NovidaAccounting for NDIS Providers: What You Need to Know
A practical guide to NDIS provider accounting: GST-free rules, SCHADS on-costs, cash flow under prove-and-pay, BAS, tax and record-keeping.
What makes NDIS accounting different
GST: most NDIS supports are GST-free, but not all
The price limit is not your margin: read the PAPL correctly
Worked example: where the money actually goes
Bookkeeping setup: build the chart of accounts around GST and support types
Payroll and SCHADS on-costs: super rises to 12%
Cash flow under prove-and-pay and the 90-day claim window
BAS, tax and staying ATO-compliant
Deductions specific to NDIS provider businesses
When to bring in an accountant who knows the NDIS
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
Is NDIS income GST-free?
Most NDIS support income is GST-free when the participant has a plan in effect, you have a written service agreement, the support is reasonable and necessary in that plan, and it is covered by the relevant Disability Services Determination. Not everything qualifies — supplies to non-participants or…
Do NDIS providers need to register for GST?
Yes, once your turnover reaches the $75,000 threshold, even though most of your income is GST-free. Registering lets you claim GST credits on business expenses like rent, fuel, software and equipment, which usually leaves you better off. Because your income is largely GST-free, a correctly set-up…
How much profit does a provider make per support hour?
Less than the headline price suggests. The PAPL price limit (around $70.23 an hour for standard weekday daytime support under the 2025-26 PAPL, updated from 1 July 2026) is a ceiling. After the SCHADS wage, 12% super, leave, workers' comp, insurance, admin and non-billable time, the retained margin…
What is prove-and-pay and how does it affect my accounting?
From July 2026 the NDIS moves to digital "prove and pay" claiming, where you capture supporting evidence on each claim before payment, rolling out to 2030. It shifts bookkeeping from monthly catch-up to near-real-time record-keeping and affects cash flow, since payment follows verified records.…
Do I need a specialist NDIS accountant?
You can run day-to-day bookkeeping yourself with a properly set-up Xero or MYOB file, but a specialist earns their fee on GST apportionment, SCHADS on-cost modelling, portal reconciliation and pricing to the current PAPL. Bring one in before you scale, change business structure, or face your first…
Related guides
- NDIS GST Exemption: What's Exempt and What Isn't
- Bookkeeping Setup for NDIS Providers (Xero/MYOB)
- Payroll and SCHADS On-Costs for NDIS Employers
- Payday Super from 1 July 2026: What NDIS Providers Must Do
- NDIS Business Tax Deductions: What Providers Can Claim
- BAS Reporting for NDIS Providers: Staying ATO-Compliant