Stay organised and ATO-compliant with this practical guide for online sellers. Covers BAS deadlines, Xero tips, deductions, and helpful government resources – all in one place.
BAS & GST Deadlines
Quarterly BAS Due Dates:
Q1: 28 October
Q2: 28 February
Q3: 28 April
Q4: 28 July
Monthly BAS: 21st of each month Annual GST Return: If you're voluntarily registered for GST and below the threshold, the due date is generally 28 February.
More info: ATO - BAS due dates
Xero Tips & Resources
Stay on top of your bookkeeping by reconciling regularly. Use the Bank Rules and Repeating Invoices features to save time.
Helpful links:
Xero Central – Help Articles
Xero YouTube Channel
Common eCommerce Deductions
These are common deductions for online businesses:
Platform fees (eBay, Etsy, Shopify)
Merchant fees (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
Subscriptions (e.g., Canva, Adobe, Google Workspace)
Inventory purchases & shipping
Website hosting & domain costs
Learn more: ATO - Deductions for Small Business
Other Useful Resources
ATO - Record keeping for business
Business.gov.au - Starting a business
Fair Work Ombudsman - Hiring employees
Tip: Keep Personal & Business Separate
Using a dedicated business bank account and card is one of the simplest ways to keep your books clean and compliant. It also helps your bookkeeper work faster and more accurately.