COVID-19 business support programs: data sharing

The Treasurer has issued the Taxation Administration (Data Sharing – Relevant COVID-19 Business Support Program) Declaration 2021.

The Declaration lists the programs that have been declared relevant COVID-19 business support programs by the relevant Minister, to enable the ATO to share protected data it holds with the relevant Australian government agencies that administer a particular program.

The Declaration means various government bodies will be able to liaise with each other to provide information relating to payments made to businesses – so if something is flagged as not being right, it should be assumed that the government (ie State or Federal) will investigate.