FAQ

How much do you charge?
The fee for tax return preparation depends upon the complexity of income and deductions involved and where the fee is paid by cash or credit card at the time of preparation. Please call us for a free quote as our prices can start from a low $130 for an individual tax return. That fee is tax deductible in the year paid.

Can I have your fee taken from my refund?
No. This involves substantial costs to you and is not worth the expense of the convenience.

What hours are your offices open during the year?
We are available 7 days a week with extended trading hours to facilitate evening appointments.

Can you prepare multiple years returns at the same time?
We can prepare and lodge all past year's returns together at the same time. The current year's refunds will be returned in the normal period but there may be slight delays with refunds coming from the ATO for previous years returns and possibly not arriving together.

Do I have to lodge a tax return?
Some individuals do not have to lodge a tax return. Each person's situation will differ due to age, income and expenses.

Can I claim any deductions if I have no receipts?
No. Receipts must be presented to our staff in order to receive the relevant deduction.

How long will my refund take?
The ATO expects electronic refunds to be settled within 21 working days. If your refund has been with the ATO for more than 21 days then contact our office for further assistance.

What if I don't have a Payment Summary from a job?
If you are still missing one or more of your Payment Summaries then you need to contact that employer. If you can't get one from that employer then contact the Tax Office on 13 28 61. Don't forget to include all your payment summaries, even if you've only worked in a job for a couple of weeks or days.

I am presently living overseas or may leave before I receive my Payment Summary. How can I prepare my Australian tax return?
We have experts in the preparation of Australian tax returns where the client is living overseas or has income or assets in countries with Double-Tax arrangements with Australia. Please enquire via email or phone for further details.

I have a "Working Visa". What do I need in order to work in Australia?
A Tax File Number (TFN) is required in order to work and be properly recognised for tax purposes in Australia. An Application Form may be picked up from any branch of the ATO.

Can I claim travel for my work?
Home to work and return travel is generally not claimable except in certain circumstances. Travel between jobs on the same day and travel for work (ie. visiting clients, doing pick-ups or deliveries) would be claimable. If you use public transport then keep all receipts and/or diary records. If you use your own car then you need to keep a log book of all business mileage travelled and all expenses of the car including petrol, repairs, registration, insurance and interest on a car loan.

I have received a dividend statement, do I need to declare this as income?
You need to include dividends and any other interest earned on bank accounts. Don't forget to include all interest, even if you've already closed the bank account. Also if you've quoted your tax file number when opening a bank account then you need to declare that interest in your individual tax return, not in a partnership or trust tax return.

Will I be penalised for lodging my return late?
You may receive a fine or interest penalty charge from the ATO if you lodge your return late. Generally if you are entitled to a refund those penalties are minimal.

Do I get all my tax back if I only work a few months of the financial year?
Not necessarily. The tax you are required to pay is calculated on your total income earned during the whole year.

How much can I claim if I buy a computer?
If you purchase a computer for use in your work or business, you can generally claim a percentage of the depreciation that pertains to your work or business use. The depreciation allowed will depend on the expected life of the computer or how long it is expected to be current and to the extent to which you used it to generate your income.

How much can I claim on my motor vehicle?
There are different methods for claiming expenses in relation to the business use of your motor vehicle. These can be complex so to maximise your potential claim you should maintain a daily mileage log book for at least three months of the year and a record of any expenses for the full year.

How much can I claim for my wife and my children?
The amount you can claim will depend on the income levels of you and your individual family members, the age of your children and any amount already received through Centrelink payments. It is therefore important that you bring all these details with you when you attend the office to have your return prepared.

Can I claim my work uniform as a tax deduction?
Deductions for uniforms can only be claimed if the work uniform is specific and identifiable to your organisation (such as uniforms with company logos) or protects you from injury whilst you are at work. You can't claim the cost of a plain uniform or conventional clothing, such as white shirt and black pants or skirt which is commonly worn by waiters and waitresses, even if your employer tells you to wear them.

What deductions can I claim if I'm studying?
Only study directly related to your current job may be claimed as a self-education expense. For example if you were a waiter and you were studying science then you wouldn't be able to claim the cost of the course as a work related expense - even if you were looking for work as an scientist.

I received money from the Gov't during the year, do I include it in my tax return?
Some government payments and allowances are included as taxable income, others are not. It's important that you declare any taxable payments such as age pensions, Newstart allowance, youth allowance or Austudy in your tax return. A complete list of payments which do not need to be included on your tax return can be determined when you meet with us.

The Senior Australian tax offset, how does this affect me?
This tax offset means many seniors can reduce the amount of tax and Medicare levy they pay. In some cases people may not have to lodge a tax return.

What forms do I need to fill in for an employer?
You are required to complete a TFN Declaration Form. This will be given to you by your employer. You may also be requested to complete a super choice form.