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Welcome
Our annual report is an important part of us being an open and accountable organisation.
For the ATO, it is an opportunity to not only talk about what we did well to achieve our
outcome for the government, and for the community, but also an opportunity to discuss the areas
we can and are working to improve. This year our report reflects on our significant
highlights, delivering on our commitments to government, including state and territory
governments in relation to GST.
2010-11 was again a year in which we worked in and with the community to achieve many
results. We partnered with the community to help around 58,000 taxpayers through our Tax
Help program and provided communication and public education programs to make our services
accessible to diverse audiences.
We helped to reunite 1.2 million people with their superannuation.
The work we did to help people and communities affected by the devastating natural disasters
that struck parts of the country in 2011 was something we, as an organisation, are proud
of.
We supported the whole-of-government approach, providing trained staff to assist in Centrelink
offices. We also offered support visits to thousands of businesses in those in areas
affected by natural disasters.
We maintained our empathetic approach to viable small businesses and individuals experiencing
short-term difficulties. At the same time we took prompt action with business that were
unviable to protect others from unfair competition.
Through our Small Business Assistance Program we provided support to 85,000 new and existing
businesses. We are there to help business right from the start, as we are there for
new migrants and young Australians entering into the tax system for the first time.
We also developed a dedicated youth website covering all things tax and superannuation
for young people. And for the first time we sponsored National Youth Week.
Of course, we faced many challenges during the year – a year which was affected by
weaker than expected economic conditions and natural disasters, placing strain on some
people in coping with their tax and superannuation obligations – this required us to be flexible
and empathetic.
Our annual report also features our centenary events, which gave us the opportunity to reflect
on our past achievements, and to look to the future. I am confident our vision, values
and our people will continue to serve the Australian community well in this new financial
year and in the years ahead.
I encourage all of you to read our annual report and learn about the work we do as an
organisation, our achievements and the challenges we face.