How much does it cost to get help negotiating ATO debt?
Short answer
Dealing with the ATO yourself costs nothing. Paying a registered tax agent to negotiate a payment plan or a remission request is usually a modest fixed or hourly fee. A formal restructure or liquidation costs a great deal more, because it is a legal process run by a registered liquidator. The price should match the mechanism, and the mechanisms are explained at ATO debt forgiveness.
The free option, and when it is enough
The ATO does not charge for payment plans, remission requests or hardship applications. If you owe under $200,000, have lodged everything and have not defaulted on two plans in the last year, you can set up an ATO payment plan online in a few minutes. A GIC remission request for a smaller amount is often decided during the same phone call on 13 11 42.
Doing it yourself is usually enough when the debt is straightforward, the history is clean and you can afford the instalments the ATO's estimator suggests. It gets harder when the debt is large, old, mixed across several tax types, or when there is already a garnishee notice or a director penalty notice in play.
What professionals charge, by type of help
| Help | Who does it | How it is usually priced |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiating a payment plan, deferral or garnishee release | Registered tax agent or accountant | Fixed fee or a few hours at their hourly rate |
| Written GIC or penalty remission request | Registered tax agent | Fixed fee; more if evidence needs assembling |
| Hardship release application | Tax agent, or free through a financial counsellor | Fixed fee, or free via community services |
| Catching up unlodged returns and BAS | Tax agent | Per return or per period, often the biggest line item |
| Small business restructuring | Registered liquidator as restructuring practitioner | A quoted fee for the plan stage plus a fee for administering payments, paid from the company |
| Liquidation or voluntary administration | Registered liquidator | Paid from company assets, or an upfront amount for a company with none |
Fees vary widely by firm and by city, so get a written quote that names the work and the mechanism. A quote that only says debt resolution is not a quote.
Free help exists. The National Debt Helpline connects individuals and sole traders with financial counsellors at no cost, and they regularly help with hardship applications and payment plans.
Get matched with a specialist, free
No cost to you for the match. Fees, if any, are quoted by the specialist in writing before you commit.
Fee structures to be careful with
- Large upfront fees before any assessment. A legitimate adviser needs to see your lodgements and debt types before promising anything. Paying thousands for a guaranteed reduction is the classic pattern described at is tax debt forgiveness real.
- A percentage of the savings. This sounds fair but rewards pushing you into the process that produces the biggest paper saving, such as liquidation, rather than the one that suits you.
- Fees that are not disclosed until you have signed. Restructuring and insolvency fees are set out in a formal remuneration report; ask to see the estimate before you appoint anyone.
- Referral arrangements you are not told about. This site is free to use and we may receive a referral fee from the specialist we match you with, which we disclose. Any adviser referring you on should do the same.
CHECK REGISTRATION
Only a registered tax agent can charge to lodge or deal with the ATO for you, and only a registered liquidator can run an SBR or liquidation. Check the Tax Practitioners Board and ASIC registers before paying.
What to do next
- Decide whether your case is simple enough to handle yourself: lodged, under $200,000, no enforcement notices, clean plan history.
- If not, ask two advisers for a written quote naming the mechanism and the deliverable.
- Check the adviser on the Tax Practitioners Board register, or the ASIC register for a liquidator.
- If you are an individual or sole trader on a low income, call the National Debt Helpline before paying anyone.
Related questions
Is it worth paying an accountant to negotiate with the ATO?
It depends on the size and complexity of the debt. For a clean debt under $200,000 the online plan is free and fast. For a large or old debt with significant interest, a well-prepared remission request can save far more than the fee, and representation matters if there is a garnishee, a DPN or a statutory demand in play.
Are fees for tax debt advice tax deductible?
Fees paid to a registered tax agent for managing your tax affairs are generally deductible for the taxpayer who incurs them. Insolvency practitioner fees are treated differently. The interest itself is no longer deductible: GIC and SIC incurred from 1 July 2025 cannot be claimed.
Get matched with a specialist, free
No cost to you for the match. Fees, if any, are quoted by the specialist in writing before you commit.
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