ATO grants extension for online lodging

Businesses who lodge their June activity statements online may be eligible for a two week extension, the Australian Tax Office has announced.

The organisation said the 28 July 2005 deadline could be extended for businesses that used the ATO's business portal.

Tax commissioner Michael Carmody encouraged businesses to register for the online services for the next quarterly activity statement due in October.

"Our business portal also allows people to check business tax accounts, check and change the obligations they are registered for and send and receive secure messages."

Use of the portal required businesses to register for a free digital certificate via the ATO website.