GST online demonstration - transcript
Screen 1
Hi and welcome to our GST demo.
Our online GST return offers you a fast, easy way to submit your GST (and provisional) tax return. In this demo we'll:
- explain the advantages of completing your GST return online
- take a look at people who have switched from the paper-based GST return to the online return.
- step you through the procedure of filling out your GST return online.
There are 19 screens in total for this demo.
Note:
You will need to be registered for GST to file a return. You can register using our online registration at GST registration.
Screen 2
Ther are many advantages to completing your GST return online - including convenience, accuracy, proof of submission and quicker refunds.
- The convenience of completing your GST return online is that you can avoid postage costs and delays. When combined with electronic banking, the entire online process give you greater certainty and is easier than paper-base filing.
- when it comes to accuracy, you're less likely to make a mistake when completing the return online as it ensure the form is complete and adds up correctly before submission.
- With proof of submission, you receive immediate confirmation that your return has been received by us. This confirmation includes the date and time of submission.
- With quicker refunds you save time from not having to mail your return. In addition, online returns are processed more quickly than paper-based returns. If you are entitled to a refund, it will get to you within a shorter period.
Screen 3
We recently talked to some of our customers who'd made the switch from the paper-based GST return to the online one.
Based on their feedback and our research, we've put together some fictional characters to represent typical customer groups.
Dave
Dave has his own accounting firm in the CBD and has been using the online GST return since it was set up. He's always amazed at how quick and easy it is to use. In the past, he found paper-based filing quite cumbersome. He had to complete the form manually, call into the bank to transfer the money owed and then call down to the post office to mail his return. Now he can do it all from the comfort of his office in a relatively short period of time. Online filing has made his life much easier.
Tama
Tama has his own building company - Tama's Building Ltd. His cousin, an accountant, talked him through completing the GST return online. Admittedly, he was a bit concerned as he's not very computer-savvy but it's all worked out for the best. Thanks to his cousin, Tama's GST affairs are in good order so filling out the online form was relatively easy. it also helps that he can do it all form home. When he expanded the business a year ago, he decided to hand the majority of his accounts over to his new accountant. However, due to the ease of filing his GST return online, he decided to keep doing the GST returns himself.
Mandy
Mandy recently opened a country hotel with her sister and has taken over the money and bookkeeping side of the business. Although she was originally an accountant, she used to be quite old school and recorded everything manually. Then a friend recommended that she do her GST returns online about 6 months ago. Because she keeps her GST affairs in good order, filling out the online form was a breeze. In her previous online return, she was owed a refund and was really surprised at how quickly she received it. While many people may be reluctant to make the leap to online filing, she can honestly say it is worth it.
Screen 4
We would like to introduce Sue now.
Sue set up her own coach company a few months ago - the Euro-Aotearoa Coach Company.
We'll help Sue file her return.
Screen 5
You can access the GST return from several places on our website, including the following sections:
You'll find these links on the right-hand side of the homepage.
If the GST return is not shown on the right-hand pane of "Get it done online", click "More services" to view a full list of forms and services available.
Screen 6
Sue clicks the GST return under "Get it done online" and a new screen appears.
This gives an overview of the return, what the services is about, when to use it, the information you need to file a return and what happens after you register.
The demo now opens a view of the GST online return.
Screen 7
The top section tells you about the return itself and some of its fields. Take the time to read the information in the first five bullets before you fill in the fields underneath.
The first five bullets cover:
- You can use this return for GST periods ending on 31 January 2002 or later. You can also use this service to file your provisional tax from the 2008/09 income tax year onwards. This is a new service available to customers who are registered for GST and liable for provisional tax.
- Please use the GST Guide (IR375) to help you complete this return, or phone us on 0800 377 776. When you have submitted the return you'll need to print the receipt page which must be kept for your records.
- The numbers in the left margin correspond to the box numbers on the paper GST or GST and provisional tax return if you're also liable for provisional tax. Leave the boxes marked (skip this box) - these will be worked out automatically before you send the return.
- You will need the DLN number from the paper return - the 14-character number computer-printed on the top of the return, directly under the barcode. All the characters are numbers except the second to last which is a capital letter. If you don't have this number either call us on 0800 377 776 or download a printable GST or GST and provisional tax return to complete and return by post.
- Please fill in all questions marked with (red dot) - required field to make sure the return is processed correctly.
You'll also need to have your paper-based GST return handy, which you'll have received in the mail. This contains information you'll need for completing the online return, including:
- GST number
- DLN number
- Period ending
- Due dates, and
- Ratio percentage.
Screen 8
If we scroll down to the first few fields of the return, you'll find they are relatively straight forward.
Sue has already entered some of her details in Boxes 1 to 4.
In the initial filed, she entered Sue Jones as her registered name.
For her GST registration number, she entered 123456789.
Underneath the GST registration number field in Box 1, there is another field called "DLN number from paper return". The DLN is the 14-character number that can be found at the top of your paper return, just underneath the barcode. If you're missing this number check your account information on Online services assuming your are registered, or call us on 0800 377 776. Sue has already typed in her DLN number as 012345678998x5.
She typed in 01-05-2009 as the 'First day of GST period covered by this return' and 30-06-2009 as the 'Last day of GST period covered by this return'.
The next field is labelled 'This payment and return are due'. this refers to the date specified on the GST return we sent you in the mail.
In the boxes underneath, she has confirmed that her postal address and phone number are correct.
Help Sue out by adding 28/07/2009 as the due date for the return and payment.
Screen 9
The second part of Box 4 has two sections. The first requires Sue to state whether she knows:
- her total sales and income, or
- the GST content of her total sales and income.
The second section requires Sue to state whether she knows:
- her total purchases and expenses, or
- the GST content of her total purchases and expenses.
Sue uses the payments accounting basis and knows her total amounts for both sales and income and purchases and expenses.
Because she knows her total amounts, she selects the first option for Sales and income ('I know total sales and need to work out GST collected') and the first option for Purchases and expenses ('I know total purchases and need to work out GST paid').
Depending on which options Sue selects here, the entries int he boxes appear later in Sue's return may vary slightly.
Screen 10
She pays instalments of income tax throughout the year as she is a provisional tax payer so she selects 'Yes".
Please note that if Sue wasn't a provisional tax payer and selected 'No', the subsequent boxes that appear in the form wouldn't be available to her.
Sue selected continue to move to the next screen on the GST return.
Screen 11
As soon as you click Continue, additional sections of the form appear.
Had Sue made a mistake in Boxes 1 to 4, a prompt would have appeared at the top fo the form saying 'Please complete panel(s)..'. However, everything is in order so the form automatically displays at Box 5.
Boxes 5 to 10 cover information related to the GST on Sue's sales and income section.
Box 5 is labelled 'Total sales and income for the period'. The amount you enter in this field depends on the accounting basis you specified when you registered for GST. Your accounting basis should be printed on the GST copy of your GST return.
Check Part 4 of the GST guide (IR375) for more information or online at GST on exempt, zero-rated and special supplies.
Sue's total sales and income for the period was $30,000 so she enters this amount in the field.
Box 6 requires her to enter an amount for zero-rated supplies.
Box 7, Liable sales, is calculated automatically by the system so she skips this field. The same applies to Box 8, 'GST on liable sales'.
Box 9 is where Sue needs to enter an amount for her adjustments'. You'll find information on adjustments in Part 5 of the GST guide (IR365) or online at Calculate your GST adjustments.
Sue skips Box 10, 'Total GST collected on sales and income' as the system calculates this amount for her automatically.
Help her out now by completing Boxes 6 and 9, bearing in mind she doesn't have any zero-rated supplies or adjustments.("0" needs to be added to each of these fields).
Screen 12
The next section of the return from Box 11 to 15 is similar to the previous section. It relates to the GST on Sue's purchases and expenses.
Box 11 requires Sue to enter her 'Total purchases and expenses including GST'. This amounts to $15,000 for the month of June.
She skips Box 12 as the system will calculate the GST on her purchases for her.
Box 13 is where she enters her credit adjustments. You can find a detailed list of adjustments in Part 5 of the GST guide (IR375) or online at Calculate your GST adjustments. She has no credit adjustments.
She skips Boxes 14 and 15 as they are automatically calculated by the system.
Why don't you enter $15,000 in Box 11 for Sue and 0 in Box 13?
Screen 13
Let's scroll down now to the 'Provisional tax calculations' section. This section appears because Sue confirmed earlier that she's a provisional tax payer. If she wasn't paying provisional tax, this section would not appear.
Sue has not been advised by her accountant to use the ratio method so she selects No in the box labelled 'Do you use the ratio method to calculate your provisional tax obligation?'. This means she can skip to the end of the form. If she did use the ratio method, she would need to complete Boxes 16 to 23.
Screen 14
Sue has scrolled down as far as Box 23. As mentioned earlier, she doesn't need to complete Boxes 16 to 23 as she does not use the ratio method. Instead she can click 'Continue'.
Click the Continue button so Sue can progress to the final section of the form.
Screen 15
The remaining part of the return - 'Payment calculation' - now displays.
The only boxes that need to be filled in here are Boxes 24 and 25. All the other boxes will be calculated automatically by the system.
Box 24, 'Compulsory or voluntary provisional tax period' is where Sue could make a voluntary contribution to reduce her income tax owing at the end of the year.
Box 25 is where Sue can enter the amount she wants to transfer to her provisional tax, if she was expecting a refund.
Box 26, 27 and 28 are all calculated by the system so she skips these.
Sue has already entered 0 in Box 24.
she is not getting a refund so she can't transfer money so enter 0 in Box 25 for her.
Screen 16
If you scroll down to the very end of the return, the final question asks Sue if she wants to add any information about the return.
This field lets her give us additional information about her return. For example, she may want to use a credit to pay another tax bill.
Sue is quite happy with the information she has provided so she selects 'No'. If she selected Yes, additional fields would appear when she clicked Continue.
To review the information provided, click the Continue button.
Screen 17
Before you submit Sue's return, you can review the information provided and alter it if necessary.
If you need to alter anything, scroll to the end of the form and click the Alter information button.
If the information provided is correct, tick the confirmation box.
Sue has already ticked this box and is now ready to send the form to us.
Why don't you click the Send to IRD button for Sue?
Screen 18
As soon as sue submits her return, a receipt page will appear displaying all her details. Sue needs to print it, sign it and and keep it for her records for seven year.
If Sue wishes to amend her submitted form, she can send us a message using Secure mail via Online services, or post us a letter.
She must not resubmit this return.
If any of the information Sue submits in her return doesn't match our records, there'll be a processing delay during which time we will contact Sue to clarify any issues.
It's also important that Sue pays any GST she owes. A link to the payment methods is provided in the receipt page we send her. We recommend paying by electronic transfer through your bank. At IRD, we recommend that you use internet banking to pay money owed.
Screen 19
That's all there is to completing a GST return online.
We recommend you use the online form to file your return the next time it is due.
Remember, if you file online, you don't need to send us your paper-based return.
Also keep in mind that the sections that appear in your online form may vary depending on the options you select.
When you are ready you can use the GST return (GST 101) or GST and provisional tax return (GST 103) online.
Date published: 19 Jul 2011
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