Clear advice and strategic responses for ATO reviews and audits

Specialist legal help with ATO correspondence, information requests, formal reviews and audits.

An ATO review or audit should be taken seriously from the first contact. The quality, timing and framing of your response can influence how quickly a matter is resolved, whether scrutiny deepens and how much unnecessary cost or stress follows.

Vale Legal advises clients on responding to ATO correspondence, information requests, formal reviews and audits. We help clients understand what the ATO is looking at, what the real risk areas are and how to respond in a way that is organised, credible and commercially sensible.

Our aim is to help clients engage early, reduce escalation where possible and protect their position if the matter becomes more complex.

Speak with Vale Legal
Call (02) 9993 3833

Early response strategy matters

The first response can shape the scope, tone and direction of the matter. We help clients respond clearly before scrutiny deepens.

Reviewed by Greg Vale

NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in Business & Personal Taxation Law.

Coordinated adviser support

We can work with your accountant, bookkeeper or internal team so the technical position and supporting material are aligned.

Who We Help

This page is for clients who have received ATO contact or can see that a review or audit may be developing.

Individuals, businesses and private groups

Clients who have received ATO correspondence and need to understand the issue quickly.

Taxpayers facing review activity

Clients dealing with data-matching reviews, audits or detailed information requests.

Directors, trustees and advisers

Those wanting to manage risk before the matter widens or becomes more formal.

Clients needing a clear strategy

People who need more than a reactive document dump or quick reply.

How We Help

Vale Legal helps clients understand the real issue, prepare a structured response and manage the matter in a way that protects their position.

Reviewing the client position

Providing an expert view on exposure and the likely areas of ATO concern.

Reviewing ATO correspondence

Explaining what the ATO notice, correspondence or request is really asking for.

Preparing written responses

Structuring responses and supporting material in a credible, organised way.

Managing ATO interactions

Handling communications and narrowing the scope of review where appropriate.

Advising on risk and privilege

Considering privilege, risk areas, voluntary disclosures and next-step strategy.

Preparing for possible dispute

Positioning the matter for objection or dispute if required later.

Key Issues We Check Early

Early ATO contact can feel routine, but a poor first response can make a matter harder to manage. Common mistakes include:

  • Treating an early review as routine correspondence rather than a matter needing strategy
  • Sending large volumes of material before the issues have been clearly identified
  • Answering too quickly without checking whether the factual position is complete and consistent
  • Overlooking privilege, disclosure options or the way a response may shape the next stage of the matter
  • Failing to keep a clear chronology and evidence trail from the start
A calm, structured response usually creates more room to resolve the matter or contain the issues in dispute.

Why Vale Legal

Vale Legal brings a specialist tax lens to ATO correspondence, compliance activity and review risk.

Accredited specialist capability

Greg Vale is accredited by the Law Society of New South Wales as an Accredited Specialist in Business & Personal Taxation Law.

Decades dealing with the ATO

Experience across reviews, audits, compliance correspondence and tax disputes.

Published technical expertise

Greg Vale is the author of The Tax Institute seminar paper “Dealing with ATO Reviews, Audits and Disputes”.

Commercially grounded responses

Advice is framed around the legal position, the practical risk and the outcome the client is trying to achieve.

Dispute-ready strategy

If the matter escalates, the response work is aligned with later objection or dispute pathways.

FAQS

A review is an earlier stage inquiry where the ATO is seeking clarification or testing a position. An audit is generally more formal and intensive. In practice, an early review can turn into an audit if it is not handled well.

That depends on the issue, but many matters are better managed with early advice. A response that is incomplete, inconsistent or poorly framed can increase scrutiny and possibly limit future arguments to reduce the ultimate tax payable.

Definitely. In many matters, prompt and well-prepared engagement can clarify the facts, reduce misunderstanding and help contain the issue before it expands.

Yes. We can work with your accountant or adviser to understand the factual background, assemble supporting material and keep the legal and accounting strategy aligned.

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ATO review or audit

If you have received ATO correspondence, a review notice or an audit request, early legal input can help you understand the risk and respond with confidence. Sydney based, advising clients across Australia. Where relevant, Vale Legal can work alongside the client’s accountant, adviser or broader professional team.

Get advice on your ATO review or audit