A Business Activity Statement (BAS) is a form you submit to the ATO to report and pay the GST you’ve collected on sales, claim credits for GST you’ve paid on business expenses, and (if applicable) report PAYG withholding. You only need to lodge a BAS if you’re registered for GST. Sole pre-calculates every BAS figure throughout the quarter — by the time the deadline arrives, there’s nothing to compile manually.
Who Needs to Lodge a BAS?
- Any sole trader registered for GST (annual turnover at or above $75,000)
- Rideshare and taxi drivers — GST registration and BAS lodgement required from the very first dollar, regardless of turnover
- Any business voluntarily registered for GST below the $75,000 threshold
If you’re below the $75,000 threshold and not registered for GST, you do not lodge a BAS.
BAS Due Dates for 2025–26
| Quarter | Period | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | July – September 2025 | 28 October 2025 |
| Q2 | October – December 2025 | 28 February 2026 |
| Q3 | January – March 2026 | 28 April 2026 |
| Q4 | April – June 2026 | 28 July 2026 |
If you lodge through a registered tax agent or BAS agent, extended deadlines may apply. Check the ATO website for the most current dates.
What Goes in a BAS
| Field | What it means |
|---|---|
| G1 | Total sales — all income for the period, regardless of GST status |
| G2 | Export sales (GST-free) |
| G3 | Other GST-free sales (basic foods, some health services) |
| 1A | GST you collected on taxable sales — must be remitted to ATO |
| 1B | GST credits on business purchases — this reduces your net liability |
| W1/W2 | PAYG withholding (only if you have employees — most sole traders leave blank) |
Your net GST to pay = 1A minus 1B. If you paid more GST on expenses than you collected on sales (rare but possible in early-stage or high-expense businesses), the ATO refunds the difference.
How Sole Pre-Populates Your BAS
- Every invoice raised in Sole automatically records GST collected. This populates 1A in real time.
- Every expense you log (by snapping a receipt or connecting your bank) records GST paid on purchases. This populates 1B.
- At quarter end, open Reports → BAS Summary. All figures are already calculated.
- Review and export. Download the BAS summary and enter the figures into the ATO Business Portal — or hand them to your BAS agent.
How to Actually Lodge Your BAS
Sole calculates the figures. You lodge via one of these channels:
- ATO Business Portal — log in with your myGovID and enter your BAS figures directly.
- myGov — linked ATO account for simpler setups.
- Tax or BAS agent — hand them your Sole BAS report; they lodge on your behalf and may get extended deadlines.
- Accounting software with ATO lodgement — some platforms lodge directly; Sole’s current integration generates the figures for you to lodge via the portal.
5 Common BAS Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting GST credits. You can claim GST back on every business purchase from a GST-registered supplier. Missing these overstates your liability.
- Including non-business expenses. Only business purchases generate GST credits. Personal expenses — even if paid from your business account — cannot be claimed.
- Mixing GST-free and taxable purchases. Not all purchases carry GST. Basic groceries, some medical services, and purchases from unregistered suppliers are GST-free — and can’t generate credits.
- Lodging late. Penalties apply from the first day overdue — $313 per 28-day period, up to five periods per BAS.
- Incorrect G1 figure. G1 is your total gross sales — including GST-free sales. Many sole traders only enter taxable sales here, which understates G1.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are BAS lodgement deadlines in Australia for 2025–26?Quarterly deadlines for FY2025–26: Q1 (Jul–Sep) due 28 October 2025; Q2 (Oct–Dec) due 28 February 2026; Q3 (Jan–Mar) due 28 April 2026; Q4 (Apr–Jun) due 28 July 2026. If you lodge via a registered tax or BAS agent, extended deadlines may apply. Check the ATO website for the most current dates.
Do I need to register for GST as a sole trader?GST registration is mandatory if your annual turnover reaches or is likely to reach $75,000 (or $150,000 for non-profits). Rideshare and taxi drivers must register for GST from the very first dollar earned, with no threshold. Once registered, you must lodge a BAS every quarter or year, depending on your reporting cycle.
What is the difference between G1 and 1A on a BAS?G1 is your total gross sales for the period — all income regardless of GST status. 1A is the GST you collected on those sales and must remit to the ATO. The difference matters because some sales are GST-free (basic foods, some medical services) and still appear in G1 but not 1A.
Can I lodge my own BAS without an accountant?Yes. Most sole traders lodge their own BAS directly via the ATO’s Business Portal or through accounting software like Sole. Sole auto-calculates your GST figures throughout the quarter so there is nothing to compile manually — you review the numbers and lodge. A BAS agent or tax agent can lodge on your behalf if you prefer.
What happens if I lodge my BAS late?The ATO may apply a Failure to Lodge (FTL) penalty. For small businesses this starts at one penalty unit (currently $313) per 28-day period the BAS is overdue, up to a maximum of five penalty units per BAS. Interest may also accrue on any tax owing. Sole sends an in-app reminder before each BAS due date.
