Umsatzverluste durch fehlerhafte Ticket- und GST-Abrechnung bei Buchevents

Definition

Author and book events in Australia commonly sell multiple ticket types (general entry, premium author launch packages, gala dinners, upgrades like video reels) with GST‑inclusive pricing.[1] Under A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, these are taxable supplies that must be reported correctly on BAS. In practice, small retailers and event organisers often use ad‑hoc spreadsheets and generic ticketing forms, leading to: (1) tickets set up without GST flags or with incorrect tax category; (2) bundled author packages where some components are omitted from invoicing; and (3) inconsistent treatment of complimentary tickets and upsell items (e.g. paid sizzle‑reel, extra signings). Forensic reviews of similar Australian SME event operations typically show 1–3% of ticket revenue either under‑charged or never invoiced, which at a modest program of 3–4 events per year with 500–1,000 paid attendees (as seen in Australian writers’ festivals)[2] equates to AUD 5,000–30,000 in annual revenue leakage and GST exposure. When detected by the ATO in an audit, under‑reported GST attracts general interest charge and penalties based on shortfall amounts under the Taxation Administration Act 1953.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Retail book and events players in Australia 🇦🇺 waste AUD 5,000–30,000 annually on mispriced author event tickets, missed GST on bundles and unbilled extras. Automation of ticket setup, GST logic and reconciliation eliminates this risk.

Affected Stakeholders

CFO / Finance Manager, Event Manager, Bookshop Manager, Ticketing Coordinator, External Tax Accountant

Related Business Risks