THE Australian Taxation Office has opened Tax Help centres in Stawell, Horsham and Ballarat to help people on low incomes prepare their returns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Australian Taxation Office Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson said volunteers were ready to provide a free and confidential service for people on low incomes of around $60,000.
“Tax Help is a community service for Australians that may be having trouble lodging their own tax returns because we understand it can be a bit difficult sometimes,” she said.
“Last year we had over 800 Tax Help volunteers who worked across around 600 Tax Help centres to assist over 33,000 individuals with their tax returns.”
Ms Anderson said taxpayers should check if they were eligible to use the help service.
“The low income threshold has increased to $60,000 this year, so even if you weren’t previously eligible, check to see if you are this year,” Ms Anderson said.
“Tax Help volunteers can help with lodging and amending tax returns online using myTax, or to claim a refund of franking credits. Volunteers can also help you claim any deductions and offsets you may be entitled to.”
Ms Anderson also encouraged individuals to try myTax out themselves online before visiting a Tax Help centre.
“Our online lodgment tool myTax is easy and secure, and if you wait until mid-August, most of your information will be pre-filled. In many cases, all you will need to do is check your details and hit submit,” she said.
“If you’re eligible for Tax Help, you will need a myGov account linked to the ATO. Our volunteers can help you create your myGov account and link it to the ATO if you haven’t done this already.”
To find out if you’re eligible for help, visit ato.gov.au/taxhelp. Tax Help will be available until October 31.
To make an appointment and to find the nearest Tax Help centre phone 13 28 61. To create a myGov online account, visit my.gov.au.
The tax office is also increasing attention, scrutiny and education on work-related expenses this tax time.
Ms Kath Anderson said that last year over 6.3 million people made a work-related expense claim for clothing and laundry, totalling almost $1.8 billion, up by 20 per cent from five years ago.
“While this increase isn’t a sign that all of these taxpayers are doing the wrong thing, it is giving us a reason to pay extra attention,” Ms Anderson said.
