Free tool · about 2 minutes
ATO debt options checker
Tell us about the debt, any notices and your situation. You'll get a ranked list of realistic options — including the free ATO ones — with deadlines, reasons and official links.
Your ranked options will appear here.
Answer the questions and press Show my options. It takes about two minutes, and the result explains each option in plain English.
How does the checker rank your options?
The checker applies the rules the ATO, ASIC and AFSA publish — not our opinion of what you should do. It starts by looking for deadlines: a director penalty notice, statutory demand or bankruptcy notice each gives 21 days; a credit-reporting warning gives 28; a wind-up application has a hearing date. Deadlines don't change which options exist, but they change which are realistic.
It then checks for the lockdown rule. If GST or PAYG withholding was reported more than three months late, or the ATO estimated it, a director penalty for those amounts can only be remitted by paying in full. That one answer moves payment — from cash or funding — to the top of the list for company directors.
Next it tests the free ATO options. The interest-free plan needs turnover under $2 million, activity statement debt of $50,000 or less overdue no more than 12 months, lodgements up to date, no more than one default in a year, viability, and that the business can't obtain finance through normal channels. A standard payment plan can be set up online for debts under $200,000. Larger debts need a conversation with the ATO, sometimes with security.
Finally it looks at funding and insolvency. If the business is profitable and there's property or steady cash flow, funding can clear the ATO and keep you in control. If the business is losing money, the checker says so plainly and points you to free counselling and registered professionals — because borrowing won't fix a business that can't carry it.
What the checker can't do
It can't see your figures, your contracts or your history, and it doesn't know about defences, disputes or special circumstances. Treat the result as a well-informed starting point for a conversation with your accountant — or with us. If funding appears near the top, you can see if you qualify in about a minute, with no credit check.
Why we built a tool that sometimes says "don't borrow"
We're a business funder, not an insolvency firm and not a tax agent. Our goal is the opposite of insolvency: keep viable businesses trading and owners in control, without professional fees that often run into the tens of thousands. That only works if we're honest about when a loan isn't the answer. If the ATO's own options fit, use them. If the business can't recover, get independent help. If funding fits, we'd love to talk.
Free and official help
These cost nothing to call or check. We list them because a good decision starts with good information — whoever you end up working with.
- Small Business Debt Helpline 1800 413 828 Free, independent financial counselling for small business owners.
- National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 Free financial counselling for individuals and sole traders.
- ATO — payment plans Set up or change a plan online or by phone with the ATO directly.
- ASIC professional registers Check that a liquidator or administrator is registered.
- Tax Practitioners Board register Check that anyone negotiating with the ATO for a fee is a registered tax agent.
- ATO phoenix tip-off line 1800 060 062 Report suspected illegal phoenix activity or dodgy advice.
Numbers and links checked 4 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ATO debt options checker free?
Yes. It's free, anonymous and instant. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere — the results are worked out in your browser.
Will the checker tell me which option to choose?
It ranks realistic options using the ATO's published rules and thresholds, so you can see where to start. It can't replace advice from your accountant or a registered professional, who can look at the full detail of your situation.
Why does the checker sometimes recommend free ATO options over a loan?
Because for some situations they're cheaper. An interest-free ATO plan, or a standard plan for a modest debt, can beat borrowing. We'd rather you used the right option than the one that suits us.
What does 'lockdown' mean in the results?
If GST or PAYG withholding was reported more than three months after its due date, or the ATO raised an estimate, a director penalty for those amounts can only be remitted by paying in full. Restructuring and liquidation won't remove it.
Does using the checker affect my credit score?
No. It's just a calculator. And if you go on to enquire with us, there's no credit check at that stage either.
How current are the rules the checker uses?
The thresholds and deadlines were checked against ATO, ASIC and AFSA pages on 4 October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm anything critical on ato.gov.au.
No credit check to enquire
Asking what's possible leaves your credit file untouched. A credit check only comes up if you decide to proceed.
Your file isn't shopped around
We don't hand your details to a queue of lenders or brokers. One team looks at your situation and matches it carefully.
A real person reads it
Someone who understands ATO debt calls you back. Accurate form answers mean the first conversation is a useful one.
Funding near the top of your list?
Tell us what you owe and which notices you have. A real person calls you back with honest options — no credit check to enquire, and your details aren't passed around.
No credit check to enquire
Your file isn't shopped around
A real person reads it