Continous Professional Development
Tax Briefs
The Tax Compliance Unit will compile some "hot" issues concerning FBT and GST on a once per term basis to distribute to schools through the SSO network.
See here for copies of previous Tax Briefs since 2006.
A-Z of GST for Schools
"Networks” have been established for schools in all regions across the state.
Network leaders organise discussion groups and training, chat lines, disseminate information and advice to network schools from the centre and regions on GST and other school administration and accounting matters.
“Talking Finance” and Big Day Out” Presentations
In liaison with the FSD SRP Unit, The Tax Compliance Unit periodically provides presentations on taxation as part of “Talking Finance” (usually in Term 2 each year in conjunction with PAYG) and Big Day Out” (with specific tax hot topics as part of regional SFLO training days) to school business managers and principals.
Sharing of knowledge
The Tax Compliance Unit periodically will visit schools across the state to share knowledge on FBT and GST with bursars and business managers in each school. The visits would also incorporate a "sharing of knowledge" with any new bursar or business manager appointed to a school.
Regional Business Managers Network and Leaders
"Networks” have been established for schools in all regions across the state.
Network leaders organise discussion groups and training, chat lines, disseminate information and advice to network schools from the centre and regions on GST and other school administration and accounting matters.
If your school does not belong to a network, we highly recommend that you join one to provide support, advice and peer on administrative, taxation and other issues.
For more information, see this list of Networks and their contacts (Excel - 390Kb).
STAR Reviews
The School Tax Assurance Reviews (STAR) program has been designed to develop school business managers to assist their colleagues when visiting Schools for Tax Assurance Reviews (our “STARs”)
About 15 schools are visited to undertake STAR Reviews each term on a rotating regional basis.
Schools and STAR reviewers all report that the visits are a positive professional development experience and a good way to build relationships with other schools.
Thirteen school business managers were selected in 2007 as “Collegiate Reviewers” to conduct the initial tax compliance reviews of other Victorian government schools, supporting a program that provides assurance that schools are implementing tax in a compliant manner.
The reviews involve testing a sample of school documents and financial transactions for correct GST treatment of tax invoices; fundraising events; canteen and uniform shop treatment; booklists etc. and correct reporting (and understanding) of fringe benefits on FBT Tracker.
IFX (Information Exchange)
During 2002 the Tax Compliance Unit engaged the services of IFX Information Exchange as an external consultant to the Department. Schools or regions can pose complex questions to the IFX advisory team. E-mail your question to your regional contact and an answer will be sent to you within 24 hours.
IFX cannot answer questions on CASES21 GST Classification and data entry.