PAYG Withholding

Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding is a system for withholding amounts from payments to employees, other individuals and businesses. An entity will have withholding obligations if the entity:


  • Has employees, including company directors and officeholders
  • Has other workers such as contractors, and voluntarily agrees to withhold tax from payments to them
  • Makes payments to other businesses, if they don't quote an Australian business number (ABN) to the entity, or
  • Makes certain other payments that are subject to withholding


If you are an employer or run a business and withhold amounts from payments, you need to:


  • Register for PAYG withholding
  • Register as an employer of working holiday makers (417 or 462 visa's) if applicable
  • Withhold amounts from wages and other payments
  • Report to the ATO (generally using single touch payroll (STP))
  • Lodge activity statements and pay the withheld amounts to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
  • For amounts not reported using STP, provide payment summaries to employees and other payees, and
  • For amounts not reported using STP, provide the ATO with an annual report once each income year has ended