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Single Touch Payroll

Each pay period a summary of Year To Date payroll data must be sent to the ATO.

This guide will explain how this is done and the best practice for smooth and successful submissions.


Navigate

Menu > Payroll > Payruns > Payslip > STP Lodge




Definition Table

EOFYEnd Of Financial Year
ETPEmployment Termination Payment
FinalLast STP submission for this employee for the financial year
PAYGPay As You Go - Employee tax obligation
STPSingle Touch Payroll
TFNDTax File Number Declaration - Required from all staff when first hired
YTDYear To Date - All STP data is YTD


What is Single Touch Payroll?

Single Touch Payroll (STP) is a method of reporting payroll data including, salaries and wages, PAYG withholding, superannuation, child support, etc electronically to the ATO.

The payroll data is sent from your payroll software to the ATO.

The data must go through a software solution at some point, thus using a cloud payroll provider like Microkeeper does all the heavy lifting on your behalf.


What are the benefits of Single Touch Payroll?

STP is designed to streamline payroll reporting.

Once fully implemented, a few tasks will be eliminated from the payroll officer and HR duties. This includes:

One way to think of STP is like submitting a Group Certificate every payrun.


Using STP within Microkeeper

STP data must be submitted on or before the Payment Date.

Employers are going to need to run a tight ship, especially those with high staff turnover rates as they're going to need to collect all relative data from their staff before their first payrun is processed.

Single Touch Payroll has been heavily integrated into Microkeeper, thus we help collect all relevant data from the employee as soon as they first login including the TFND fields.

All payments and deductions can be classified with the appropriate STP classification on the Payslip.

The table below shows a list of all possible classifications.

Only staff that are included in a payrun are included in a Normal STP submission.


The on-boarding process for hiring new staff

When an employee is first added to Microkeeper they should be provided with their login credentials.

Staff should log in and, from the Employee Console, fill all fields required, they should know all fields required for STP with the exception of the TFN.

If the staff member doesn't have a TFN they should apply for one immediately, the employer can insert a temporary place holding TFN if required.


Who is responsible for which tasks?

There are 4 main parties involved to make STP possible if any one party doesn't fill their obligation in a timely manner, STP will not be successful.


Employee Obligations
  1. Enter all personal details
  2. Enter all Tax preferences
  3. Enter TFN, or apply for TFN immediately

Employer Obligations

  1. Payroll rules have the correct STP class
  2. Process payroll
  3. Make amendments to payroll data a required
  4. Review STP payroll data
  5. Submit STP lodgement

Microkeeper Obligations

  1. Collect and validate all supplied STP data
  2. Convert the data into STP specific format
  3. Send the data to the ATO
  4. Receive response from the ATO
  5. Provide response feedback to employer

ATO Obligations

  1. Receive data from Microkeeper
  2. Analyse and validate data
  3. Record data for business reporting purposes
  4. Respond to Microkeeper with employer feedback
  5. Supply Payment Summary to employees




Employer setup to do list


Review all the Payroll rules

Review all Shift Rules, Extra Rules, Deductions Rules and Public Holiday Rules. Select the correct STP classification.

For example: "Car allowance" select STP class Car

If the setup is completed successfully, the next time payroll is processed all the correct STP classifications will be selected automatically.


Review Employee Profiles

Check the Employee Profile for all staff are correct.


Add your Software ID to Access Manager

On Access Manager for business software users:

  1. Select My hosted SBR software services.
  2. Select Notify the ATO of your hosted service.
  3. Search for ABN: "75909758040"
  4. Select the ABN link of "THE TRUSTEE FOR MICROKEEPER UNIT TRUST"
  5. Enter the software ID (On Microkeeper, Menu > Settings > General > Global > STP Settings - ATO/SBR 'BMS ID' 'Software ID') and select Next.
  6. Read the Notification statement then select Save.

The result should look like this:The Software ID connected to the software service provider of Microkeeper in the ATO SBR Software Service


ETP tax reporting limitation

All PAYG tax amounts are recorded in a single tax field, so Microkeeper doesn't have the ability to split out the ETP tax value, this is a limitation.

So instead Microkeeper ratios out the ETP tax amounts based on earnings, it won't always be perfectly correct, but the Total Tax will be correct.

Here are the calculation steps example:


1576200733921-55913.png

The ATO might say for example, the ETP Tax is undertaxed by $ 50, however the INB tax is overtaxed by $ 50, so no further action is required.


Employer STP Processing Steps

StepsTitleDescription
1Review staff details

Ensure all staff details are complete and accurate, especially for any newly hired employees.

2

Process PayrollProcess payroll as usual.

Make sure all payments are classified correctly.

If an employee needs to be terminated - Run the Final button on their payslip.

Pay staff and Lock payrun as per usual.

3

Validate

Click STP Lodge to enter the STP ATO Lodgment page.

Select Final for the last payrun of the year otherwise select Normal.

Select Submit for timely submissions or Update for submission made after the Payment Date.

Click Review Data.

1648618282624-e67d8.png

Microkeeper will run validation on all data and provide an STP report to review the data that will be submitted to the ATO.

If Microkeeper's validation fails, you will not be able to submit payroll data until all required fields are corrected.

You will be supplied with an error that will include a list of missing values and which staff are affected.

4

Submit

Digitally sign the form and submit the STP data.

5

Review

After a response has been returned from the ATO, you can check if your submission was successful under the STP Log.

The log can be found on the top of STP ATO Lodgment page. Menu > Payroll > Payslip > STP Lodge.

If the submission to the ATO fails, the ATO will reply with a list of errors that are (hopefully) human-friendly.


A response from a Successful STP submission to the ATO





Single Touch Payroll Payments and Deductions Classification Chart

The specifications from the ATO are incredibly complicated, therefore Microkeeper has simplified the breakdown of the options into a single list and automated the reporting from there.

This chart will help select the correct payment or deduction option/s, however, if you're not sure of a classification, Microkeeper cannot legally assist. You will need to refer to the ATO website or contact legal assistance.

There are many other fields that need to be filled but everything else is either self-explanatory or automatically filled by Microkeeper.

Some fields have been hidden but are available upon request.




MK CodeMicrokeeper TitleSTP CodeATO Brief Description

Normal Earnings
{NULL}Gross

Include all salary, wages, bonuses, and commissions paid to the employee
This will go towards their Income Type, eg SAW or WHM amounts

foreignForeign Income
Income that was paid to the employee while working abroad, review ATO rules behind this
fr_taxForeign Tax
Tax that was paid to foreign countries, review ATO rules behind this
directorDirectors Fees
Payments made to directors
SKIPSkip STP reporting
The payment will not be included in STP reporting, this can be used to for a range of reason, example, director drawings, making correction, etc.

Allowances
CarCents per KMCDCar expense allowance.
LaundryLaundryLDLaundry allowances.
MealsOvertime MealsMDAward overtime meal allowance.
TransportAward Transport PaymentsADAward transport payments up to reasonable amounts.
TravelDomestic or Overseas TravelRDDomestic or overseas travel allowance above the reasonable limit and all overseas accommodation allowances.
ToolToolTDDeductible allowances to compensate an employee who provides their own tools
TaskTaskKNActivities that involve additional responsibilities, eg higher duties allowance, confined spaces allowance, dirty work, height money, first aid, etc.
CertsQualifications or CertificatesQNMaintaining a qualification that is evidenced by a certificate, licence or similar, example allowances to cover registration fees, insurance, licence fees, etc.
OtherOtherODAll other allowances for expected deductible expenses

Leave Payments

OOther PaidOAnnual, Personal, RDO, TIL, etc
CCash Out Leave In ServiceCLeave that is paid out above the standard work hours
PPaid ParentalPPaid Parental
WWorkers CompensationWWorkers Compensation
AAncillary and DefenceAAncillary and Defence
UUnused Leave on TerminationULeave paid out on Termination

Employee Termination Payments ETP
ETP_R_TType R - Taxable
ETP made because of one of the following: early retirement scheme, genuine redundancy, invalidity, or compensation for personal injury, unfair dismissal, harassment, or discrimination.
ETP_R_FType R - Tax-Free
As above line except for tax-free component.
ETP_O_TType O - Taxable
Other ETP not described by R (for example: golden handshake, gratuity, payment in lieu of notice, payment for unused sick leave, or payment for unused rostered days off).
ETP_O_FType O - Tax-Free
As above line except for tax-free component.
ETP_S_TType S - Taxable
ETP code R payment received in the current year and received another ETP (code R or code O), or a transitional termination payment, in an earlier income year for the same termination of employment.
ETP_S_FType S - Tax-Free
As above line except for tax-free component.
ETP_P_TType P - Taxable
ETP code O payment received in the current year and received another ETP (code R or code O), or a transitional termination payment, in an earlier income year for the same termination of employment.
ETP_P_FType P - Tax-Free
As above line except for tax-free component.
ETP_D_TType D
Death benefit ETP paid to a dependant of the deceased
ETP_B_TType B
Death benefit ETP paid to a non-dependant of the deceased and a termination payment was made to the non-dependant in a previous income year for the same termination.
ETP_N_TType N
Death benefit ETP paid to a non-dependant of the deceased.
ETP_T_TType T
Death benefit ETP paid to a trustee of the deceased estate.

Lump Sum Payments
Lump_A_RLump A - Type R
Type R = Where payment was for a genuine redundancy, invalidity or under an early retirement scheme.

Lump A = The amount paid for unused long service leave that accrued after 15 August 1978 but before 18 August 1993;
unused holiday pay and other leave-related payments that accrued before 18 August 1993 or unused long service leave
accrued after 17 August 1993 or unused holiday pay or related payments, where the amount was paid in connection
with a payment that includes or consists of a genuine redundancy payment, an early retirement scheme payment
or the invalidity segment of an employment termination payment or superannuation payment.
Lump_A_TLump A - Type T
Type T = Where payment was not a payment for a genuine redundancy, invalidity or under an early retirement scheme.

Lump A = Description above.
Lump_BLump B
The amount paid for unused long service leave that accrued before 16 August 1978.
Lump_DLump D
The amount of genuine redundancy payment or early retirement scheme payment below the tax-free threshold.
Lump_ELump E
The amount of back payment received including salary or wages that accrued in a period more than 12 months before the date of payment.

Lump Sum Type E must include the Year
This is done by adding a @{year} to the payment Title
Title example Lump E @2017

Expenses


Super
Salary Sacrifice or any super amount above the super guarantee.

Fringe Benefit Exempt
Reportable Fringe Benefit Exempt.

Fringe Benefit Taxable
Reportable Fringe Benefit.

Deductions

Workplace Giving
Workplace giving is a simple way to regularly donate to charities or organisations that are entitled to receive tax-deductible donations.

Fees
Union fees, subscriptions to associations and bargaining agents fees, can be entitled to receive a tax deduction.

Child Support PEADChild Support - Protected Earnings Amount, DHS might call this Employer Withholding (EW).

Child Support 72AGChild Support - Protected under 72A notice, DHS might call this Garnishee.

Super
After Tax Super Contribution.

Superannuation

LEmployer Super GuaranteeLSuperannuation Liability contribution payable by a payer for the benefit of a payee as mandated by super guarantee legislation.
RAdditional Employer SuperRRESC - Reportable Employer Superannuation Contribution additional, optional
(not legislated or mandated by industrial, legislative or business policy instruments).
RESCRESC
RMicrokeepers Additional Employer Super is a percentage, so this option provided an alternative as a dollar value.
RSuper Salary SacrificeREmployer super contributions made on behalf of the employee, that have been influenced by the employee. Salary sacrificed super contributions are classified as employer super contributions, rather than employee contributions.


All details mentioned in the above table are not legal advice, please refer to the ATO website or get legal assistance when classifying payments or deductions.




Tax Treatment Code

The Tax Treatment Code is a 6 character code, each character is a different tax category.

Example "RTSXXX" is Regular employee with Tax-free threshold and a Student loan.

This table from the ATO explains all possible options:


ATO Tax Treatment Code Table




Employment Basis

Values permitted in the Employment Basis as supplied by the ATO:




Income Stream Type Code

Possible values for Income Stream Type Code are:

Search the ATO website for a detailed description about each option.

SAW and WHM are the most common in Microkeeper.




ATO Cessation Type

Reason for termination, list of Cessation Types as supplied by the ATO:




The last payrun for the year

When the last payrun for the year is processed select the Final option.

All staff, including previously terminated staff will be included in the submission for the current fiscal year.

When Microkeeper sends this data to the ATO, all staff are marked as Final in the STP submission.

This is the most important submission as this will be the submission staff complete their tax returns with.

Ensure total tax and total values match your accounting suite.


Final STP Submission Settings


If this is being done after the Payment Date, eg in July, Update will need to be selected. (An Update will not include the "Pay Period Tax Amount" value) 





Process for terminating or deactivating an employee

Except for the Final STP submission, Microkeeper only reports on staff that have been included in a payrun with PAYG tax or Gross value greater than 0 to the ATO.

Thus, when an employee is receiving their last payslip from the business, their STP data should be marked as Final.


Step 1 Process a payrun as normal.

Step 2 Click the Final button on the employees payslip.

Step 3 Review the form and Submit:

Terminate employee form for Final STP submission


The Final button on the Payslip will set the Employee as Terminated, set the Termination Date and Cessation Type, making them Final for their STP submission.


If an employee is terminated AFTER an STP submission they will not be included in the next payrun, thus the ATO will not receive a Final STP submission until the last STP submission for the year.


Process for rehiring a staff member

If an employee is rehired or reactivated a few steps need to be followed.


Step 1 Go into the Employees Profile and set the employee as Active.

Step 2 Remove the Terminated Date and clear the Cessation reason.

Step 3 Set a new Start Date.


The next time the employee is included in a payrun, the submission will not be marked as Final and the ATO will know they have commenced work again.

Make sure to check all the employee's details are still current.




Changing an Employee Income Type mid fiscal year

If an employee changes, for example from WHM to SAW during a fiscal year, the employee must be terminated and hired again as the new Income Type.

For the old Employee Profile

Set Termination Date, Cessation Type to Transfer and Active status to Terminated:


For the new Employee Profile

Create the employee again the Start Date can be the original start date.

Cloning the new profile from the old profile is recommended.

All fields can be the same as the old profile, except the fields that are required to be changed for the Income Type change.

If the employee had leave balances they should be added to the new Employee Profile.

Let managers know so any rostered shifts can be swapped out.

The sum of these two profiles will be reported as Final for STP, the employee will receive two Payment Summaries in their myGov account.



Submit STP on behalf as a Registered Tax or BAS agent

Registered Tax agents can submit STP on behalf of their clients through Microkeeper.

Agents will be required to have registered their own Microkeeper account. 

As the Tax/BAS Agent you will:

  1. Record your practicing ABN on in the Global Settings of your Tax/BAS Agent Microkeeper account
    Navigate to Menu > Settings > General > Global Settings > Business Contact - ABN, enter the ABN number listed. 
  2. Select if you have either a TAN or RAN number
    Navigate to Menu > Settings > General > Global Settings > STP Settings, click the button "Are you a Registered Tax Agent submitting for another business?" and select either RAN or TAN number
  3. Record your TAN/RAN number
    Navigate to Menu > Settings > General > Global Settings > STP Settings, enter your TAN/RAN number under This business - TAN/RAN
  4. Request your clients SSID number and attach to your Tax Agent Portal.

As the Client you will need to

  1. Link the Tax/BAS Agent to the Client/Organisations Microkeeper system.
    Navigate to Menu > Manage > Linked Users > Click Add User, enter your Tax agents Microkeeper username. (Note: This user will have full access to your account)
  2. Select the linked Tax/Bas Agent to report STP on your behalf
    Navigate to Menu > Settings > General > Global Settings > STP Settings - External Tax Agent, select your Tax Agents ABN.
  3. Provide your Tax agent with your SSID.
    Navigate to Menu > Settings > General > Global Settings > STP Settings - ATO/SBR 'Software ID', you can find your SSID number.




Amending or Declaring the Reportable Fringe Benefit Amount under STP


When recording the RFBA for STP, you will need to add two lines to the payslip, one will be the Payment, the second will be an Expense that deducts that payment from the Gross and classifies it as the RFBA.

NOTE You can skip Steps 1 and 2 if RFBA have not been recorded throughout the financial year.


Step 1: Obtaining current RFBA Reported

After you have finished your final payrun of the Financial Year you will download the current list of RFBA declared via STP.

Payroll > Payruns > Payslip > STP Lodge > Final Payrun > CSV Export. 

Prepare to Lodge STP form


Step 2: Calculate the difference between Current and Grossed up RFBA

Using excel you'll have to calculate the difference between what was paid and your grossed-up amount.

Grossed Up - Current = Adjusted

Example 12,000 - 7,000 = 5,000


Step 3: Adding the difference as a Payment

The difference figures need to be entered into the last Payrun of the fiscal year, the can be via an Adhoc payrun if preferred. 

Using the Add Amendments area at the top of the Payslip page.

Click Payment:

Add Amendments


Import all the amounts to be added in a CSV (instructions on the format can be seen if you hover over the blue info dot).

Select the Classification as Extra, this will prevent Super or Entitlements being added to the payment.

Click Add Payments.

Example $5000 RFBA Payment

CSV payments upload example RFBA


Step 4: Adding the difference as an Expense

Enter the differences again but as an expense.

This will deduct the amount added and assign it as a Fringe Benefit Exempt or Fringe Benefit Taxable amount.

From the Payslip page, click Expense in the Add Amendments area.

Enter the difference via CSV import or manually entering the values.

Example $5000 RFBA Expense

RFBA Expense example


Step 5: Check Payslips

The last step is to double-check the Payslip and STP data.

There should be no change to super or entitlements.

When you're ready, a Final STP submission can be made, only the Fringe Benefit Exempt (X) or Fringe Benefit Taxable (T) amount should have changed in the STP report.
In addition you will see this in the Salary Sacrifce Type O Column. 


RFBA Payslip Example