This is part of our GST, BAS and Reporting series (Chapter 5 of the QuickBooks tutorial hub):

• Lesson 1: How QuickBooks Tracks GST on Every Transaction
• Lesson 2: Preparing and Lodging BAS from QuickBooks
• Lesson 3: TPAR Reporting for Contractors in QuickBooks
• Lesson 4: Job Costing with QuickBooks Projects for Tradies
• Lesson 5: Using Tags for Custom Reporting in QuickBooks
• Lesson 6: Managing Users and Permissions in QuickBooks

QuickBooks tracks GST in the background every time you categorise a transaction, which is what makes your BAS mostly build itself.

1. Choosing the right tax code

Every transaction gets a tax code, such as GST on sales, GST free, or out of scope, and choosing correctly matters for an accurate BAS.

2. Common GST-free items to know

Some sales and expenses are GST-free by law, so it is worth knowing which of your regular transactions fall into this category.

3. Keeping your coding consistent

Inconsistent tax code use on the same type of transaction is one of the most common sources of BAS errors.

4. Checking through the quarter, not just at BAS time

Spot-checking your coding regularly catches errors while they are still easy to fix.

QuickBooks Australia’s official YouTube channel covers GST basics: watch the official QuickBooks tutorial. Our registered BAS agents can review your GST coding before you lodge.