Australian Tax Office history from Federation to now

Australian Tax Office history from Federation to now. The Australian Taxation Office is an Australian government statutory agency and the principal revenue collection body for the Australian government.

The ATO has responsibility for administering the Australian federal taxation system, superannuation legislation, and other associated matters.

At the end of the nineteenth century each of the six Australian colonies had their own tax systems, which were almost entirely reliant on customs and excise duties. The design of these tax systems was largely driven by administrative concerns, rather than principles of equity or efficiency.

Australia's earliest national taxes were customs and excise duties, which the states gave up in order to secure interstate free trade and ensure adequate protection for Australian industry. Customs duties were also designed to act as trade barriers between the colonies. One of the significant results of Federation in 1901 was the removal of all duties on goods traded between Australian states.

The Australian Taxation Office has its roots in the Land Tax Act 1910, when a Commissioner of Land Taxation was appointed to administer the legislation and an office under the direction of the Commissioner was created as a branch of Treasury. This office has had several names during its history including Federal Taxation Office, Commonwealth Taxation Office and now the Australian Taxation Office.

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