I am in the process of developing a number of Titanium mobile apps for iOS that will have in-app payment processing. For which it turns out that the programming part is relatively easy, it is the administration that makes it difficult.
I was merrily coding away, and discovered only when I went to test the in-app payments that Apple would not allow me to do that until all my banking and tax info was sorted out. I can't finish the product until I have all the the admin done. Ok, fair enough.
I start jumping through the hoops, and I discover that as an app developer with a business based in Australia I am forced to register for GST before I can sell content. Again, this seems a little stupid, but I will have to do it eventually, unless the product is a complete flop. So I start to register my business for GST.
Apple redirects me to the ABR website. However, the ABR page indicates that it can no longer be done there.
https://abr.gov.au/ABRWeb/Homepage.aspx?NavGraph=Home&View=Home&pid=71
That page directs me to
http://help.abr.gov.au/BC/Index/Apply_for_PAYG/How_do_I_apply_for_GST_or_PAYG_withholding_/
Which tells me I need to register for the new Australian Business Security Creditial Software AUSkey.
I went through the ridiculous processing of installing their AUSkey software into firefox on my Ubuntu machine (after their instructions for both Firefox and Safari on a Mac failed to work).
To get it running I need to install the Orcale JRE, which I discovered (post-installation) has a serious outstanding security problem. So much for Australia's cutting edge business security.
Eventually I get the Auskey installation to work and log in.
I then try and log into the Business Portal so I can register for GST, lo and behold, error pages.
For the next half and hour whenever I try and login I get presented with :
--------------------------------------------
The system is temporarily unavailable. (Error Number: A918.18)
The system has encountered an unexpected error.
If the problem persists, please contact the ATO Technical Helpdesk on:
Phone 1300 139 373
E-mail technical.help@ato.gov.au
--------------------------------------------
Eventually I am allowed in.
What do I find ?
Nowhere in the Business Portal is there a menu item or option for "Register for GST" or "PAYG." Absolutely nothing. So I have to send an email asking for help. Now I wait until they decide to reply.
Ahhh Australia, the lucky country!
On days like to today I want to register a business in a tax haven country and forget about where I came from. The Australian government is like DRM for media, every time you come up against it nothing works properly and you wonder why you bother paying for things.
