New ATO GIC Remission Policy to Be Based on Taxpayer’s Star Sign

 6 May 2026

CANBERRA — The Australian Taxation Office has announced a new framework for the remission of general interest charge, under which decisions will be determined by the taxpayer’s star sign, effective from 1 July.

The ATO said the change would improve consistency.

A separate spokesperson said the commencement date was subject to review.

A third spokesperson said 1 July remained the indicative date, pending confirmation that Mercury would not be in retrograde.

The new framework replaces the previous system, under which remission decisions were made by whichever officer answered the phone.

“This represents a significant step forward in transparency,” a spokesperson said.

A separate spokesperson said the framework was still being finalised.

A third spokesperson said there had always been a framework.

The GIC remission system has operated for several decades. During COVID, the ATO applied generous remissions to support taxpayers through a period of economic disruption. In late 2023, without announcement or formal communication of any kind, it stopped doing that.

Practitioners report that the change was discovered gradually, primarily through rejection.

“We just started getting nos,” said one tax agent. “Identical circumstances. Just nos.”

The ATO said the 2023 posture change was clearly communicated.

A separate spokesperson said it was communicated through updated internal guidance.

A third spokesperson said the ATO had always communicated changes clearly.

At the operational level, remission decisions have historically been managed by a team of officers including Steve, John, Karen, and Dave.

Steve, reached by phone on Tuesday, remitted $34,000 in GIC for a small business owner who cited flood damage, cash flow difficulties, and the death of a family member.

John, reached later the same afternoon, declined to remit $1,200 for a separate taxpayer who cited flood damage, cash flow difficulties, and the death of a family member.

John said the circumstances did not meet the threshold.

Steve said he thought John was being a bit harsh.

Karen has not remitted anything since November. Colleagues say she attended a compliance briefing in October and has not been the same since.

Dave remits everything. Practitioners have begun calling back until they get Dave.

“You just call until you get Dave,” said one accountant, who asked not to be named. “Everyone knows to call until you get Dave.”

The ATO said it was not aware of the Dave situation.

A separate spokesperson said the ATO was committed to consistent decision-making.

A third spokesperson said the ATO had always had a dedicated remission review team, and that phone approvals had always been capped at $2,500.

Practitioners noted that this means Dave can now only help up to a point.

The Tax Ombudsman’s review, published in March 2026, found that the ATO’s approach to GIC remission was not meeting community expectations, that similar circumstances were producing vastly different outcomes, and that the system had come to resemble, in the Ombudsman’s assessment, a potluck.

The ATO accepted the findings in full.

“We are committed to fairness and consistency,” a spokesperson said.

A separate spokesperson said the ATO was currently reviewing its approach to fairness and consistency.

A third spokesperson said the ATO had always been committed to fairness and consistency.

Under the incoming star sign framework, Scorpios and Capricorns will be assessed under a strict liability model. Leos may apply for partial remission, subject to a values alignment review. Pisces will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Geminis have been referred to the compliance team.

The commencement date of 1 July remains indicative. The ATO has noted that a number of significant planetary alignments fall across the 2025-26 financial year end, and that the interaction of these alignments with the existing legislative framework requires further consideration.

A spokesperson said the ATO was working through the astrological implications carefully.

A separate spokesperson said the ATO did not make decisions based on astrological factors.

A third spokesperson said the ATO had always made decisions based on astrological factors.

“The framework reflects the complexity of individual circumstances,” a spokesperson said.

A separate spokesperson said the framework was intended to simplify individual circumstances.

A third spokesperson said individual circumstances had always been irrelevant.

Steve said he thought it was pretty reasonable. Steve is a Sagittarius. Sagittarians are known for their optimism, generosity of spirit, and tendency to see circumstances in their best light. Astrologers note this is broadly consistent with Steve’s remission history.

John said it was not strict enough. John is a Capricorn. Under the incoming framework, Capricorns will be assessed under a strict liability model. John said he had no objection to that.

Dave said he would probably just remit the whole thing anyway. Dave is a Pisces. Under the incoming framework, Pisces will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Observers noted this describes Dave’s existing approach exactly.

Karen has not commented. Karen is a Scorpio. This was considered unsurprising.

This article is a work of satire. Remission of any factual errors is available upon application, subject to individual circumstances, and will be assessed by whichever editor answers the phone.