The ATO disclosed 𝟯𝟲,𝟬𝟬𝟬 business tax debts to credit bureaus and issued 𝟮𝟲,𝟳𝟬𝟮 director penalty notices in 2024
source: ATO Annual Report 2024
source: ATO Annual Report 2024
Clear it fast with a tax debt loan structured to your situation. Book a no-obligation strategy call now to get a clear plan in place.
For many Australians, tax debt doesn’t start with a dramatic event, it creeps in. Maybe it was a missed BAS deadline, underestimated tax bill, or PAYG instalment that slid during a tough quarter. Suddenly, you're facing a growing debt to the ATO, with letters arriving and the pressure mounting. It often happens to people who otherwise were doing everything right. Small business owners juggling cash flow and working families returning to work after a break.
And once it’s there, it just doesn’t seem to go away. As soon as one payment is made, the next bill arrives on top. Worse still, the ATO adds General Interest Charges (GIC) daily, compounding the problem and making even small debts feel overwhelming very fast.
But there are options. One that is gaining traction is the use of non-bank tax debt loans. These are specialised finance solutions that mortgage brokers can arrange to help clear ATO debts quickly, protect your credit file, and give you back financial control.
While traditional banks usually won’t approve loans to pay off ATO tax debt, we have access to a range of reputable non-bank lenders who do. These solutions are often more affordable than you'd expect. If you have sufficient equity in a residential or commercial property and can comfortably service the loan, interest rates can currently be secured from as low as 6.49%. Significantly lower than the ATO’s current 10.78% General Interest Charge (GIC). Plus, unlike the GIC, the interest on a non-bank loan may be tax deductible, depending on your circumstances.
Unsecured loans for paying tax debt are usually only practical for amounts under $50,000, due to the higher interest rates. For larger tax debts, lenders typically require real estate property as security to keep the loan affordable. Most of my clients end up choosing to refinance their home or take out a second mortgage on a property to pay off their tax debt to minimise interest rates and obtain manageable repayments.
✅ MUST HAVE Income
✅ MUST HAVE Security for loans > $50,000
✅ PAYG / Business / Self Employed
✅ ANY Credit Rating - OK
✅ ATO Payment Plan NOT Feasible
If paying off your tax debt through an ATO payment plan or obtaining a tax debt loan isn’t feasible and there’s limited capacity to increase income or reduce expenses, you might need to explore alternatives such as Small Business Restructuring (SBR) or Voluntary Administration (VA). These processes can offer a pathway to manage unpayable debts and protect your business, but they’re not suitable for everyone. Please speak with your accountant, as the right course of action depends on your individual circumstances.
I’m Amir Masinovic, founder and principal broker at Shield Mortgage Brokers. With personal experience repaying a significant post-COVID tax debt, I understand how stressful and confusing the process can be. I bring both personal insight and professional experience to help you explore the right options for resolving your ATO tax debt. My goal is to support as many Australians as possible in getting their tax situation under control. I would be proud to be part of your team.
Learn how to take control of your tax debt, avoid costly mistakes, and explore your repayment options. Download now for expert insights and helpful resources.
Download GuideI’ve worked with Shield Mortgage Brokers a couple of times now, and they’ve always made the whole process so much easier. They really listen to what you need and help you find the best loan options. Highly recommend if you’re looking for someone who knows their stuff.
Harry Jacob
I was struggling to refinance my home loan myself until I reached out to Amir at Shield Mortgage Brokers. He not only found me a loan but also structured it in a way that cost me less each month. His knowledge and customer-focused approach made the process less stressful. Highly recommended!
Katrina M.
Amir helped me get a debt consolidation loan that improved my monthly cashflows by some degree. Recommended service.
Aiden Tirrell
Schedule a time to chat — we’ll help you find out if a loan or another approach makes the most sense.
We'll research and advise you of your loan options. ETA 1 Business Day.
Urgent funding available in 2-3 business days. Cheaper & less urgent loans available in 2-3 weeks.
Once ATO debt settled, simply manage your loan account with the lender as any other loan.
✅ ATO Tax Debt Loans
✅ Debt Consolidation
✅ Refinancing Options
✅ Low & Full Doc Loan Applicants
✅ Fast Cash Options
✅ Flexible Loan Strategies
✅ Better Rates than ATO Charges
We can connect via Zoom or Phone – Whatever Works Best for You
Secured loans offer more flexibility, including longer terms and higher borrowing limits, allowing us to explore debt consolidation to reduce your overall costs. The biggest advantage? More lenders competing for your business, driving interest rates down. More options = lower costs!
For unsecured borrowers, an unsecured loan can still be a valuable tool to partially finance your ATO repayment agreement, ensuring the best possible outcome for your situation.
Benefits in Engaging with ATO first:
✅ Try to avoid enforcement actions such as Director Penalty Notices, garnishee orders, liquidation proceedings, issues being recorded on credit reports.
✅ Potential for a payment plan or interest remission
✅ Demonstrates good faith & compliance – Improves relations with the ATO and demonstrates to lenders that you are of good character and credit worthy.
First Steps:
✅ If not already attempted, speak with your tax advisor and discuss a payment plan or potential penalty reductions with the ATO.
✅ Keep up to date with tax lodgements, even if you can’t pay in full.
✅ If the ATO refuses a reasonable arrangement, contact us to explore alternative financing options like tax debt loans.
You may want to consider alternative funding options through us if the ATO:
❌ Rejects a payment plan request
❌ Demands an unaffordable lump sum payment
❌ Issues a Director Penalty Notice or legal enforcement action
❌ Refuses to remit penalties or interest
Our lender options typically cover a range of taxes owed to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO):
✅ Goods and Services Tax (GST) / Business Activity Statement (BAS) liabilities
✅ Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) debts
✅ Superannuation Guarantee Charges (SGC)
✅ Income Tax for businesses and company profits
✅ Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) / Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Book a convenient time for a call and we'll find out your options.
We can assist you if:
✅ You have a bad credit rating generally - we have loan options where credit scores are not assessed.
✅ You have a good credit history other than the Tax Debt - we can use this to secure lower-cost tax loan options for you.
✅ Your ATO debt has been rejected for a payment plan or is in default - we are the next logical step to help you.
✅ You have security available - this will help keep your borrowing costs down.
Our specialist lenders understand that businesses with tax debt may also have delayed lodgements. They may still approve loans using Low Doc methods, focusing on cash flow and asset security. However, these loans often come with stricter terms, such as higher interest rates, shorter loan terms, or lower borrowing limits. We can help you navigate the loan application process and provide guidance to improve your chances of securing funding for your tax debt repayment.
If you need funds urgently i.e. within 5 days or less to avoid a costly impact we also work with private lenders who offer fast / short-term loans. Fast funding is typically used as part of a broader finance strategy buying you time to deal with an urgent matter while planning to refinance to cheaper, long-term options later.
To qualify you'll need security of some type:
✅ Security is mandatory in these cases
✅ Property security preferred
✅ Other security options considered – items like artwork, precious metals, business equipment, vehicles, or racehorses may also be accepted
When Fast Cash Makes Sense:
✅ Issued a Directors Penalty Notice
✅ Breaching debt covenants you have in existing loans - common for businesses
✅ Some other serious cost impacts if not urgently resolved
Need fast funding urgently? Call now or leave us a message, don’t delay.