ATO gives ‘green light’ to lodge

Australian Taxation Office

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is giving taxpayers with simple affairs the ‘green light’ to lodge their annual income tax returns.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said that most taxpayers with simple affairs will find the information they need to lodge has now been pre-filled in their tax return.

‘Most of the information we collect from employers, banks, private health insurers, share registries, and other institutions is now ready to go. So, if your financial affairs are fairly straightforward, you’ve got a ‘green light’ to lodge – but remember you still need to check your details are accurate before you hit submit.’

Regardless of whether you lodge using a

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has reached the milestone of helping 40,000 small businesses seeking assistance with a dispute.

Ombudsman Bruce Billson said this was a significant moment for the agency.

“Our mission is to make Australia the best place to start, grow and transform a small business and while we can’t guarantee every business will succeed, we strive to make sure no one fails because they didn’t get help when they wanted it,” Mr Billson said.

The number one type of dispute facing small businesses relates to being paid and it accounts for almost two out of five cases. There has also been a sharp rise in small businesses seeking help in digital disputes and with digital platform providers and in cases relating to the construction industry.

“We are proud that we have helped more than 40,000 small businesses resolve disputes with other businesses or government agencies, outside of the costly legal system,” Mr Billson said.

“We strive to help small businesses get back to business as fast as sure to check that all your information is included.’

As you prepare to lodge, keep Tim’s tax time tips in mind: which method is right for you. registered tax agent or yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will be automatically available in your tax return.

Mr Loh also reminded taxpayers that some income may need to be manually added – for example, income from rental properties, some government payments or income from ‘side hustles’.

‘Just because you’ve got a green light that doesn’t mean you should rush! Take your time and make possible and pleasingly nearly two-thirds of the cases that come to us are helped quickly by our call centre or assistance team providing useful information.

“We also provide access to mental health support and tools to help people start and grow a business, and make better business decisions. We also offer a Tax Concierge Service for small businesses who have a dispute with the Tax Office.”

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman was created in 2016. Mr Billson paid tribute to the work of the inaugural Ombudsman Kate Carnell, who he succeeded in 2021.

In its seven years of operating, the ASBFEO has handled 40,510 cases, most of which involve disputes small businesses have with other businesses or Australian Government agencies. Some 27,854 small businesses were helped quickly by providing information to resolve their concerns. Some cases take longer to resolve and the ASBFEO Assistance Team have provided more intense one-to-one assistance for 12,656 cases. This has included arranging alternative dispute resolution. Some cases are referred to other

1. Include all of your income: If you picked up some extra work through online activities, the sharing economy, interest from investments, a capital gain (e.g. from the sale of an investment property), or received a cash payment for any work, you will need to include this income in your tax return.

2. Assess your circumstances this year: If your job or circumstances have changed this year, it is important to reflect this in your claims. For example, you may have worked at home less in 2022–23 than in the year before, as many of us returned to the office. The way you calculate working from home deductions has also changed, so consider government agencies in line with ASBFEO’s legislation that says it is not to duplicate the functions of other government agencies.

The latest data, published in the ASBFEO Quarterly Report, reveals 26% of cases relate to digital services.

“The number of cases involving digital services and platform providers is double the proportion we received just two years ago,” Mr Billson said.

“I have been vocal in our concern about the rising number of problems small and family businesses are encountering with digital platform providers, particularly the nightmare in restoring an account that has been shut down after being hacked.

“Some people have built their entire businesses on social media and digital platforms and having someone else access and control their account is devastating for their business and their reputation. They watch the financial and emotional damage occur in real time with no ability to stop it.

“One of the absurdities of the current situation is after being locked out of your account, you need to access your account to make a complaint. It’s the ultimate run around.

“It is crucial that clear, appropriate, and

3. Records, records, records: To claim a deduction for a workrelated expense, you must have a record to prove it. The ATO app makes it easier and more convenient to keep records in one place, including photos of your receipts and invoices.

4. Wait for your notice of assessment: Your tax estimate in myTax or from your registered tax agent may not match your final tax outcome. We recommend waiting for your notice of assessment before making plans for how you will use any expected tax refund this year.

5. Stay alert to scams: Remember that the ATO will never send you a link to login to our online services or ask you to send personal information via social media, email or SMS.

‘Calling us won’t speed up the processing of your return, but you can keep track of your return by logging into the ATO app or through myGov, regardless of whether you lodged yourself or through a registered tax agent. We normally process online returns within 2 weeks, but if your return hits a speed bump, we’ll contact you,’ Mr Loh said.

The ATO reminded taxpayers that the outcome of tax returns this year may be different than in previous years, with some people receiving a lower refund than expected, or even a tax bill.

‘There are a number of factors that can impact your final tax assessment.’

‘In simple terms, if you don’t receive a refund, it just means that you’ve paid the correct amount of tax throughout the year.

If you receive a bill, it may mean you didn’t pay enough tax – this can be for a number of reasons,’ Mr Loh said.

When you lodge your own return, the due date for payment is 21 November, regardless of when you lodge. If you are using a registered agent your due date may be later.

‘If you’ve received a bill and you can pay, you need to do so by the due date to avoid interest accruing. If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, we have payment plan options available to support you, which you may be able to set up yourself on the ATO website,’ Mr Loh said.

You can reduce your taxable income by making sure you’re claiming the deductions you’re entitled to – the ATO has over 40 occupation guides that can help you understand the deductions that are available to you depending on your job.

‘It might be tempting to inflate your deductions, but if you’re considering this, we want you to hit the brakes and remember, we have sophisticated data-matching capabilities which provide us with the clues we need to spot deductions that don’t add up,’ Mr Loh said.