Choosing record-keeping software

You should choose record-keeping software that: 

  • you can understand and operate easily 
  • enables you to meet your record-keeping requirements 
  • enables you to report digitally to the ATO
  • is Standard Business Reporting (SBR) compatible. 

If you have a registered tax or BAS agent, consider if choosing software that is compatible with theirs will also meet your needs. 

Make sure the package you choose will meet your business's needs now and in the future. Consider what functions you need your software to do, for example: 

  • record sales, voids, refunds and exchanges (per employee, over a period of time) 
  • track and managing stock, work in progress, customers' orders, jobs or other task management requirements 
  • produce invoices and receipts 
  • produce GST details reports or similar
  • payroll requirements, including wages, annual leave, long service leave 
  • Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting obligations 
  • keep track of money taken from your business (often referred to as 'drawings') 
  • manage multiple bank accounts or businesses 
  • deal with foreign currency 
  • do budgets or forecasting cash flow 
  • get regular reports 
  • back-up processes and security. 

You can also search the list of commercially available software on the ATO’s Product register.

It's a good idea to regularly review whether your software package is keeping up-to-date with the functions you need to: 

  • run your business as it grows and changes 
  • interact with the ATO, for example, STP and Taxable payments annual reporting 
  • take up new digital opportunities as they become available, such as eInvoicing. 

If you use a registered tax or BAS agent, they will be able to advise you on things that your software should be able to do to ensure you can meet your tax, super and employer obligations, including any recent changes to law. 

Remember, your records need to be an accurate reflection of your business transactions. Electronic sales suppression tools, which manipulate records, are illegal. 

Record keeping

Steps Progress

Record keeping overview

10 mins

Tasks and tips

6 mins

Starting your business records

2 mins

Digital record keeping

5 mins

Manual or paper record keeping

2 mins

Banking records

2 mins

Income records

3 mins

Accounting for private use of assets

9 mins

Motor vehicle deductions records

2 mins

Home-based business deductions records

1 mins

Other deductions records

1 mins

Stock and asset records

5 mins

GST records

1 mins

Employee records

7 mins

Car fringe benefits records

1 mins

Expense payment FBT records

2 mins

Contractor records

2 mins

Sharing economy records

1 mins

Cryptocurrency records

1 mins

Records for other taxes

5 mins

Sole trader structure records

4 mins

Partnership structure records

3 mins

Company structure records

3 mins

Trust structure records

1 mins

Changing your business structure records

1 mins

Selling or closing your business records

2 mins

Related courses

1 mins

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