We’ve launched our new BAS and FBT Workpapers in Beta! This is the first stage of a larger release, and there’s plenty more planned. Here’s everything you need to know about how these new workpaper types work.
Choosing a Workpaper Type
If your firm has access to this feature, you’ll now see a new Workpaper Type dropdown when creating a workpaper.
You can select from:
Annual Compliance
Business Activity Statements
Fringe Benefits Tax
Note: Individual Tax Returns will be added later.
Selecting the correct type ensures the correct leadsheet appears.
Templates for BAS and FBT
When you create BAS or FBT workpapers, you’ll also see new pre-built templates designed specifically for these workpaper types:
OWT – Business Activity Statements
OWT – Fringe Benefits Tax
However, you can create your own templates if you would like. If you create a checklist template, make sure it uses the correct tags (you can find the tag list on the leadsheet).
Navigation Changes
Most of the workpaper layout remains the same, but you’ll notice one key difference in the left-hand navigation:
Annual Compliance workpapers show the Trial Balance.
BAS and FBT workpapers show a Leadsheet.
The Leadsheet contains all the worksheets relevant to the chosen workpaper type. From here, you can:
Sort
Search
Filter
Assign
Exclude worksheets
This is similar to the trial balance workflow, but tailored for BAS and FBT preparation.
Creation Worksheets
Each item on the leadsheet will open a Creation Worksheet.
A creation worksheet:
Looks and behaves like your existing worksheets
Follows the same tab structure
Uses worksheet entries to calculate the final amount
Automatically pushes the total back to the leadsheet
Unlike a default worksheet (which reconciles back to a given figure), a creation worksheet starts from scratch - you build up the amount using your entries.
Submit Entries & Recall Entries
You’ll notice two new buttons in the Entries tab:
Submit entries
Recall entries
These give you a way to indicate whether the worksheet entries are final or still in progress. You can submit entries once you’re comfortable with them, and recall them at any time if more work is needed.
These actions form part of the worksheet’s review conditions.
Review Conditions
A worksheet must meet all review conditions before being considered complete.
For creation worksheets, the review conditions are:
All entries have been submitted
All checklist items are resolved
All internal comments are resolved
All client queries are resolved
Once all conditions are met, the worksheet is ready to move through your usual review flow.
Supporting Calculations
You’ll also see a suite of new calculation templates designed to support BAS and FBT figures. These help streamline your process and provide consistent, transparent workings.
Other Features
Everything else in the workpaper works as you’re used to:
Add comments
Raise client queries
Attach files
Use additional schedules
Collaborate with your team
Current Limitations
During this initial Beta release, worksheets operate as stand-alone items. The figures do not yet roll up into a combined summary or consolidated calculation.
This release is intentionally lightweight so you can test the workflow and tell us what you’d like to see next. Your feedback will help shape the future of BAS, FBT, and other specialised workpaper types.