Glossary/Tax & Compliance

What is GST (Goods and Services Tax)?

GST is a broad-based consumption tax applied to most goods and services. Businesses collect GST on sales and claim credits for GST paid on purchases, remitting the net amount to the tax authority.

The Goods and Services Tax is a value-added tax used in Australia (10%), New Zealand (15%), Singapore (9%), India (5-28% multi-rate), Canada (5% federal plus provincial) and many other countries. As a GST-registered business, you charge GST on your taxable sales (output tax) and claim credits for GST paid on business purchases (input tax). Each reporting period, you calculate the difference: if you collected more GST than you paid, you remit the difference to the tax authority. If you paid more than you collected, you receive a refund. GST compliance requires correct categorisation of every transaction - standard rated, zero-rated, exempt or input-taxed - and proper record keeping including valid tax invoices. Errors in GST reporting can result in penalties, interest and audits. SortBooks automates GST compliance by applying the correct GST code to every transaction based on AI-powered categorisation, generating GST-ready reports and maintaining the documentation trail required by your tax authority.

How SortBooks Handles GST (Goods and Services Tax)

SortBooks automates the bookkeeping processes related to gst (goods and services tax) by connecting to your Xero account and using AI to categorise transactions, reconcile bank feeds and generate accurate reports. Instead of manually managing gst (goods and services tax), SortBooks handles it automatically with 97%+ accuracy - saving you hours every week and ensuring your books are always up to date and compliant.

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