MELBOURNE, Australia – 16 May 2017: ATO recognises fintech start-up Gobbill as Early Stage Innovation Company.
The Australian Taxation Office has ruled that technology start-up company Gobbill satisfies the requirements to be an Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC).
Gobbill is a new digital service that automates and centralises all bill payments, giving users a streamlined solution offering greater security and increased control of their finances. The start-up is sponsored by Microsoft’s BizSpark program and is also a partner of Stay Safe Online, a Commonwealth initiative to protect Australians from cyber related crimes. New users can sign up for a free account at gobbill.com.au
The ATO ruling states, “Gobbill’s email bill innovation is the first holistic product that provides end-to-end processing using a digital service platform that includes the detection of fraudulent bills… It has been identified as having a wider global addressable market.”
“We are very pleased to receive this positive ruling from the tax office,” says Gobbill co-founder Shendon Ewans, “Our experience dealing with the ATO for this ruling has been very positive. They seem to be supportive of innovation and entrepreneurship for the Australian start-up eco-system.”
Although ESIC was introduced in the 2016 Budget, many investors and startups are unclear of their eligibility for tax benefits. “The ESIC rules, whilst offering major incentives to start-ups and investors alike are complex.” says EY’s R&D and Technology Incentives Partner Mark Chan. “Given this complexity and the ongoing compliance requirements, startups and investors should obtain legal and tax advice to ensure they are applying the rules correctly.”
Australian start-ups and investors interested about the tax incentives for investing in early stage innovation companies can refer to ATO’s website “Tax incentives for early stage investors” or contact their legal and tax advisors.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. For more information about our organisation, please visit ey.com.
About Gobbill
Gobbill is an Australian digital start-up company focused on household and small business bill payment automation. Gobbill users simply forward their email bills to their @gobbill.com account. Gobbill checks for fraudulent and suspicious email bills and ensures that payments are made on time, helping users avoid late fees, receive their pay-on-time discounts and protect their consumer credit rating score. Gobbill is a wholly owned and operated Australian company sponsored by Microsoft since 2015.
Media enquiries:
Ms. Grace Stephenson, Media and Communications
Gobbill Pty. Ltd. (ABN 87 607 293 612)
Email: [email protected]
Level 1, 382 Little Collins Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000