ATO payment due today and you can't pay? Your same-day choices

Is today really the due date?

Check before you panic. For quarterly BAS, the ATO’s due dates are 28 October, 28 February, 28 April and 28 July. For monthly BAS, it’s the 21st of the month after the reporting period. And if the due date lands on a weekend or public holiday, the ATO says you have until the next business day to lodge and pay.

If you use a registered tax or BAS agent, your due dates may differ, so check with them. The next quarterly BAS, for July to September 2026, is due on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Should you lodge even if you can’t pay?

Yes. Lodging and paying are separate obligations. Lodging on time means the ATO has accurate information and you avoid penalties for failing to lodge. It also means your ATO account shows the true balance, which a lender will want to see if you’re funding the payment.

So step one, whatever else you decide: lodge today.

What are your options for paying?

There are three broad routes:

Option	How it works	Worth knowing
ATO payment plan	Pay the debt in instalments	The ATO says businesses owing $200,000 or less may be able to set one up online
Same-day business loan	Borrow and pay the ATO today	Smaller unsecured amounts, or $20k–$250k with property, possible same day
A mix	Pay part today, plan for the rest	Can reduce what you borrow

A payment plan can be the simplest answer, particularly for a one-off shortfall. But some owners prefer to clear the debt entirely, for example because an ATO debt is affecting supplier credit, because a director is worried about personal liability, or because the debt is part of a bigger restructure. The ATO’s director penalty regime means directors can become personally liable for certain unpaid company amounts, including PAYG withholding, GST and super guarantee charge.

Neither route is right for everyone. Compare the total cost of each in dollars, and talk to your accountant if you can. Our guide to getting figures from your accountant today helps if time is short.

If you borrow, what has to be ready?

For a same-day payment to the ATO:

• Your ATO account balance. You can view account balances, overdue amounts and payment reference numbers in the ATO’s online services for business, which uses myID and the Relationship Authorisation Manager.
• The payment reference number for the right account, such as the activity statement account.
• Business bank statements for every account.
• ID for every director.
• Any existing ATO payment plan, and whether it’s up to date.

Enquire by about 11am Sydney time for an unsecured amount, or about 10am if property is securing it. If you’re working to today’s deadline, start the enquiry now.

Does an existing tax debt stop you borrowing?

Not necessarily. ATO debt is considered case by case. Being upfront about it, with the balance and any plan in place, lets a specialist go straight to a lender that will consider it. Our page on same-day funding with bad credit or ATO debt explains why disclosure at 9am matters so much.

Paying the ATO directly: get the reference right

A same-day payment to the wrong ATO account, or with the wrong reference, can take time to fix and may leave the debt showing as unpaid. Before any money moves:

1. Log in to online services and confirm which account the debt sits in.
2. Copy the payment reference number for that account exactly.
3. Double-check the amount, including any general interest charge that’s accrued.
4. Give the lender those details if they’re paying directly, or use them yourself if funds come to you.

Our payee details page covers the same checks for other payees.

An illustrative tax deadline

A Sydney printing company has a quarterly BAS due, with $64k payable. A major customer’s payment has slipped a fortnight. The owner lodges the BAS that morning and considers a payment plan, but a key paper supplier has been asking about ATO debt when renewing trade credit. She enquires at 9:15am, notes the company already has a small, up-to-date payment plan from last year, and uses her home, co-owned with her husband, as security. Both sign at 1:20pm and the ATO is paid directly that afternoon, using the activity statement payment reference.

The loan wasn’t the only option. It was the one that fitted her supplier situation.

What if the ATO has already taken firmer action?

If you’ve received a garnishee notice, a director penalty notice or a letter warning of legal action, the situation is more urgent than an ordinary due date. Don’t ignore it. Read it carefully, note any deadlines, and talk to your accountant or tax agent straight away.

Funding can be part of the answer, but it isn’t the only one. The ATO often has options for businesses that engage early. What matters on a same-day file is that you tell the specialist exactly what notice you’ve received and its date, because it changes which lenders will consider the file and how quickly they need to move.

Tax due today and short on cash?

Send a quick enquiry with the amount, the account it’s owed on and whether a plan is already in place. It takes about a minute, involves no credit check, and your details won’t be sprayed across lenders.

A real person will call and help you compare the options honestly, including whether today is realistic. Please be accurate about any existing ATO debt and payment plan on the form.

Talk to someone about today’s tax payment →