Set up Single Touch Payroll (Australia)

(Australia only) Successful Single Touch Payroll (STP) processing begins with the required setup. Use these instructions to get started.

This topic guides you through setup steps within Vista that enable the system - during the course of generating submission data for STP - to identify data from payroll history, and compile and aggregate it for purposes of creating your company's STP file, which you can then lodge with the ATO.

Complete setup includes both of the following:
  • Payroll setup in Vista - in order to create accurate STP files, you must have categorised your earnings, deduction, and liability codes prior to beginning your STP processing. This topic discusses only the setup steps. For steps to generate data for your submission and create the e-file, use the guidance provided in PR STP Process Form.
  • Enrollment with a sending service provider (SSP) - Vista's (STP) solution creates e-files suitable for lodging, but you cannot use Vista to deliver the e-files directly to the ATO. After creating each file, you must send your e-files to the ATO by way of an authorised third party sending service provider (SSP), such as Ozedi. Learn more about Ozedi.
  1. If you want to include an earning's amounts within STP reporting, do the following in the PR Earnings Codes form:
    1. Locate and select the earnings code.
    2. Select the Addl Info tab.
    3. If you want to include these earnings amounts within calculations of employees' YTD reportable gross earnings for STP reporting (PAYG Items 'INBGross' and 'HolidayGross'), then select the Include In STP Gross Amounts checkbox.
      For each earnings code with this checkbox selected, the system adds each employee's calculated earnings amounts to their reportable gross earnings during STP processing.
    4. If appropriate, make a selection in the ATO Category field.
      Your selection results in reporting of these earnings amounts under the relevant category within the STP e-file.
    5. If you selected either AT - Allowance, Taxable or ANT - Allowance, Non-Taxable, the system enables the Allowance Type drop down and you are required to make a selection.
    6. If you selected O - Other in the Allowance Type drop down, the system enables the Other Allowance Type drop down and you are required to make a selection.
    7. Save the record.
    The system uses the earnings code to identify payroll earnings and categorises amounts appropriately within the STP e-file.
  2. If you want to include a deduction's amounts within STP reporting, do the following in the PR Deductions/Liabilities form:
    1. Locate and select the deduction code.
    2. Select the Addl Info tab.
    3. If you want to include these deduction amounts within calculations of employees' YTD reportable gross earnings for STP reporting (PAYG Items 'INBGross' and 'HolidayGross'), then select the Include In STP Gross Amounts checkbox.
      For each deduction code with this checkbox selected, the system subtracts each employee's deduction amounts from their reportable gross earnings during STP processing.
      Note: Only pre-tax deductions (Info tab, Pre-Tax Deduction checkbox) are eligible to be included in calculations of employees' YTD reportable earnings for STP. The checkbox is disabled for any deduction code that is not pre-tax.
    4. If appropriate, make a selection in the ATO Category field.
      Your category selection will result in reporting of these deduction amounts under the relevant category within the STP e-file.
    5. Save the record.

    The system uses the deduction code to identify payroll deductions and categorises amounts appropriately within the STP e-file.

  3. If you want to include a liability's amounts within STP reporting, do the following in the PR Deductions/Liabilities form:
    1. Locate and select the liability code.
    2. Select the Addl Info tab.
    3. If you want to include these liability amounts within calculations of employees' YTD reportable gross earnings for STP reporting (PAYG Items 'INBGross' and 'HolidayGross'), then select the Include In STP Gross Amounts checkbox.
      For each liability code with this checkbox selected, the system adds each employee's calculated liability amounts to their reportable gross earnings during STP processing.
    4. If appropriate, make a selection in the ATO Category field.
      Your category selection will result in reporting of these liability amounts under the relevant category within the STP e-file.
    5. Save the record.

    The system uses the liability code to identify payroll liabilities and categorises amounts appropriately within the STP e-file.