BAS due and the account's short: paying on time without the panic

The BAS comes around like clockwork, and somehow it still catches businesses out. A strong quarter means a bigger GST bill. A slow one means less in the bank to pay it. Either way, if the due date is a few days off and the account won’t cover it, you’ve got options — and the earlier you act, the cheaper they are.

When is the BAS actually due?

According to the ATO:

Reporting	Period	Due date
Quarterly	July–September	28 October
Quarterly	October–December	28 February
Quarterly	January–March	28 April
Quarterly	April–June	28 July
Monthly	Any month	21st of the following month

If the due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, you have until the next business day to lodge and pay. Registered tax agents may have different lodgement arrangements for their clients — check with yours.

What should you do if the money isn’t there?

1. Lodge on time regardless. Lodging and paying are separate obligations. Lodging tells the ATO the amount and keeps you on the right side of the lodgement rules.
2. Work out the gap — the BAS amount minus what you can comfortably pay without leaving wages short.
3. Choose a route for the gap: an ATO payment plan, fast funding, or a mix.
4. Don’t let it drift. GIC is calculated on a daily compounding basis on overdue amounts, and since 1 July 2025 it’s no longer tax deductible.

Payment plan or fast funding?

The ATO says that if you owe $200,000 or less, you may be able to set up a payment plan yourself online or through its self-help phone line. That suits many businesses. Fast funding suits others. The trade-offs:

	ATO payment plan	Fast funding
Speed to set up	Quick online for eligible debts	Same day possible for smaller amounts
Debt to the ATO	Remains, reducing over time	Cleared immediately
GIC	Keeps accruing on the balance	Stops; the loan has its own cost
Next BAS	Must be paid on time as well	Must be paid on time as well
Effect on future finance	A plan in good standing is viewed reasonably	Clears the ATO from the picture

A common approach: use a cash flow loan or line of credit for a one-off spike, and a payment plan only when the debt is larger and the business needs months to work through it. If funding looks right, apply now and tell us the due date.

How fast can a loan pay the ATO?

• Unsecured, smaller amounts: same-day funding is possible with six months of bank statements and ID ready.
• Unsecured, larger amounts: within 24 hours is our aim for complete applications.
• Property-secured: $20k to $250k is possible on the same day; larger amounts within 24–48 hours on a clean deal.

Funds can be paid to your business account or straight to the ATO using your payment reference.

Why do BAS shortfalls happen — and how do you prevent them?

Most BAS shortfalls come from treating GST collected as the business’s own money. A few habits stop the cycle:

• Separate account. Move GST and PAYG withholding into a tax account weekly or with each sale batch.
• Forecast the bill. Your accounting software can estimate the BAS weeks ahead.
• Watch collisions. Quarter-end BAS dates often sit close to pay runs and, since 1 July 2026, the Payday Super deadlines that follow them. Our cash crunch calendar lays out 2026–27.
• Standby funding. A line of credit arranged in a calm month makes a big quarter a non-event.

An illustrative example: an Adelaide building supplies business has a record September quarter, and its BAS for the quarter comes to $96,000 — about $30,000 more than usual, because of a large one-off sale. Lodging on time on 28 October is easy; paying is the problem, with wages due the same week. A 90-day cash flow loan for $35,000, funded the day before the due date, covers the gap. The business repays it as its own customers pay in November.

When does a BAS shortfall become something bigger?

If BAS amounts are being missed quarter after quarter, the tax debt grows, GIC compounds, and directors can eventually face personal liability through the director penalty regime. Large overdue business tax debts can also be reported to credit bureaus. If that’s the trajectory, see ATO tax debt funding and director penalty notice, and talk to your accountant.

What if this is the second BAS you’ve struggled with?

One tight quarter is a timing issue. Two in a row is a pattern worth looking at. Before funding another BAS, spend half an hour with your figures:

• Is GST being set aside as it’s collected, or used for running costs?
• Have prices kept up with costs?
• Are customers paying more slowly than before?
• Has the business taken on new costs — staff, premises, finance — without matching revenue?

If the answer points to a structural problem, an ATO payment plan or a conversation with your accountant may serve you better than a loan. If it’s still timing — a big project, a slow-paying client — fund the gap and fix the process so the next quarter is easier.

Pay the BAS and get on with business

If the BAS is due and the account is short, a fast, simple fix may be one call away. Asking costs nothing and doesn’t involve a credit check, your details aren’t dispatched to a pile of lenders, and a real person helps you pick the cheapest sensible route. Tell us the BAS amount and due date accurately so we can line it up first time. Apply now.