For most small businesses, the safest way to pay an ATO liability is to use the current payment reference number (PRN), submit the payment before the BAS due date, and allow up to four business days for the ATO account to show it. BPAY, bank transfer (direct credit), and online card payments can all work for a bill paid in full. If cash flow is tight, Online services for business may let you arrange instalments by direct debit, but a payment plan does not automatically stop interest or other collection action.
The right choice depends on deadline, fees, posting time, who is authorised to pay, and whether you can maintain a schedule. This guide compares each route and explains what to do when your business cannot pay on time.
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Start with the BAS due date and the correct PRN
Your BAS shows the date by which the liability must be paid. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says you must pay a BAS in full and on time to avoid interest on that liability. Treat the due date as the date the payment must be made under the ATO’s rules, not necessarily the date your online banking screen says “submitted”.
A payment reference number (PRN) identifies the particular tax debt. Retrieve the PRN in Online services for business or copy it from the relevant ATO notice. Do not assume a PRN used for another tax type, period or account will allocate this payment correctly. Check the amount, account name, biller or bank details and PRN immediately before submitting.
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- Use the PRN for the exact obligation, such as the BAS period or debt shown in your account.
- Keep the receipt, transaction ID and date submitted.
- Allow for processing and posting time; an account balance may remain unchanged after the payment leaves your bank.
Quick comparison of ATO payment methods
| Method | Fees | Time to appear | Schedule required? | Best check before paying |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPAY | Your bank may apply its own terms; any ATO-disclosed charge should be reviewed in the payment flow. | Up to four business days to be received and appear, according to ATO guidance. | No, if paying the full amount. | Use the biller code and PRN displayed for that obligation and allow several business days. |
| Bank transfer/direct credit | Check your bank’s transfer terms; use only current ATO account instructions. | Direct-credit payments can take up to four business days to reach and appear. | No, if paying the full amount. | Confirm EFT details, amount, payment date and the correct PRN. |
| Online debit or credit card | A card fee may apply. The current fee is shown before confirmation; no universal percentage is established here. | Card payments can take up to four business days to appear. | No for a one-off payment; yes if funding instalments by card direct debit. | The cardholder must complete the online payment; check the fee and receipt. |
| Payment plan/direct debit | Card-funded direct debit attracts card fees. Unpaid amounts may attract general interest charge. | Each instalment and the resulting balance still need time to post. | Yes. You must maintain the agreed instalment schedule. | Check eligibility, dates, amounts and notice periods in Online services for business. |
BPAY: convenient, but not instant
How to pay
- Open the ATO notice or Online services for business record for the liability.
- Copy the BPAY biller code and the obligation’s PRN exactly.
- In your bank’s BPAY screen, enter the biller code, PRN and amount.
- Review the confirmation page and save the receipt.
The ATO lists BPAY as a quick way to pay a BAS, but its payment guidance says a BPAY payment can take up to four business days to be received and appear on your account. A payment made on the nominal due date therefore may not show immediately. Pay earlier when a weekend, public holiday or tight cash-flow deadline leaves little margin.
When BPAY makes sense
- You want a one-off full payment without entering card details.
- Your business bank account supports BPAY and you can allow the posting window.
- You have checked that the biller code and PRN belong to the same ATO obligation.
Bank transfer or direct credit
The ATO also provides electronic funds transfer (EFT), commonly described as direct credit, for payments from a bank account. Use the account name, BSB, account number and payment reference supplied in the current ATO instructions for your business and liability. Banking details can differ by payment type, so do not reuse an old template without checking it.
- Sign in to Online services for business and open the balance or payment details for the relevant account.
- Copy the current EFT details and PRN; paste rather than retype where your bank permits.
- Set the amount and payment date, allowing up to four business days for receipt and account posting.
- Save the bank confirmation and reconcile it with the ATO account after the processing window.
Direct credit can be useful when you want funds to come directly from the business account and avoid card charges. It does not guarantee same-day allocation. If the due date is close, contact the ATO rather than assuming a pending transfer has already cleared the liability.
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Paying by debit or credit card
What the online process involves
Online card payment is an ATO-listed option for BAS liabilities. The payment page should show any applicable fee before you confirm. Because the reviewed official guidance does not establish a single current fee amount, use the charge displayed for your card and transaction rather than relying on an old percentage.
- Open the payment option from the ATO’s online payment service or the payment link in your account.
- Enter the PRN for the liability, amount and card details.
- Check the fee, total debit and payment terms on the final review screen.
- Confirm as the cardholder and retain the receipt or transaction number.
ATO guidance says card payments can take up to four business days to appear. The card transaction being approved is not the same as the liability being visible as cleared in Online services for business.
Who can submit a card payment?
From 17 March 2025, only the cardholder can make an online debit- or credit-card payment. A tax professional, BAS agent or bookkeeper cannot use their own card to pay a business’s liability on the business’s behalf under that change. Agents can still use other available channels, including EFT and BPAY, subject to the ATO’s current workflow.
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Card policy through June 2027
Treasury announced on 9 October 2026 that the ATO’s direct acceptance of credit cards will continue until 30 June 2027. After that date, the announcement says the ATO will continue accepting credit-card payments through third parties and will retain other free or low-fee choices such as debit card and bank transfer. Future third-party fees and implementation details were not specified, so check the live ATO payment screen when the change approaches.
Payment plans and direct debit
Find the option in Online services for business
Online services for business lets organisations view balances and PRNs, make payments and create payment plans. Access requires a Digital ID such as myID linked to the business’s online services access.
- Sign in to Online services for business with your authorised business access.
- Open the account balance or “Payments” area and select the relevant debt.
- Choose the payment-plan option if it is offered for that account.
- Review the proposed instalment amount, frequency, start date and payment method.
- Select direct debit from a bank account or card, accept the terms and save the plan confirmation.
Eligibility and available arrangements depend on the account and circumstances. If no plan is offered, or the proposed schedule does not fit your cash flow, contact the ATO promptly and explain what the business can pay.
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Changing or cancelling instalments
Plan changes are not necessarily immediate. ATO instructions require advance notice of one business day for a card direct debit and three business days for a bank-account direct debit when changing an instalment. Keep enough money or card capacity available on the scheduled date. A missed debit can place the arrangement at risk.
Interest still matters
A payment plan is a way to manage repayment; it is not a promise that charges stop. The ATO’s non-payment guidance says general interest charge applies to unpaid amounts. Ask the ATO or your registered tax or BAS agent how the charge applies to your specific debt and whether any remission or other relief is available. Do not describe an instalment arrangement as interest-free unless the ATO has confirmed that outcome for your account.
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- Lodge the BAS by its lodgment deadline. Lodgment and payment are separate obligations; delaying the BAS does not remove the debt.
- Pay what you can through a correctly identified channel. Use the current PRN and retain proof.
- Contact the ATO before or as soon as the due date is missed. Early contact gives the ATO a clearer picture of your circumstances and available options.
- Check Online services for business for a payment-plan offer. Review the instalment amount and direct-debit dates realistically.
- Monitor the account after each payment. Allow the four-business-day posting window before treating a payment as missing, then follow up with the receipt if it has not allocated.
Repeated defaults or failure to engage can lead to firmer collection action. If the debt is complex, several tax types are involved or the proposed instalment is unaffordable, a registered tax or BAS agent can help assess the BAS, cash flow and communication with the ATO.
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Do not confuse PAYG instalments with a debt payment plan
PAYG instalments are scheduled prepayments toward expected income tax, not a repayment arrangement for an overdue ATO debt. The ATO says most businesses generally pay PAYG instalments quarterly, although a notice may set a different frequency based on circumstances. They can be managed through online services, and a registered tax or BAS agent can assist.
A debt payment plan, by contrast, deals with an amount already due or overdue. Keep the two arrangements separate when checking balances, PRNs, dates and cash requirements. Paying a PAYG instalment does not automatically satisfy a separate BAS debt.
A practical decision guide
| Your situation | Likely fit | Action |
|---|---|---|
| You have the full amount and several days before the deadline. | BPAY or bank transfer. | Use the current PRN and submit early enough for the four-business-day window. |
| You need to use available card capacity for a one-off payment. | Online card. | Have the cardholder pay, check the displayed fee and keep the receipt. |
| You cannot clear the liability in one payment. | Payment plan/direct debit, if offered. | Review eligibility and instalments in Online services for business; contact the ATO if the option is unavailable. |
| The due date is today and the account still shows a balance after paying. | Do not pay repeatedly without checking. | Allow posting time, preserve transaction evidence and contact the ATO if the payment remains unallocated after the window. |
Checks before you press “pay”
- Is this the PRN for the correct business, tax type and period?
- Does the amount match the BAS or ATO notice after credits and prior payments?
- Have you allowed up to four business days for BPAY, EFT or card posting?
- Does the payment screen show a card fee, and is the total acceptable?
- If using a plan, can the account or card support every scheduled instalment?
- Have you saved the receipt, confirmation number and payment date?
The Bottom Line
Pay a BAS in full before its due date when you can, using the exact PRN and a method that leaves enough time for processing. BPAY, bank transfer and card payments may take up to four business days to appear; card fees must be checked at checkout. If full payment is not realistic, use Online services for business to look for a direct-debit payment plan and contact the ATO early, remembering that unpaid amounts may continue to attract general interest charge.
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