The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is advising it is time to lodge, as most taxpayers with simple affairs will now have their information pre-filled into their accounts.
Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said that the ATO had completed pre-fill of over 91 million pieces of information available for individual tax returns from employers, banks, government agencies and private health insurers.
‘You’ve been patiently waiting, but now you’re good to go! Whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or lodge yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will now be available,’ Mr Thomson said.
Taxpayers should check the pre-filled data to ensure accuracy, add anything that may be missing and then include any deductions they are entitled to claim.
‘Don’t forget that you need to include all sources of income in your tax return. This includes side-hustles, linked income from providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app.’
‘Remember, the ATO has 40 industry and occupation specific guides to assist you in what you can claim and what records are required to prove it,‘ Mr Thomson said.
To help keep your personal information safe and protected, the ATO’s app now has powerful new safety features designed to give users real-time control over their tax affairs through alerts and instant account locking to help stop fraudsters in their tracks.
‘Fraudsters are getting smarter, but so are the protective features in the app. The ATO app will send you real-time messages when changes are made to your ATO record, and you can quickly lock your account to prevent unauthorised access or fraudulent refunds.‘
‘These features provide peace of mind knowing your account is protected and you remain in control of your tax affairs anytime, anywhere‘ Mr Thomson said.
The ATO app and ATO online services through myGov also allow taxpayers to see the progress of their return once they or their registered tax agent have submitted it.
‘Most refunds are finalised within two weeks and this process cannot be sped up, even if you call us,’ Mr Thomson said.
Taxpayers have until 31 October to lodge their tax return or to get on the books of a registered tax agent, which may allow them more time to lodge.
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