Dear Tax Practitioner,
We would appreciate your cooperation in completing this questionnaire. It should
take approximately 20-30 minutes of your time. In most cases, you simply write in a
number or tick a box.
The information you provide will help the ATO understand your current and future
technology needs and concerns, which will help the ATO develop better policies,
products and services for tax practitioners.
We are seeking to understand how electronic communication technology is used by
tax practices and ways in which the ATO can best service practitioners.
This questionnaire
The issues covered by the questionnaire have been identified following a number of
focus groups and visits to tax practitioners late last year.
Because of the subject matter of the questionnaire, there are a number of quite
detailed "information technology" questions. It may well be necessary for you to
consult with the "IT specialist" in your practice (or perhaps an external expert who
looks after the practice's IT issues).
We acknowledge that this may take a little extra time, but ask that you answer all
questions as accurately as possible.
The first part of the questionnaire asks you a number of questions about the ways
the practice uses computers, and some specific details of the hardware and software
you have.
The remaining sections of the questionnaire ask you for specific feedback about your
"electronic" interaction with the ATO and your clients. Finally, we seek your input
regarding some specific privacy issues and some general background information
about your practice.
PLEASE RETURN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE TO NFO DONOVAN RESEARCH
USING THE REPLY PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED BY
XXXXXX 2003
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COOPERATION, IT IS GREATLY
APPRECIATED!
NFO DONOVAN RESEARCH –TAX PRACTITIONER SURVEY 2003
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Section 1:
Practice
Q1
Your
We are interested in the number of people who exercise different roles in your
practice.
Please write the appropriate number in each box.

Partners ...............................................................................
Professional staff – mid to senior ..........................................
Professional staff - junior ......................................................
Support staff – ie. clerical / admin .........................................
Bookkeepers ........................................................................
Special advisers ....................................................................
Tax consultants ....................................................................
Other staff (please specify)
________________________________ .............................
________________________________ .............................
Total Staff..............................................................................
Sole Practitioner ....................................................................
Q2
Who has the main responsibility for setting up and maintaining the computing
and IT systems in your practice?
Please tick all appropriate boxes
Setup



Q3
Maintenance
 ..................
Specific staff member ........  .................. 
External consultant(s) ........  .................. 
Partner(s) / Associate(s) ....
How many computers does your practice have (or terminals if your practice is
networked to a central processing unit)?
Please write number in the box
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Q4a
Thinking about the work time you spend on the computer, approximately
what percentage of time over a week would you say you spend……….?
Please write in percentage
_______% Offline (ie. not on Internet or email)
_______% Online
email)
(ie on the Internet or
100% of time on computer
Q4b
When working online, approximately what percentage of time would you say
you spend
Please write in percentage
Online to ATO website (eg. ATO Portal, Tax Reform Website) ........................ ____%
Online to ATO (not website; eg. email, other) ................................................... ____%
Online to other tax-related websites (eg. clients, professional associations,
etc) .................................................................................................................... ____%
Other online applications................................................................................... ____%
100%
of online time
Q5
Which of your practice staff have full time access to the following (ie. they do
not have to share computers / facilities)?
Please tick appropriate boxes for each column
Computer /
Terminal






Email
Internal
Email
External
Internet
 ................................ .........  ............. 
Senior professionals ...................  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
Junior professionals ...................  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
Administration staff.....................  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
Sub-contract staff .......................  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
Other (please specify) ................  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
Partners......................................
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 ................................ .........  ............. 
_________________________  ..................  .............. .........  ............. 
_________________________
Section 2: Computer Hardware Used by
your Practice
Q6
What are the specifications of the computing hardware currently used in
your practice?
You may tick more than one box

486/Intel Pentium ...................................
Intel Pentium II .......................................
Intel Pentium III ......................................
Intel Pentium IV .....................................
Apple .....................................................
AMD Duron ............................................
Other (please specify)............................
286/386..................................................
-------------------------------------------------------------
______________
Q7
Are the computers in your practice...?
Please tick one box

Networked..............................................
A mix of both ..........................................
Stand alone ...........................................
Q8
Which types of printers do you have in your practice?
You may tick more than one box

Dot Matrix ...................... 
Bubble Jet / Ink Jet ........ 
Other (please specify) .... 
Laser ..............................
______________________
Q9
Does your practice have its own server, or use a proxy server?
Don't know ..............................................
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
Own server .............................................. 
Proxy server (please specify) .................. 
Both .........................................................
Section
3:
Telecommunications / Security
Q10a How does your practice access the Internet?
Please tick all appropriate boxes
Not applicable, the practice has no Internet access
 GO TO Q14

ISDN (broadband / permanent connection) ............. 
Cable (broadband / permanent connection) ............. 
Satellite (broadband / permanent connection) ......... 
Dial up modem using an ordinary phoneline ............ 
Other (please specify) .............................................. 
__________________
ADSL (broadband / permanent connection) .............
GO TO Q11
GO TO Q11
GO TO Q11
GO TO Q11
GO TO Q10b
Q10b If you are using a modem dial-up, are you considering upgrading to a
broadband type connection in the next 12 months?

Yes - probably ................ 
No .................................. 
Yes - definitely ...............
Q11
What is the connection bit rate (ie. speed) of the practice's Internet
connection?
Please specify
__________________________________________________________________
Q12
Do you have any specific limitations with your Internet provider regarding
monthly downloads?
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Yes (please specify what these limitations are, eg. maximum
monthly downloads, etc) ...........................................................

____________________________________________________

Don't know ................................................................................ 
No .............................................................................................
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Q13
Do you have any security protection or procedures for your computer system,
with particular regard to Internet usage?

Firewall installed on PC and/or server ................................ 
Public Key Infrastructure .................................................... 
Separate computer for internet usage ................................
Security policy of applying operating system

Other (please specify) ........................................................ 
or browser patches/updates ...............................................
______________________________________________
Section 4: Computer Software Used in
your Practice
Q14
What is the operating system of your most used computer(s)?
(If upgrading, provide new details only)
Please tick one box only

Windows 2000 / NT ................................. 
Window ME ............................................. 
Windows 98 2nd ed ................................ 
Windows 95 ............................................ 
Windows 98 ............................................ 
Other Windows ....................................... 
Mac OSX ................................................. 
Other Mac OS ......................................... 
Unix/Linux ............................................... 
Other (please specify) ............................. 
_________________
Windows XP ............................................
Q15a Which browser(s) do you use?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

Older Internet Explorer ............................ 
Netscape Navigator (v.5 or later) ............ 
Older Netscape Navigator ....................... 
Opera ...................................................... 
Internet Explorer (v.5 or later) .................
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Other (please specify) .............................

________________________________
Q15b Which email program(s) do you use?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

Express Plus ........................................... 
Lotus Notes ............................................. 
Microsoft Outlook ................................... 
Outlook Express ...................................... 
Hotmail .................................................... 
AOL ......................................................... 
Other (please specify) ............................. 
Eudora ....................................................
________________________________
Q16
The ATO uses the following software products. Which of their outputs are
compatible with the systems in your practice?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

MS Excel ................................................. 
MS Powerpoint ........................................ 
Winzip ..................................................... 
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) ............................... 
MS Word .................................................
Q17
What is your practice’s approach to the use / purchase of specific software
applications?
Please tick ONE box only

Mainly or exclusively use "off the shelf" or "packaged" software......................

Mainly use "bespoke" software (ie. software developed specifically for


The practice develops its own software "in house" .......................................... 
the practice by an external supplier) ................................................................

(Please specify below what version of HTML you build your software to)
________________________________________________________________
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Section 5:
the ATO
Q18
Electronic Contact with
For tax related information, which of the following websites do you access?
You may tick more than one box

ATP ......................................................... 
AUSTLii ................................................... 
BEP ......................................................... 
CCH ........................................................ 
CLS ......................................................... 
CPA online .............................................. 
Foundation Law....................................... 
ICAA ........................................................ 
NIA .......................................................... 
NTAA ...................................................... 
Tax Reform ............................................. 
TIA .......................................................... 
Registered Software Facility.................... 
Tax Agent Portal ..................................... 
Accounting Working Group ..................... 
None ....................................................... 
Other (please specify) ............................. 
ATOAssist ...............................................
__________________________________
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Q19
Approximately how many times would the following staff login / log out of
the ATO website on an average day? Please write number in appropriate boxes
in column (a)
OR
If staff login / out of the website less often than once per day, approximately
how many times would the following staff login / log out on an average
week?
Please write number in appropriate boxes in column (b)
(a)
(b)

Partners

Senior professionals

Junior professionals

Administration staff

Sub-contract staff

Other (please specify)
Number of times
login / logout of
ATO website
per day
Number of times
login / logout of
ATO website
per week












__________________
Q20
Has your practice utilised the ATO website training service "Optimising
Technology", currently offered by the ATO?

No ........................................................
Yes ......................................................
Q21
ELS is the ATO's Electronic Lodgment Service.
ELS enables Tax
Practitioners to prepare and lodge tax returns to the ATO by using registered
software designed to facilitate returns via electronic means. As you are
probably aware, ELS will be migrated from Austpac over the next 12 months.
The following questions relate specifically to ELS.
Q21a How does your practice currently run your ELS lodgment facility?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

Using a simple peer-to-peer network ......................................................... 
Through a local LAN or network with a series of computers / users .......... 
Large (complex) network ........................................................................... 
Other (please specify) ............................................................................... 
Stand-alone computer ...............................................................................
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Q21b After ELS is migrated, how do you envisage running your ELS Lodgment facility?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

Using a simple peer-to-peer network ......................................................... 
Local LAN or network with a series of computers / users .......................... 
Large (complex) network ........................................................................... 
Require more information before I decide ................................................. 
Other (please specify) ............................................................................... 
Stand-alone computer ...............................................................................
_________________________________________________________
Q21c After migration, how soon do you see the practice using the internet option for
accessing ELS?
Please tick one box

In the near future ....................................................................................... 
Sometime in the future .............................................................................. 
Not likely to use the Internet for this purpose ............................................ 
Immediately; i.e. as soon as it becomes available....................................
Q22
How useful would it be for your practice if your software automatically linked in
real time with ATO systems?
Please tick one box

Very useful ............................................................... 
Somewhat useful ..................................................... 
Not very useful ......................................................... 
Extremely useful ......................................................
Q23a To what extent would you be prepared to pay your software developer to
enhance your practice software so that you could interact in real time with ATO
systems?
Please tick one box

Might be prepared to pay ............................................. 
Probably not prepared to pay ....................................... 
Definitely would be prepared to pay .............................
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Definitely not prepared to pay ......................................
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Q23b Is there any particular reason that you would not be prepared to pay for this
increased functionality?
Please write in
_____________________________________________________________
Q24
If you did have software which interacted with the ATO in real time, would you
generally be more likely to use it…?
Please tick one box


At another time, when the client was absent ................................................ 

Sometimes when the client was present; sometimes when client was

When the client was in your office ................................................................
absent ...........................................................................................................
Q25

If you did happen to use this software when the client was absent, how would
you deal with an error in the data or information to be input?
Please tick one box





I would generally provide some input, so as to get the transaction done.... 
I would generally have to contact the client to resolve the error ................... 
I would fix the error in other ways (please specify) ....................................... 
I would generally know what the error was and make the correction ............
_____________________________________________________________________________
Q26a Does your practice currently access the Tax Agent Portal on the ATO website?
 GO TO Q27
No ..........................................................  GO TO Q26b
Yes ........................................................
Q26b What are the reasons for not accessing the Tax Agent Portal?
Please tick all appropriate boxes

Have not heard of the Tax Agent Portal 
Computer system not compatible ........
Download speed too slow ....................
Do not know how to access the Portal.
The Portal is not considered useful .....
Other (please specify) .........................
No access to the Internet .....................
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___________________
Q26c Would you consider upgrading your computer system(s) in order to access the
Tax Agent Portal?

No ........................................................
Yes ......................................................
Section
Clients
6:
Electronic
Contact
with
Q27a What percentage of your clients send you their records electronically vs manually?
Please write in percentage
Primarily electronic : ______ % of clients
Primarily manual : ______ % of clients
Mix of both : ______ % of clients
Total:
100 %
Q27b And what percentage of your clients do you interact with via email?
Please write in percentage
______ % of clients
Q28
Which accounting software do your clients use?
You may tick more than one box

Attache .................................................... 
Great Plains ............................................ 
Quicken / Quick books ............................ 
Computron .............................................. 
MYOB...................................................... 
Technology One ...................................... 
Finance One............................................ 
Cash Flow Manager ................................ 
E-Tax....................................................... 
Other (please specify) ............................. 
No software; wholly manual ....................
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Section 7:
Home / Mobile Computing
Q29a Do you use a computer at home for business?
Please tick one box

No, I do not use a computer at home for business ................. 
Yes, I use a computer at home for business ........................... 
I work from home, so "home" is business ...............................
GO TO Q30
GO TO Q30
GO TO Q29b
Q29b Does your home computer have the same browser specifications as the computer
you use in your office?

No (please specify home browser) .......................................... 
Yes ..........................................................................................
________________________________________________
Q30
To what degree does your practice use the following mobile computing
technology to access the Internet (ie. hand held computers, mobile phone,
laptop computers, etc.)
Please tick all appropriate boxes
Not applicable / Don't have mobile technology .......................
Daily
Mobile phone only ................................................
Laptop / hand held computers via
via internal mobile connection
..........................

Weekly
Seldom
Never
............ ..........................
............ ..........................
Laptop / hand held computers via hotel / motel /
............ ..........................
Laptop via mobile phone ...................................... ............ ..............  ............
other connection
...........................................
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Section 8:
Q31
ATO Helpdesk
The ATO has an extensive helpdesk function which is set up to assist tax
practitioners (and other users) who may be having difficulties with the ATO
website. To maximise the efficiency of the helpdesk function, please answer
the following:
Q31a When does your practice do most Internet related work
helpdesk function most required for your practice)?
Please tick box that applies most
(ie. when is the

Early Morning & Late Afternoon (8am - 9am and 5pm – 6pm) ....... 
Over Night (6.00pm - 8.00am) ................................. ...................... 
Other (please specify) .............................................. ...................... 
All Day (9.00am - 5.00pm) ....................................... ......................
___________________________________________
Q31b When is your practice most likely to require expert advice on specific ATO
systems / applications?
Please tick box that applies most

Early Morning & Late Afternoon (8am - 9am and 5pm – 6pm) ....... 
Over Night (6.00pm - 8.00am) ................................. ...................... 
Other (please specify) .............................................. ...................... 
All Day (9.00am - 5.00pm) ....................................... ......................
..............................................................................................
Section 9:
Privacy Issues
Q32a The ATO provides tools such as tax calculators and bulletins to be used online and that can be downloaded. The ATO needs to know who has
downloaded each tool so that we can inform you when the information in
those tools changes, for example, when the tax rate changes. If these were
automatically available to you, would you be prepared to have your user
details recorded when you download each tool?
 GO TO Q33
No .......................... 
Yes.........................
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Q32b How should the ATO inform users of updates / changes / information bulletins
/emails?
Please specify
__________________________________________________________________
Section
10:
Information
Q33
Background
Which of the following represents the main client group for your practice's tax
business?
If your practice serves more than one client group, please tick the primary group (in
terms of contribution to billings / gross fees received) under Column 'A', and any
other groups under Column 'B'. Please complete for client groups both currently and
prior to July 2000.
Please tick appropriate boxes
A.
A
Primary Client
Group
(Tick one only)
B
Other Client
Groups
(Tick all
that apply)
Non-business individuals (ie. salary and
wage earners, pensioners and people in
receipt of non-business income such as
dividends
and
interest).
Only individual
taxpayers, partnerships and trusts with no
business income or business deduction are
included in this category...............................................
B.
Small Business (i.e. business taxpayers
with under $10 million turnover).
All
taxpayer types are included in this category ................
C.
 ..... .......................... 
Medium
($10m
to
$50m
 ..... .......................... 
turnover)
business All taxpayer types are included in
 ..... .......................... 
Other (please specify) ________________ ...............  ..... .......................... 
__________________________________ ...............  ..... .......................... 
this category .................................................................
D.
Q34
In the space provided below, please write in the postcode relating to your
office location. If your practice has more than one office location, please answer
this question in relation to the location where you work.
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Q35
Which of these descriptions best fits the location of your practice's office? If
your practice has more than one office location, please answer this question in
relation to the location where you work.
Please tick appropriate box
•
•
•
•
•

The suburban area of a capital city ..................................................... 
A major regional centre (ie. population of at least 100,000) ................ 
A smaller regional town or rural location ............................................. 
A remote location ................................................................................ 
The central or inner region of a capital city .........................................
Could you please provide an estimate of the time taken to complete this
form
Include

The time actually spent reading the instructions, working on the questions
and
(mins)
obtaining the information.

The time spent by all employees
in collecting and providing this information.
(mins)
“Commonwealth Government Statistical Clearing House Approval Number 1234567”.
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