How to Prepare Your Own BAS as an Australian Electrician (Without an Accountant)
Most electricians pay $200–$400 per quarter for an accountant to prepare and lodge their BAS. If your business has straightforward income and expenses, you can do it yourself in under an hour — and keep that money in your pocket.
Do You Actually Need an Accountant for BAS?
Accountants provide real value for year-end tax returns, complex structures, and strategic tax planning. But quarterly BAS for a straightforward electrical business? That is largely data entry — and if your records are in order, you can do it yourself.
The ATO designed the Business Portal specifically so business owners can self-lodge. When you have the right system tracking invoices and expenses in real time, preparing BAS is a matter of running one report and transferring three numbers to the portal.
You probably do not need an accountant for BAS if:
- Your income is primarily from electrical services (all taxable at 10% GST)
- You have employees but use payroll software that calculates PAYG withholding
- You do not have complex mixed-use assets or export income
- Your turnover is under $20 million (quarterly lodgement applies)
BAS forms look intimidating. For most electricians, only three numbers matter.
G1, 1B, and 1A. Everything else on the form is either secondary or does not apply to a standard electrical contracting business.
The 3 Numbers That Matter
Total Sales
All income invoiced this quarter, including the GST component. If you invoiced $110,000 total, G1 = $110,000.
Input Tax Credits
GST you paid on business purchases — materials, tools, fuel, insurance. $33,000 in purchases = 1B of $3,000.
GST Payable
G1 ÷ 11 minus 1B. In this example: $10,000 − $3,000 = $7,000 owing to the ATO.
2026 BAS Due Dates
Lodge on time even if your figures are not perfect — the penalty for late lodgement is steeper than for a minor calculation error.
Step 1 — Gather Your Records
The most common reason BAS takes hours instead of minutes is chasing paperwork after the fact. Collect everything before you open the portal:
You need a valid tax invoice for any purchase over $82.50 (including GST) to claim the GST input credit.
Step 2 — Calculate Your Figures
Add up all GST-inclusive income (G1)
Total every invoice you issued during the quarter, including the GST component. If you use an ERP, run a Sales by Period report — G1 is already there.
Calculate GST collected
Divide G1 by 11. That is the GST embedded in your sales. Example: $110,000 ÷ 11 = $10,000.
Add up all GST-inclusive business expenses
Total all tax invoices for business purchases: materials, tools, fuel, insurance, accounting fees. Do not include wages — they are not a GST purchase.
Calculate input tax credits (1B)
Divide total purchases by 11. Example: $33,000 ÷ 11 = $3,000. This is the GST you paid to suppliers and can claim back.
Calculate net GST owing (1A)
GST collected minus input tax credits. $10,000 − $3,000 = $7,000 payable to the ATO. This is 1A on your BAS.
Step 3 — Lodge via ATO Business Portal
What to Do if the Numbers Look Wrong
GST owing is much higher than expected
Check you have captured all input tax credits. Missing purchase receipts are the most common cause. Also verify you have not double-counted income.
GST owing is zero or showing a refund
This happens after quarters with large purchases. It is legitimate — the ATO will refund you. Double-check your purchase total is accurate before submitting.
Figures do not match your bank statements
Reconcile your bank account first. Unreconciled transactions are usually the gap. Cash jobs are a common omission — all income must be declared regardless of payment method.
How Software Eliminates the Manual Work
BAS feels hard when records are not kept in real time. Chasing receipts weeks after the fact, reconciling spreadsheets, calculating GST on a calculator — that is where the hours go.
When your ERP tracks GST automatically on every invoice and expense, BAS preparation is reduced to running one report. G1, 1B, and 1A are already calculated — you transfer three numbers to the ATO portal and you are done.
- Applies 10% GST to every customer invoice
- Captures GST on supplier receipts when you photograph them
- Tracks which purchases have tax invoices vs. just receipts
- Generates a GST summary report with G1, 1B, and 1A pre-calculated
- Reconciles income against bank deposits
- You do not need an accountant for straightforward quarterly BAS
- Only three numbers matter for most electricians: G1, 1B, and 1A
- Lodge on time even if your figures are not perfect — late penalties are steep
- Keep all tax invoices over $82.50 to claim input tax credits
- Real-time record-keeping turns BAS from a chore into a 30-minute task
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an accountant to lodge my BAS?
No — most electricians can self-lodge through the ATO Business Portal. Accountants add value for complex tax structures and year-end returns, but quarterly BAS for a straightforward electrical business is well within reach.
What are the 3 numbers I need for my BAS?
G1 (total sales including GST), 1B (GST you paid on business purchases), and 1A (net GST owing = G1 ÷ 11 minus 1B). Everything else on the form is secondary.
What if I make a mistake on my BAS?
Correct it on your next BAS or lodge a revision via the ATO portal. The ATO treats honest mistakes reasonably when corrected promptly. Always lodge on time — the penalty for not lodging is higher than for a calculation error.
How long does BAS preparation take?
With records up to date, 30–60 minutes. If you track invoices and expenses in real time using an ERP, it can be under 30 minutes — just run the report and transfer the numbers.
Can I claim GST on tools and equipment?
Yes. Tools, equipment, safety gear, and materials are legitimate business expenses. You need a tax invoice (showing ABN and GST amount) for any purchase over $82.50 including GST.
GST Tracked Automatically — BAS in One Click
TPT ERP tracks GST on every invoice and expense in real time. When BAS is due, run the GST report — G1, 1B, and 1A are already there. No spreadsheets, no chasing receipts.