The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the range of support services available to the community during tax time.
ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson encouraged the community to reach out for help and assistance in managing their tax affairs.
The ATO’s priority is assisting taxpayers to get their lodgments right the first time, and the ATO has programs and services available to assist you.
Tax Help and Tax Clinics
The Tax Help program is a free and confidential service that has been helping eligible individuals with simple tax affairs lodge their tax return for more than 35 years. Appointments are available in person at a tax help centres around the country, by phone, or online. Tax Help volunteers can also assist with creating a myGov account, lodging an amendment to your tax return, claiming refund of franking credits, and informing the ATO if you don't need to lodge a tax return.
This year the ATO has increased the income eligibility criteria to support those earning $70,000 or less per year, up from $60,000 last year.
The National Tax Clinic program is a government-funded initiative that supports eligible individuals, including small businesses, who are unable to access tax advice and assistance. Tax clinics operate independently through various TAFE and university campuses located in every Australian state and territory, and many clinics offer phone, web conferencing and face-to-face services.
Support for culturally and linguistically diverse taxpayers
The ATO has a range of translated information to help people better understand tax and superannuation in their preferred language.
Taxpayers can find tax time resources in over 20 languages, and a range of other tax and superannuation information including guidance about lodgment, how to lodge and what deductions you may be able to claim.
Self-help options
The ATO’s digital self-help tools are the easiest and quickest way to get help this tax time, with a range of online services available for individuals and businesses.
Specialised help and support is available on the ATO website for taxpayers, including tailored tax and super information for those with a disability.
The ATO app, myTax and ATO Community are also helpful in managing your tax affairs online, without needing to call the ATO.
You can check on the progress of your return by using ATO online services through myGov or the ATO app.
The ATO app has new security features to help protect your account. Setting up a strong digital identity on the app also allows you to protect yourself this tax time to ensure your interactions online are safe and secure, including notifying you of any suspicious activity on your account.
If you’d like assistance in lodging a tax return, you can lodge through a registered tax agent. To check a tax agent is registered, see the Tax Practitioner’s Board Public Register.
Our commitments to you
The ATO is committed to building a relationship with taxpayers, and the ATO Charter outlines the relationship we seek with the community – a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
The Charter provides our taxpayers with an understanding of the things we ask of them, including courtesy and respect, meeting their obligations and being responsive to us.
The Charter explains our commitments to all taxpayers, including fair and reasonable treatment, professional service, support and assistance where required, the security of their data and privacy and being transparent and accountable in our interactions with the community.
Contact details:
[email protected] | 02 6216 1901