Introduction

What is GIC and why it matters

Inside the GIC remission review (findings)

Why remission decisions are inconsistent

When GIC becomes unfair for clients

Recommendation: remission and payment plans

Can you challenge a GIC decision?

What practitioners can do instead

Recent ATO changes and what they mean

What’s next: online services for agents

Final thoughts and resources

In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact, we unpack how the ATO manages remission of the General Interest Charge (GIC) and what it means for accounting firms and their clients. 

With rising cost pressures and increased scrutiny, GIC is becoming a bigger issue in practice. But how remission decisions are made, and why outcomes can vary, is not always clear. 

Our host, Lisa Lintern, is joined by Ruth Owen, Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman, who shares insights from a recent review into GIC remission, and the key issues raised by CA ANZ members. 

In this episode, we discuss: 
How the ATO approaches GIC remission decisions 
Why inconsistency occurs, and what’s changing 
When practitioners should consider applying for remission 
Practical ways to support clients facing growing GIC 
What informal review options are available if decisions are declined 

Resources mentioned: 
CA ANZ submission on GIC remission 
Tax Ombudsman review into GIC remission 
ATO changes to GIC remission (January 2026) 
Visit the podcast page for more resources 

In this episode of Small Firm, Big Impact, we unpack how the ATO manages remission of the General Interest Charge (GIC) and what it means for accounting firms and their clients.&nbsp;
With rising cost pressures and increased scrutiny, GIC is becoming a bigger issue in practice. But how remission decisions are made, and why outcomes can vary, is not always clear.&nbsp;
Our host,&nbsp;Lisa Lintern,&nbsp;is joined by Ruth Owen, Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman, who shares insights from a recent review into GIC&nbsp;remission,&nbsp;and the key issues raised by CA ANZ members.&nbsp;
In this episode, we discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">How the ATO approaches GIC remission decisions&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Why inconsistency occurs, and what&rsquo;s changing&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">When practitioners should consider applying for remission&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Practical ways to support clients facing growing GIC&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">What informal review options are available if decisions are declined&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Resources&nbsp;mentioned:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/member-services/technical/tax/tax-in-focus/submission-to-tax-ombudsmans-review-on-remission-of-general-interest-charge">CA ANZ submission on GIC remission</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.taxombudsman.gov.au/reviews_reports/atos-management-of-remission-of-the-general-interest-charge/">Tax Ombudsman review into GIC remission</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/member-services/technical/tax/tax-in-focus/first-steps-toward-greater-consistency-in-gic-remissions">ATO changes to GIC remission (January 2026)</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/news/podcasts/small-firm-big-impact/s6e3-ato-gic-remission-why-decisions-vary-and-what-to-do">Visit the podcast page for more resources&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The latest series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager Gillian Bowen will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice.

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The latest series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-bowen-7b310215b/" aria-label="Link Gillian Bowen">Gillian Bowen</a> will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice.

Giving Chartered Accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs.

Small Firm, Big Impact

Small Firm, Big Impact is our long-form podcast exploring the biggest ideas, challenges, and opportunities reshaping smaller accounting firms across Australia and New Zealand. 

Hosted by Lisa Lintern from CA ANZ External Affairs, each episode dives into the leadership perspectives, strategic decisions, and real-world stories that help smaller firms stay future-ready in a rapidly changing environment. 

Whether it’s innovation, practice growth, technology, client expectations, or the evolving role of the practitioner, these conversations give you context, clarity, and inspiration to lead with confidence. 

For quick regulatory updates and time-sensitive news, explore our companion podcast, Small Firm, Big Impact Express. 

 

Disclaimer: The opinions and statements expressed in this podcast are provided for general information only and are not intended to be legal, professional or financial advice, nor do they reflect the opinions of Chartered Accountants ANZ. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chartered Accountants ANZ is not liable for any statement or opinion, or for any error or omission in this podcast, nor is it liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential losses or damages of any kind, or loss of profit, loss or corruption of data, business interruption or indirect costs, arising out of or in connection with this podcast or the information contained in it, whether such loss or damage arises in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, or otherwise.

Small Firm, Big Impact is our long-form podcast exploring the biggest ideas, challenges, and opportunities reshaping smaller accounting firms across Australia and New Zealand.&nbsp;
Hosted by Lisa Lintern from CA ANZ External Affairs, each episode dives into the leadership perspectives, strategic decisions, and real-world stories that help smaller firms stay future-ready in a rapidly changing environment.&nbsp;
Whether&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;innovation, practice growth, technology, client expectations, or the evolving role of the practitioner, these conversations give you context, clarity, and inspiration to lead with confidence.&nbsp;
For quick regulatory updates and time-sensitive news, explore our companion podcast,&nbsp;Small Firm, Big Impact Express.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Disclaimer: The opinions and statements expressed in this podcast are provided for general information only and are not intended to be legal, professional or financial advice, nor do they reflect the opinions of Chartered Accountants ANZ. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chartered Accountants ANZ is not liable for any statement or opinion, or for any error or omission in this podcast, nor is it liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential losses or damages of any kind, or loss of profit, loss or corruption of data, business interruption or indirect costs, arising out of or in connection with this podcast or the information contained in it, whether such loss or damage arises in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, or otherwise.