If your accountant or BAS agent sent you an Activity Statement to e-sign through Lodgeit, you can pay the amount you owe the ATO by credit or debit card straight after you sign. Apple Pay and Google Pay also work. A card payment includes a Platform Service Fee of 1.9%. Paying by card is optional: you can still pay the ATO directly in the usual way.
In this article
- Before you start
- Pay by card
- Pay later
- Platform Service Fee
- After you pay
- If you see a message instead of the payment page
- Other ways to pay the ATO
- Common questions
- Who to contact
Before you start
- The document you're signing is an Activity Statement.
- It shows an amount payable to the ATO.
- It isn't an amended Activity Statement.
If all three apply and you still don't see the option, see why there's no option to pay by card.
Pay by card
Allow 3 business days
A card payment usually takes up to 3 business days to reach the ATO. If the due date is close, pay at least 3 business days before it.
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E-sign your Activity Statement. The Signed, thanks! screen shows the entity name, the period and the amount payable.
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Select Pay by card now. A secure payment page opens with a Payment Summary. It shows the Australian Tax Office as the payee, the amount payable as the subtotal, the service fee and the Total Due.
- Select Pay with Card and follow the prompts.
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When the payment goes through, the page shows Payment Successful.
The payment goes to the ATO with the payment reference number (PRN) from your Activity Statement, so the ATO applies it to the right account. You don't need to look up or enter the PRN.
Pay later
You don't have to pay straight after you sign. The email confirming your signature includes a Pay by card now link that you can use later.
A started payment expires
If you open the payment page and leave without paying, the link expires after a while. Once it has expired, pay the ATO directly.
Platform Service Fee
The Platform Service Fee is 1.9% of the amount payable. It covers processing your payment and sending it to the ATO. The fee is the same whichever card you use, and the payment page shows it as Service Fee (1.9%) before you pay. For example:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount payable to the ATO | $1,000 |
| Platform Service Fee (1.9%) | $19 |
| Charged to your card | $1,019 |
The ATO doesn't receive this fee. If you'd rather not pay it, see Other ways to pay the ATO.
After you pay
We email you twice, at the address you used to sign:
- a receipt straight after you pay, with the subtotal, the Platform Service Fee and the total charged;
- a payment confirmation when the funds reach the ATO, usually within 3 business days.
If you see a message instead of the payment page
When you open a payment link that can't be used, you see one of these messages.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| The payment already was made and is currently processing. | Your payment is on its way to the ATO. Don't pay again. |
| The payment already was made and is successfully processed. | The ATO has received your payment. Nothing else to do. |
| The payment link has expired. | Pay the ATO directly. |
| The payment amount has been changed and the payment link cannot be generated. | Your Activity Statement changed after you started paying. Check the new amount with your accountant or BAS agent, then pay the ATO directly. |
| An unexpected error occurred while processing the payment. Please contact our support team. | Email support@lodgeit.net.au with the name on the Activity Statement and its period. |
Other ways to pay the ATO
You can pay the ATO directly with the PRN from your Activity Statement, for example by BPAY or bank transfer. These payments don't include the Platform Service Fee. See How to pay on the ATO website.
Common questions
Is the request to pay by card genuine?
Lodgeit is the platform your accountant or BAS agent used to send you the Activity Statement for signing. The option to pay by card appears only after you sign, and the payment page shows the Australian Tax Office as the payee and the amount from your Activity Statement. If you're unsure, check with your accountant or BAS agent, or pay the ATO directly.
Why is there no option to pay by card?
Check the list in Before you start. If everything on it applies, your accountant or BAS agent may have switched card payments off for their clients. Pay the ATO directly.
My card payment was declined. What now?
We email you the reason and a link to try again.
Can I schedule a card payment for a later date?
No. Your card is charged when you pay. To pay later, use the link in the email confirming your signature. See Pay later.
Why isn't my payment showing at the ATO?
Payments usually take up to 3 business days to reach the ATO. If it's been longer and you haven't received the payment confirmation email, contact us with the date and amount of the payment.
I paid by mistake or paid twice. Can I get the money back?
We can't reverse a card payment once it has been sent to the ATO. The money is in your account with the ATO, and if you've paid more than you owe, the ATO holds the extra as a credit. Contact the ATO to ask for a refund.
I don't recognise a card charge. What should I do?
Contact us before you dispute the charge with your bank. We can tell you which Activity Statement it paid and when it reached the ATO.
Who to contact
- For questions about your Activity Statement or the amount you owe, contact your accountant or BAS agent.
- For questions about a card payment, email support@lodgeit.net.au.