Accounting policy

Liabilities for ‘short-term employee benefits’ (as defined in AASB 119 Employee Benefits) and termination benefits which are expected to be settled within twelve months of the end of the reporting period are measured at the amount expected to be paid on settlement.

All other employee benefit liabilities are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date.

Leave

The liability for employee benefits includes provision for annual leave and long service leave.

Leave liabilities are calculated based on the employees’ remuneration at the estimated salary rates that will apply at the time the leave is taken. This includes an allowance for the ATO’s employer superannuation contribution rates, annual leave and long service leave accrued when the leave is taken, to the extent that the leave is likely to be taken during service rather than paid out on termination.

The liability for long service leave has been determined by reference to the work undertaken by the Australian Government Actuary in 2020-21. The estimate of the present value of the liability considers attrition rates and pay increases through promotion and inflation.

Separation and redundancy

The ATO recognises a provision for redundancy when it has developed a plan for the redundancy and has informed those employees affected that it will carry out the redundancy. Provision is made for separation and redundancy employee benefit payments.

Superannuation

Employees of the ATO are members of the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) or the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PPS), which are defined benefit schemes for the Government, or a defined contribution scheme. The defined contribution scheme can be the PSS accumulation plan (PSSap), a fund of the employee’s choice or Australian Super (as the default fund for employees who are covered under the Superannuation (Productivity Benefits) Act 1988).

The liability for defined benefits is recognised in the financial statements of the Government and is settled by the Government in due course. This liability is reported in the Department of Finance’s administered schedules and notes.

The ATO makes employer contributions to the employees' superannuation schemes at rates determined by an actuary to be sufficient to meet the current cost to the Government. The ATO accounts for the contributions as if they were contributions to defined contribution plans.

The liability for superannuation recognised at the end of the reporting period represents employer contribution accruals for the period from the last pay to 30 June 2021.

Accounting policy

Restoration obligations - accommodation

A small number of ATO property leases are subject to restoration costs upon vacating the site.

An asset and provision are recognised at the commencement of a lease at the present value of the restoration obligations. Movements in the liability are recognised as finance expenses as the payment of restoration costs advances. Any difference between the provision and the amount paid at final settlement is recognised as a restoration obligation expense or gain.

The restoration obligations provision on all new leasehold improvement assets is determined in accordance with a valuation supplied by Jones Lang LaSalle.

Revaluation increments and decrements in relation to the provision of the restoration obligations and the associated assets are recognised in Other Comprehensive Income as a change in the asset revaluation reserve.

The restoration obligations asset and provision are reviewed and adjusted annually to assess whether the ATO is likely to make payments under a restoration obligation.