ATO Debt: What Accountants Need To Know Now
The ATO has issued 84,000 Director Penalty Notices this year alone.
This practical checklist shows you how to spot risk early, protect your clients, and safeguard your own professional position — before enforcement escalates.
A concise, accountant-focused guide to navigating unpaid ATO debt, payment defaults, and director exposure in 2025.
Accountants are now on the frontline of ATO enforcement.
With collectable tax debt at record highs and enforcement powers expanding, even well-intentioned clients can quickly find themselves facing serious consequences — including DPNs, credit reporting, and director liability.
This guide is designed to help you:
✔️ Recognise the warning signs earlier
✔️ Understand how the ATO is currently enforcing debt
✔️ Know when (and how) to escalate matters responsibly
What This Guide Covers
The latest ATO enforcement trends and why 2025 is different
Key debt triggers accountants are seeing across SMEs
The ATO enforcement pathway — from reminders to director penalties
Red flags that indicate a client may already be at risk
Practical next steps to protect both your client and your firm
Who This Guide Is For
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Accountants
advising SME and director-led businesses
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Firms
managing clients with ATO arrears or payment plans
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Practitioners
wanting to reduce exposure while adding value
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Advisors
seeking a trusted restructuring partner, not a referral risk
Why Accountants Work with The Ruhe Group
The Ruhe Group is a boutique insolvency and restructuring firm that works closely with accountants to navigate ATO debt, director exposure, and restructuring pathways — discreetly and commercially.
Our approach is collaborative, not confrontational. We aim to support accountants, protect relationships, and achieve the best possible outcome for viable businesses.
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