Tax Return Q&A

[Luvs2Slash]

Good thread. I've claimed around $400 on uniforms. No reciepts, but I do have to adhere to a dress code & will be able to get written proof if needed.

Question- I'm a full time student but made around 40k this year. From memory you don't have to make forced repayments on HECCS unless you make over 43k or so.

I can't find any documentation outlining my HECCS debt with the details that the tax boys want me to enter, so I was thinking of just saying I don't have one since I don't have to repay anything on it anyway. I really couldn't be ****ed searching around for it. Worth the risk?

 

[Caj]

Good thread. I've claimed around $400 on uniforms. No reciepts, but I do have to adhere to a dress code & will be able to get written proof if needed.

Question- I'm a full time student but made around 40k this year. From memory you don't have to make forced repayments on HECCS unless you make over 43k or so.

I can't find any documentation outlining my HECCS debt with the details that the tax boys want me to enter, so I was thinking of just saying I don't have one since I don't have to repay anything on it anyway. I really couldn't be ****ed searching around for it. Worth the risk?

You're probably better off guessing a figure then saying you dont have one

 

[smiddaz123]

Bit of a dumb question. Is there any correlation between the complexity of a tax return and the time it takes to be processed? Being a uni student who just worls casually, my tax return was pretty much literally just putting in my gross income and amount of tax paid. Would mine take a shorter amount of time to go through than someone who has a lot of crap to go through?

Done over etax, by the way.

 

[yeah_nah]

Bit of a dumb question. Is there any correlation between the complexity of a tax return and the time it takes to be processed? Being a uni student who just worls casually, my tax return was pretty much literally just putting in my gross income and amount of tax paid. Would mine take a shorter amount of time to go through than someone who has a lot of crap to go through?

Done over etax, by the way.

Nah mate, they should all take the same amount of time to process etc - seeing as in Australia we use a self assessment system the ATO don't even look at your return when it is first lodged, they will then find the ones which they want to audit then will have a look at them a bit down the track.

 

[clarkoscluster]

Just on Smiddaz's question... I'm a student so pretty much filled in my income - 5 minute job. Anyway, I lodged my return on the 9th and haven't recieved it yet. In past years, its taken between 6-8 days. This year is more then 2 weeks and counting. Any ideas why theres delays?

 

[smiddaz123]

Yeh, mine has been about 2 weeks as well. Etax reckons they should be done within the 2 weeks.

 

[BeepTest]

Anyone have any experience on being audited for cents per km deduction? How much investigating do they do regarding what you actually did and what you claimed? To me it seems like it is area that could be easily manipulated as you dont need to keep a log book, only demonstrate how you came to the figure.

thanks

 

[Caj]

Anyone have any experience on being audited for cents per km deduction? How much investigating do they do regarding what you actually did and what you claimed? To me it seems like it is area that could be easily manipulated as you dont need to keep a log book, only demonstrate how you came to the figure.

thanks

I've never heard of anyone being audited on this. Given that you specifically don't have to provide any documentary evidence it would be pretty easy to demonstrate. e.g. tell them you drive from Melb CBD Office to client/worksite in Dandenong (or other outer suburb) on multiple occassions, coupled with some return trips to Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton for conferences, training, meetings with clients etc etc.

You'd be amazed how easy it is to rack up 5,000 imaginary kms!

 

[Rise_up_Stiffy]

I've never heard of anyone being audited on this. Given that you specifically don't have to provide any documentary evidence it would be pretty easy to demonstrate. e.g. tell them you drive from Melb CBD Office to client/worksite in Dandenong (or other outer suburb) on multiple occassions, coupled with some return trips to Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton for conferences, training, meetings with clients etc etc.

You'd be amazed how easy it is to rack up 5,000 imaginary kms!

your ip address has been logged, the ATO will contact you shortly.

 

[yeah_nah]

Yeh, mine has been about 2 weeks as well. Etax reckons they should be done within the 2 weeks.

Since last time i posted in this thead I found out that ATO is taking the maximum time to process refunds just so they can hold on to your money for as long as possible.
If you lodge by e-tax it will take 14 days if you lodge with a tax agent it will take 30 days
(not sure if you do it by paper, but cant imagine many people still do it that way)

 

[kira]

Since last time i posted in this thead I found out that ATO is taking the maximum time to process refunds just so they can hold on to your money for as long as possible.
If you lodge by e-tax it will take 14 days if you lodge with a tax agent it will take 30 days
(not sure if you do it by paper, but cant imagine many people still do it that way)

Service standard
E-tax........................... 14 days
Tax Agent..................... 14 days
Phone........................... 14 days
Paper............................ 42 days

Processing Timeframe (aka max. timeframe)
E-tax........................... 30 days
Tax Agent..................... 30 days
Phone........................... 30 days
Paper............................ 56 days

 

[Nardz]

Since last time i posted in this thead I found out that ATO is taking the maximum time to process refunds just so they can hold on to your money for as long as possible.
If you lodge by e-tax it will take 14 days if you lodge with a tax agent it will take 30 days
(not sure if you do it by paper, but cant imagine many people still do it that way)

wouldnt suprise me at all....

the average tax return is probably $1k give or take...

4% interest on $1k is $3.33/month, or approx. $1.67/14 days (or a bit less, i just multiplied the month by two.

times that by about 10 million (uneducated guess to how many people file a tax return.

not an exact calculation obviously but shows we're talking big figures..

 

[AFaiL]

I've never heard of anyone being audited on this. Given that you specifically don't have to provide any documentary evidence it would be pretty easy to demonstrate. e.g. tell them you drive from Melb CBD Office to client/worksite in Dandenong (or other outer suburb) on multiple occassions, coupled with some return trips to Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton for conferences, training, meetings with clients etc etc.

You'd be amazed how easy it is to rack up 5,000 imaginary kms!

Lol. How much do they take into considering your occupation and who you work for?

Or are the returns just processed via a machine and audits done when alarms are raised

ie: 5000ks, heaps on travel, heaps on other work expenses etc etc...

 

[Brad Goodman]

Simple question - I'm doing my sister's boyfriend's tax at the moment and it turns out he didn't do a return in 2009. Can I do his 2009 return using the 2009 E-tax program or does it have to be done some other way seeing as it's so late?

Also, as he is a brickie's labourer can he claim the cost of his Cert III in bricklaying?

 

[Caj]

your ip address has been logged, the ATO will contact you shortly.

ooooh how scary

 

[Caj]

Simple question - I'm doing my sister's boyfriend's tax at the moment and it turns out he didn't do a return in 2009. Can I do his 2009 return using the 2009 E-tax program or does it have to be done some other way seeing as it's so late?

Also, as he is a brickie's labourer can he claim the cost of his Cert III in bricklaying?

I believe that the e-tax 2009 program has now been closed. You can still use it to calculate his tax return (although you will still need to fill in the old paper form) but it wont let you lodge it

Yes he can claim the cost of his course as it directly relates to his income

 

[Nardz]

Yes he can claim the cost of his course as it directly relates to his income

are you sure about that?

i'm a software developer, yet i cant claim the fees relating to my bachelor of information systems

 

[Caj]

are you sure about that?

i'm a software developer, yet i cant claim the fees relating to my bachelor of information systems

Really?

A deduction for self education is available for a taxpayer if they can show that the study:


maintained or improved the skills or knowledge used in their work activity; or

will or is likely to lead to increased remuneration from their work activity

Can you tell me your understanding of the reasoning behind why you can't claim the deduction

 

[Nardz]

Really?

A deduction for self education is available for a taxpayer if they can show that the study:


maintained or improved the skills or knowledge used in their work activity; or

will or is likely to lead to increased remuneration from their work activity

Can you tell me your understanding of the reasoning behind why you can't claim the deduction

you might be right.. just reading up on it if the self education is occuring DURING employment then i think it may be claimable....

in my case i wasnt a software developer when i was at uni...

 

[Caj]

Nardz

I can't see any reason why you couldn't claim it

 

[Nardz]

Nardz

I can't see any reason why you couldn't claim it

likei said, in my case, when i was at uni i was not a practising software developer, hence my self education expenses was not related to my current employment.

 

[Scott MacFlaherty]

likei said, in my case, when i was at uni i was not a practising software developer, hence my self education expenses was not related to my current employment.

correct. The basic rule is that you cannot claim educate expenses if they lead you to getting work in a new field. You can claim if the education is designed to enhance your employment prospects in your existing field.

So generally you can't claim your first uni course, but once you are employed further education is claimable

 

[The Passenger]

i've got my 2009/2010 tax all done on the e-tax program and ready to send off.

but i forgot to do my 2008/2009 tax until about 3 weeks ago. i couldn't do it by e-tax anymore so had to do it by paper and i sent it to the tax office. do i have to wait to get my 2008/2009 refund before i can send of my 2009/2010 tax return??

 

[Eagle87]

i've got my 2009/2010 tax all done on the e-tax program and ready to send off.

but i forgot to do my 2008/2009 tax until about 3 weeks ago. i couldn't do it by e-tax anymore so had to do it by paper and i sent it to the tax office. do i have to wait to get my 2008/2009 refund before i can send of my 2009/2010 tax return??

No. Not unless something in the software stops you.

There is no tax rule that stops you lodge a current return while a prior year one remains unlodged BUT the ATO can delay assessment of the current return until that earlier year assessment is completed. This would likely be the case if your 2010 returns results in a refund. i.e. they likely wont send you a refund for 2010 while 2009 remains not-assessed.

So lodge it but dont necessarily expect normal turnaround times.

 

[X_box_X]

Years ago I used to lodge my own tax return.

After 10+ years of using an Accountant, I've decided to now lodge my own tax return. Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't allow you to apply your deductions (I.e. paying to do work related courses, buying work related uniform). This is something an Accountant obviously has access to.

A couple of questions:

• Is there an easier way than downloading the ATO App and accessing the 'myDeductions' portal to individually enter your deductions and uploading evidence?
  
  
• If this is the only option, what's the process / how exactly does it work?