ATO Opens Free Masterclasses for Small Business Owners
The ATO is running a series of free, one-hour small business masterclasses from September to December 2026, covering everything from registering a business through to managing tax debt. They're delivered live online in small enough groups to ask real questions — and they're free. Worth flagging to any client still finding their feet, or any established business that's never had a proper refresher on GST or super.
16
Topics covered
1 Hour
Session duration
Sep - Dec 2026
Delivery period
Free
Cost to attend
IN BRIEF: The ATO's small business masterclasses are free, one-hour live sessions run via Microsoft Teams or WebEx, covering 16 topics from registering a business through to GST, super, cash flow, hiring staff and tax debt. Sessions run September to December 2026 and suit both new and established business owners looking to shore up the basics.
What topics are covered?
The 16 sessions roughly fall into four groups:
Starting out — registering a business, invoicing and eInvoicing, record-keeping and bookkeeping.
Running the business — GST and tax reporting, cash flow management, business income and expenses, managing business money and assets.
Employing people — super guarantee obligations, hiring and paying workers, fringe benefits tax.
Staying compliant — tax time compliance, managing tax debt, and a session specifically on content creator tax obligations.
How are the sessions run?
Each masterclass is a one-hour, live, interactive session delivered via Microsoft Teams or WebEx — not a recorded webinar, so attendance is at a set date and time. The ATO walks through real-world scenarios with experienced staff rather than just reading through rules, and there are multiple session times for each topic across the September–December period. Registration is via the links on the ATO's masterclasses page for each specific date and time.
Who should attend?
The ATO pitches these at business owners "starting out or already running an established business" — the aim is to build good habits early and avoid common pitfalls rather than fix problems after the fact. That makes them equally useful for a client six months into their first business and one who's been operating for a decade but never had formal training on, say, FBT or tax debt management.
What should you do now?
Pick the sessions relevant to your stage
New businesses will get the most out of registration, invoicing and record-keeping. Growing businesses with staff should prioritise super guarantee, hiring and paying workers, and FBT.
Register early
Sessions are live only — there's no recording to catch up on later — and they run on a fixed schedule through to December. Lock in a time now rather than meaning to get to it.
Bring your real numbers
The format is built around real-world scenarios, so the sessions are more useful if you come with an actual question from your own business rather than attending passively.
This article is intended as general information only and does not constitute tax advice. Every business's payroll arrangements are different. We recommend speaking with us directly to understand how these changes apply to your specific circumstances.
Not sure which session is worth your time?
Our team can point you to the masterclasses most relevant to your business and help translate what's covered back into a plan for your own numbers.