Best Accounting Software Australia
Choosing accounting software for an Australian practice involves a different set of priorities than other markets. BAS lodgement, Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 compliance, and ATO integration are non-negotiable requirements. The software you choose determines how efficiently your firm handles GST returns, payroll reporting, and tax agent work — and how easily clients can share their books with you.
This guide covers the main accounting platforms used by Australian accounting firms, focusing on what matters for ANZ compliance and multi-client management.
Key Requirements for Australian Accounting Firms
Before evaluating platforms, the compliance baseline for any software serving Australian businesses includes:
- BAS / GST lodgement: Direct or agent-assisted lodgement via the ATO
- STP Phase 2: Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 has been mandatory since 1 January 2022 — all payroll software must report disaggregated income types to the ATO
- PAYG withholding: Accurate withholding calculations and reporting
- Bank feeds: Automatic feed support from Australian banks (the major four plus regional lenders)
- Tax File Number (TFN) declarations: Employee onboarding compliance
- Superannuation: Super fund reporting and SuperStream compliance
| Platform | BAS / ATO | STP Phase 2 | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Via Xero Tax or agent portal | Built-in | Cloud-first practices, any firm size |
| MYOB | Direct via MYOB Practice | Built-in | Firms with existing MYOB client base |
| Zoho Books | GST support, limited ATO direct lodgement | Limited | Zoho ecosystem clients |
| Sage Intacct | Via third-party / manual | Limited | Enterprise/mid-market clients |
| FreshBooks | GST tracking, no ATO lodgement | No | Service-based freelance/small clients |
Xero
Xero is the dominant cloud accounting platform in Australia. Founded in New Zealand, it has built the largest cloud accounting install base in the ANZ market and offers particularly strong coverage of Australian banks, ATO integration, and local payroll compliance.
Key Features
- BAS preparation and lodgement via Xero Tax (separate ATO registered agent tool)
- STP Phase 2 compliant payroll built into all subscription tiers
- Bank feeds from all major Australian banks plus regional lenders
- Xero HQ for multi-client management across a firm’s entire client base
- Over 1,000 app integrations including ANZ-specific payroll tools like KeyPay
- Multi-currency for clients with international transactions
Best For
Accounting firms building a cloud-first practice in Australia. Particularly well-suited for firms of any size that want the broadest app ecosystem and the most flexible multi-client management. For firms that also want integrated job and billing management, Xero Practice Manager extends Xero into practice management.
MYOB
MYOB is Australia’s most established accounting platform and remains the most widely used across the SME market. For accounting firms, MYOB Practice provides a compliance-focused dashboard for managing client accounts, tracking lodgement deadlines, and submitting BAS and tax returns directly to the ATO.
Key Features
- Direct ATO lodgement from MYOB Practice — BAS, PAYG, tax returns
- STP Phase 2 compliant across MYOB Business (cloud) and AccountRight (desktop)
- MYOB Business for cloud clients; AccountRight for firms or clients that need desktop
- ATO correspondence tracking and pre-filled data within MYOB Practice
- ANZ-specific compliance features built into the core product, not via third parties
- SuperStream compliant super payments
Best For
Australian accounting firms with an established MYOB client base. Also the preferred choice for firms whose clients need desktop software — AccountRight is the only locally installed accounting platform in the ANZ market with active development. Firms doing heavy ATO compliance work, particularly high-volume BAS lodgements, often find MYOB Practice more directly integrated than Xero’s agent tooling.
Zoho Books
Zoho Books is a cloud accounting platform with Australian GST support, bank reconciliation, and integration with the broader Zoho suite. It is not commonly used as the primary platform for Australian accounting practices but is encountered when clients are embedded in the Zoho ecosystem.
Key Features
- Australian GST calculation and tax reporting
- Bank feeds from major Australian banks
- Accountant portal for multi-client access
- Deep integration with Zoho CRM, Inventory, and Payroll
- Automated workflow rules for transaction categorisation and approvals
Best For
Firms whose clients use Zoho for CRM or operations and want their accounting tightly integrated with those tools. Not recommended as a primary platform for firms doing direct ATO compliance work, as it lacks direct BAS lodgement and STP Phase 2 support comparable to Xero or MYOB.
Sage Intacct
Sage Intacct is an enterprise-grade cloud financial platform used by mid-market organisations with complex reporting, multi-entity consolidation, or international operations. It has an Australian presence through the Sage partner network.
Key Features
- Multi-entity consolidation and inter-entity eliminations
- Dimensional reporting across departments, locations, and cost centres
- Integration with Salesforce and major enterprise platforms
- Accountant partner program for multi-client management
- Revenue recognition automation (ASC 606 / IFRS 15)
Best For
Australian firms serving mid-market clients in sectors like nonprofits, professional services, healthcare, or SaaS that have outgrown Xero or MYOB. Not suited for standard SME compliance work.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a cloud application built around invoicing and time tracking. It has GST support for Australian clients and is used by service-based freelancers and small businesses.
Key Features
- GST-inclusive invoicing and expense tracking
- Accountant access feature for viewing client accounts
- Time tracking integrated with project billing
- Automated payment reminders
Best For
Firms whose clients are freelancers or small service-based businesses that do not need payroll, inventory, or BAS lodgement support. FreshBooks is not suited for firms doing compliance-heavy Australian bookkeeping or tax work directly from the platform.
How to Choose
For most Australian accounting firms, the choice comes down to Xero vs MYOB:
- Choose Xero if you are building or growing a cloud-first practice, want the largest app ecosystem, and need flexible multi-client access with unlimited users per subscription.
- Choose MYOB if you have a significant existing MYOB client base, serve clients who need desktop software, or want more tightly integrated ATO compliance tools through MYOB Practice.
For a detailed side-by-side comparison, see our MYOB vs Xero guide.
Zoho Books and Sage Intacct serve specific niches rather than the broad accounting firm market. FreshBooks is best treated as a client-facing platform that accounting firms support rather than one they choose as a primary system.