Technology and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax in Australia: a small business perspective\ud

This paper evaluates the increased use of technology in small businesses in Australia after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 2000. A 2004\ud qualitative survey of small convenience stores was used to determine the accounting system employed to trace the receipt, and payment, of the Goods and Services tax\ud required by the Australian Tax Office. Although an increase in the use of technology in these small businesses was observed, there was not a corresponding increase in the flow of information for decision-making purposes. Owner/managers still used their accounting information purely for compliance purposes, and did not avail themselves of the increased functionality that these systems offered