| It's tax time, which means we need your help to remind people in your community that they may need to lodge a tax return. For some people, this could mean getting money back if they paid more tax during the year than they needed to.
Remember, Australian residents are taxed on their worldwide income. When people prepare their tax return, they need to declare all of their income, including that earned from overseas work or investments.
Do they need to lodge?
This year the tax free threshold has increased from $6,000 to $18,200, which means some people may not need to lodge a tax return. The ATO has a free, online tool that helps people work out if they need to lodge. This tool is available at
www.ato.gov.au/doineedtolodge
How to lodge
If people in your community do need to lodge a tax return, there are a number of ways they can lodge:
Online using e-tax, the ATO's free, fast and secure lodgment service. Most refunds are issued in 12 business days or less. E-tax can be downloaded at www.ato.gov.au/etax
Using a registered tax agent. If they decide to pay someone to help them complete and lodge their tax return, they should make sure they are registered with the Tax Practitioners Board at www.tpb.gov.au
Using the paper tax return form that comes with the ATO's Individual tax return instructions. This year they will not be available for pickup at newsagents - copies can be ordered online at www.ato.gov.au/publications or by calling 1300 720 092
Reminder: if people are preparing their own tax return, they need to lodge by 31 October 2013.
Tax Help
The ATO's free Tax Help service can help people to lodge their tax return. ATO trained and accredited volunteers can help people who earn around $50,000 or less a year and have simple tax affairs.
Tax Help is available at many community centres across Australia and in some areas it is available in languages other than English. For more information about what is available in your area see: www.ato.gov.au/taxhelp or call 13 28 61
Changes in 2013
This year when people lodge their return through e-tax or with a tax agent and expect a refund, they will need to include their Australian bank account details. The fastest, most secure way to receive their tax refund is to have it sent directly to their bank account using electronic funds transfer, or EFT.
For more details about this and other changes this year, our new digital magazine taxtime, can be downloaded from Apple app and Google play stores. Taxtime will give people in your community all the information they need to prepare their returns.
More information
For more information, call the ATO on 13 28 61. People who don't speak English well, can phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50 for help with their call.
For general tax information in up to 25 languages visit:
www.ato.gov.au/otherlanguages
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