account for electronic lodgement.

I have articles here about lodging BAS, IAS, and PAYG:

• Lodging a BAS
• Lodging BAS and IAS
• Record PAYG payment or IAS Withholding for Quarterly BAS [Video]
• Reporting PAYG Withholding on BAS and IAS

For further assistance, please reach out to our Customer Support Team.

Here's how:

1. Click Help on the top menu.
2. Choose Contact us.
3. Enter lodge wages paid in a quarter in What can we help you with? field.
4. Click Let's talk.
5. Choose Start a chat or Get a callback to connect with us.

Please hit the Reply button if you need anything else in QBO. I'm always here to help.

I was actually asking about Single Touch Payroll, sorry. I know how to do the activity statement.

Hi miranda9,

You can lodge a nil report by finalising pay runs on the pay schedule with all the employees listed, but no earnings paid out. Then, lodge all those pay runs in that quarter to the ATO.

To create those "empty" pay runs, select New Pay Run from the Employees section, then fill in the Pay Schedule, Pay Period Ending and Date Pay Runs will be paid. Then, ensure you tick the box Create pay run with empty pays.

This will create a pay run with no earnings, but all your employees will be listed there, making this pay run able to be lodged to the ATO. Repeat these steps for all pay runs in the quarter.

Hope this helps!

Bonny

Hi Bonny

I have followed those steps to create a pay run with empty pays. The 2 employees are showing in the pay run. I clicked on the Lodge with the ATO now button.  When I get to the Pay Event screen the "Lodge with the ATO" button is greyed out and the question mark next to it says, "Unable to Lodge. This pay event cannot be lodged because there are no employees included". What do I do next?

Regards

Miranda

Hi Miranda,

Once you have created those empty pay runs, the next step would be to create an Update Event for the pay schedule of the employees.

Make sure that the pay schedule you created the empty pays on is the Default pay schedule for each employee to lodge to the ATO.

Then, go to the Employees section then select Reports, and select Single Touch Payroll. Select Create Update Event, and the employees should be listed there. From there you'll be able to Lodge to the ATO.

Bonny

Hi Bonny

I went through those steps to create an Update Event. When I get to the point of lodging it though I get the same problem. The "Lodge with ATO" button is greyed out and the message says it can't be lodged because there are no employees.

Regards

Miranda

Hi miranda9,

It looks like our team will need to perform additional troubleshooting to assist you in submitting a nil report for Single Touch Payroll. 

Please give our team a call at 1 800 114 837 to speak to one of our support team members who will be able to assist.

Thanks!