The weekly issue of the various ATO Rulings is relied upon by many of our Tax and Accounting subscribers. We've made searching ATO Rulings easy by enabling customers to search the fully-integrated and interactive Rulings database.

This service underwent a comprehensive conversion and upgrade in 2012 when Thomson Reuters first introduced searchable active XML files on its online platforms Westlaw and Checkpoint. Although customers will continue to have immediate access to all the ATO’s Rulings in MS Word format, customers can now search the fully-integrated and interactive Rulings database.

The online platforms are updated on a monthly basis and search functionality is now a standard toolkit inclusion.

Not long after the advent of the new web version, our looseleaf print service “Rulings and Guidelines” ceased publication. A decision was taken to terminate the service because the binders were becoming unwieldy, and its contents were thus becoming unreliable.

The decision to end paper updates was made easier as customers now have access to a first-rate electronic publication that covers much more of the ATO Rulings regime than the old service, and with much greater regularity and timeliness.

In 2013 it was decided to upgrade and add value to this service by publishing an accompanying online summary embedded in each new Ruling. The summary contains links to relevant parts of the Ruling for the convenience of customers who may wish to drill further into salient points, as well as  accessing in-depth coverage of its broad outlines.

Complementary to this publication is its stable-mate GST Rulings which has also benefited by a similar upgrade and insertion of a summary with each new Ruling.

These editorial changes have resulted in a more accurate, reliable and competitive service for our tax and accounting customers.

Written By Geoff Moxon