Could you rewire your house by watching YouTube? Probably. Should you? Absolutely not. Some things are too risky, too complex, or legally too important to DIY. Welcome to the Red Zone.
1. Government reporting — BAS, IAS & PAYG
Legally required to be lodged by a registered BAS Agent or Tax Agent
Always verify your BAS Agent — takes 30 seconds
Visit tpb.gov.au/registrations, enter their BAS Agent Number. Green tick = legit. No tick = walk away. Not all bookkeepers are registered BAS Agents.
2. Payroll processing
Paying staff looks simple. It isn't — and mistakes affect real people
3. Year-end financial statements
Your accountant needs these to file your tax return — and banks need them for loans
Lisa — medical practice, 4 staff on different awards
Lisa tried processing payroll herself for three months. Different awards, shift work, weekend penalties — it took her 6+ hours every fortnight, she underpaid super for one employee, and she was waking up at 3am worried about tax withholding. She handed it to a payroll professional.
"I'm a doctor, not a payroll expert. This is the smartest money I spend in my business." — Lisa
Bookkeeper
Registered BAS Agent ✓
Tax Agent / Accountant
| Service | Frequency | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| BAS lodgment — sole trader | Per quarter | $170–255 |
| BAS lodgment — small business | Per quarter | $255–425 |
| Payroll — 1–3 employees | Per pay run | $85–170 |
| Payroll — 4–10 employees | Per pay run | $170–340 |
| Year-end statements — sole trader | Annual | $425–850 |
| Year-end statements — company/trust | Annual | $850–1,700 |
I'm just starting out — can I DIY my BAS to save money?
No — if you're registered for GST, it's a legal requirement to use a registered agent. And one late BAS penalty ($330) already costs as much as half a professional lodgment. This is exactly the wrong place to cut corners.
Can my accountant do my BAS instead?
Yes — Tax Agents can do everything a BAS Agent can. But they typically charge more per hour ($200–350 vs $85–170), so you may pay more for the same quarterly work. Many businesses use a BAS Agent for quarterly lodgments and their accountant for the annual tax return.
I think I've made errors in past BAS lodgments. What now?
Don't panic. A compliance review (typically $170–425) can check past lodgments and lodge amendments if needed. The ATO is generally lenient when errors are corrected voluntarily — before they find them.
Can I do my own bookkeeping and just pay for BAS lodgment?
Absolutely — this is a common and cost-effective setup. You keep the records clean monthly, your BAS Agent reviews and lodges at quarter-end. Just know that messy records mean more time (and cost) for your agent to fix before lodging.
Ready to hand over the Red Zone?
Tell us your situation — GST, payroll, year-end statements, or all three — and we'll give you a clear, upfront quote. No surprises, no hidden fees. Just compliance handled properly so you can sleep at night.
Let's chat →