ATO Data Matching - WorkCover

This program is called the WorkCover Data Matching Program and it enables the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to:

• identify and address the compliance behaviour of employers who may not be correctly meeting their taxation obligations; and
• be more strategic in its approach to determine appropriate educational and compliance strategies to encourage voluntary taxation compliance by employers.

The ATO will collect names and addresses of employer entities from the following state and territory WorkCover sources for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 financial years:

• WorkSafe Victoria
• WorkCover South Australia
• WorkCover New South Wales
• WorkCover Queensland
• WorkCover Western Australia
• WorkCover Northern Territory
• WorkCover Australian Capital Territory
• WorkCover Tasmania

The total number of records Australia-wide is estimated to be 942,000 of which approximately 103,000 will be individuals who are employers. The data acquired will be electronically matched with certain sections of ATO data holdings to identify employers that may not be complying with their registration, lodgement and payment obligations under taxation law.

The ATO may also disclose information about employers that may not be meeting their obligations under workers compensation laws if requested by the relevant WorkCover authorities. The ATO is legally able to make this disclosure.

This was notified in the Commonwealth Government Gazette Notice C2013G00491.