How to Lodge Your Tax Return Online

Related Posts:

• Claiming Overtime Meal Allowance
• Claiming Travel Allowance
• 4 ways of Claiming Car Expenses
• Claiming Zone Tax offset 
• Claiming Work Clothes and Uniforms
• E-tax Return Checklist
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

What an Online Tax Return Does

Preparation and lodgment of tax returns is our business. It’s what we have done for the past 30 years. For our clients, that knowledge and experienced, combined with our web based tax return app, EzTax, and our FREE tax database means three things:

• easy tax return preparation
• experienced and qualified support
• better refunds

Tax Return Calculator

(Last updated 30/06/2015)

Related Posts:

• E-tax Return Checklist
• Claiming Overtime Meal Allowance
• Claiming Travel Allowance
• 4 ways of Claiming Car Expenses
• Claiming Zone Tax offset 
• Claiming Work Clothes and Uniforms
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

2015 Tax Refund Calculator Australia is based on single person income and includes Low Income Tax Offset, Medicare levy and Medicare Levy surcharge where it applies.

You will also find tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle - summary of E-tax and Assessable income and checklist of E-tax and Allowable Deductions.

Tax Refund Estimate

Gross income:
Reportable Fringe benefits:
Tax Withheld:

eTax and Assessable Income

(last updated 24/04/2014)

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• E-tax Return Checklist 
• E-tax Download Checklist
• E-tax and Assessable Income
• E-tax and Allowable Deductions Checklist
• E-tax and Tax-offsets Checklist
• E-tax and CentrelinkChecklist
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

The following tax time tip and checklists will help you prepare your annual etax return and calculate your tax refund.

See this post with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle summary of Allowable Deductions.

Assessable income is the starting point for all tax returns whether you are using etax, a local tax agent or other online tax return preparation service.

Assessable income is all income receipts, regardless of how it is taxed or whether specific Tax-offsets apply, and includes many types of monetary receipts, including:

ATO Audit Targets for 2013 - Construction and Sales

Related Posts:

• Claiming Overnight Travel Allowance
• Claiming Overtime Meal Allowance
• Claiming Work Clothes and Uniforms
• Claiming Zone Tax offset
• E-tax Return Checklist
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

2013 ATO Audit Targets

This year the ATO are writing to around 218,000 people employed in the following occupations:

• building construction project managers and supervisors
• building construction labourers
• sales and marketing managers.

The ATO have found people in these groups are at higher risk of making mistakes with their work-related expenses due to the types of deductions they are entitled to claim.

The ATO website has occupation-specific information including guides for those in sales and marketing and the building and construction industries. Our new work-related expenses You-Tube videos help you get your deductions right this tax time.

For a summary of deductions for both these industries see below:

• Sales Representatives and Marketing Managers
• Building and Construction Workers

E-tax Return

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle:

• checklist of eTax and Assessable Income 
• checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your  tax refund and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started! 

Increase Your 2014 Tax Refund

New Users
Existing Users

Do any of these apply to your 2014 tax refund calculation?

• Allowances - Common for many workers, is it income and what deductions can be claimed?
  
• Work Related Deductions - Common for most workers, what expenses can you claim?
• Travel Expenses & Overtime Meal Allowances - Common in Transport and Construction, what rate applies to you?
• Medicare Levy Reduction or Exemption - Does your income fall into the range of low income earner?
• Beneficiary Tax Offset - Did you receive any Centrelink payments?
• Private Health Insurance - are you aware of the different age rates and applying rates to other family members?
• ETP's - do you know about the new "Whole-of-income" caps that apply?
• Redundancy Payments - How much of your payment is exempt from tax?

Any of these events, and a lot more, can impact on the amount of tax refund you could be receiving.

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle summary of E-tax and Assessable income and checklist of E-tax and Allowable deductions.

Eztax, our web based Tax Return Package will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your 2014 tax refund estimate and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Its FREE to get started! 

HELP or HECS Debt

(last updated 1/04/2014)

On 1 June each year indexation is applied to the part of an accumulated Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt that has remained unpaid for more than 11 months. Indexation maintains the real value of the debt by adjusting it in line with changes in the cost of living as measured by the consumer price index (CPI).

The indexation figure is calculated each year after the March CPI is released. It is based on financial figures collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics over the previous two years.

Indexation figure is 2% pa.

The repayment thresholds and rates for the compulsory repayment of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) debts are as follows:

See this post for current rates HELP Debt and HECS rates.

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle - checklist of eTax and Assessable Income and deductions and checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions.

 For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your 2014 tax refund estimate and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started! 

eTax Download

(last updated 1/04/2014)

Related Posts:

• E-tax Return Checklist 
• E-Tax Download Checklist
• E-Tax and Assessable Income
• E-tax and Allowable Deductions Checklist
• E-tax and Tax-offsets Checklist
• E-tax and CentrelinkChecklist
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

In early July each year the ATO will make their version of E-tax available for download (see link at bottom of page below).

The ATO's E-tax 2014 download requires installation of government software. Eztax.com.au offers a fast & easy online service and no software downloads.

You will also easily find tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle (and  help Registered accountant and tax agent).

Here are some other E-Tax related posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle.

• E-tax and Allowable Deductions
• E-tax and Asessable Income
• E-tax and Available Tax Offsets

We'd love to help you get the best possible tax refund for 2012. We can do that when you use our online tax return resources.

E-tax Return

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle:

• checklist of eTax and Assessable Income 
• checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your  tax refund and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started!

EzTax Web Based Tax App

                  Cloud service * no downloads * FREE storage of your vital tax data

                     Web based Tax APP * Free your disc space * really easy to use

With our EzTax Online Tax Package, completing your tax return has never been easier!

For a fast return just follow the simple steps . It's easy to use and saves you time and trouble. 

• Web based tax app - in the cloud
• Open a browser and go. 
• Security of a registered Tax Agent review and lodge your return. 
• Prepare multiple returns for your family with one account
• Tax office electronic lodgment approved software

We'd love to help you get the best possible refund. All our users say eztax is really easy to use. To get started click here:

etax Download

Related Posts:

• E-tax Return Checklist 
• E-Tax Download Checklist
• E-Tax and Assessable Income
• E-tax and Allowable Deductions Checklist
• E-tax and Tax-offsets Checklist
• E-tax and CentrelinkChecklist
• Tax Deduction Finder For My Job - Over 35 Occupations

On 1 July every year the ATO will make their latest version of etax available for download. See link to ATO at bottom of page.

You will also find tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) right here - summary of e-tax and Assessable income and checklist of E-tax and Allowable Deductions.

Changes to Tax Return Each Year: 

In May each year the government releases their annual budget in which changes to the tax system are announced. These changes can be big or small and can, as in recent years, have a significant
downward impact on the tax refund of Australian workers. Budget announcements also impact on what the annual tax return is going to look like and how your tax refund will be calculated. For many tax return preparers these changes can be challenging.

Bad news - There are quite a few NEW items on the tax return which could cause problems for many self preparers. There have been changes to the income tests used to work out some tax offsets, deductions and the Medicare levy surcharge. This may increase the amount of tax and Medicare levy surcharge you have to pay and reduce the amount of Spouse tax Offset, Senior Australians Tax Offset and Pensioner Tax Offset.

You may be affected by these changes if:

• you pay child support
• your employer has made extra super contributions for you such as salary sacrifice super contributions – these are called reportable employer super contributions
• you have rental properties, and the deductions you will claim exceed the income you have derived from them
• you have financial investments and the deductions you will claim exceed the income you have derived from them.

Now that the income tests include these additional amounts, your income may be above the existing income thresholds. This means that you may:

• no longer qualify for certain tax offsets or you may only qualify for a reduced amount
• no longer qualify for super co-contributions or personal super contribution deductions
• be liable for the Medicare levy surcharge
• be required to pay more of your Higher Education Loan Program or Student Financial Supplement Scheme debt. 

See this post for more details on Adjusted Taxable Income==> What Is Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI).

E-tax Return

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle:

• checklist of eTax and Assessable Income 
• checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your  tax refund and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started!

Overnight Travel Expenses You Can Not Claim

(last updated 26/03/2014)


You will also find tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) right here - summary of e-tax and Assessable income and checklist of E-tax and Allowable Deductions.

Related posts:

• Travel Allowance & Living away from home (LAFH) Allowance for Construction Workers
• Tax Deductions, Employer Reimbursements and Allowances
• Claiming a Deduction For Car Expenses Relating to Award Transport Payments
• Travel Allowance & Living away from home (LAFH) Allowance for Construction Workers
• Claiming Travel Expenses for Fly in/Fly out Jobs
• Deduction for Work-related Overnight Travel Expenses

Construction and other workers often incur expenses relating to accomodation, meals and "incidentals" in performing their duties. You cannot claim a deduction for these travel expenses if any of the following apply:

• your employer reimburses your expenses
• you get a job that results in you having to incur travel expenses because you choose not to relocate
• you live away from your usual home to perform your work.

For details of what can be claimed see our checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions.

If you live away from home to perform your work, you may receive a living-away-from-home allowance from your employer. Because you cannot claim a deduction for your expenses, your employer must pay fringe benefits tax on the allowance (FBT does not apply for "remote areas") and you do not need to include the allowance on your income tax return.

Your employer should not show the allowance on your payment summary. If it appears on your payment summary, check with your employer that it has not been shown by mistake - ie. This is not an assessable allowance against which an overnight travel deduction can be claimed. See our checklist of eTax and Assessable Income.

Example
Joe lives in the city and applied for a job to work on a large construction project near a country town. He is paid an allowance to meet his accommodation and meal costs. As Joe applied for the job in the country town and has chosen not to relocate, he is not entitled to a deduction for his expenses. Joe's allowance is a living-away-from-home allowance that his employer must pay fringe benefits tax on. The allowance should not be shown on Joe's payment summary.

NOTE ==> In some cases workers have claimed the gap between the Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA), subject to FBT, and the ATO allowed deduction for overnight expenses for accomodation, meals and incidentals. This "gap" expense is not an allowable deduction and could attract an audit from the ATO.

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your 2014 tax refund estimate and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started!

Tax Deductions, Employer Reimbursements and Allowances

(last updated 26/03/2014) 

Related Posts:

• Travel Allowance & Living away from home (LAFH) Allowance for Construction Workers
• Claiming Travel Expenses for Fly in/Fly out Jobs 
• Claiming a Deduction For Car Expenses Relating to Award Transport Payments
• Travel Allowance & Living away from home (LAFH) Allowance for Construction Workers
• Deduction for Work-related Overnight Travel Expenses

Workers are often remunerated by their employer for various work related costs they incurred in the performance of their work. But did you know the tax consequences can be different where the receipt is either a reimbursement or an allowance.

The tax office view is as follows:

• If your employer or any other person reimburses you for expenses you have actually incurred, the payment is called a reimbursement. ==> no tax consequences.
• You cannot claim a deduction for expenses you incur if those expenses are reimbursed to you by your employer – you do not include a reimbursement, or the related expense, on your tax return.
• An allowance is not considered to be a reimbursement and is assessable income. For more details on allowances see our checklist on eTax and Assessable Income.
• If you claim your motor vehicle expenses from your employer using the cents per kilometre method, the amount you receive is considered to be an allowance.
• Regardless of the amount of an allowance you receive, you can only claim a deduction for the expense you paid. That is, if you paid $80 in work-related expenses and you received a $100 allowance for those expenses, you can still only claim $80. For more details on deductions see our checklist on eTax and Allowable Deductions.

E-tax Return

See these posts with tips, calculators and checklists to help you prepare your eTax Return (and get a better refund) with less hassle:

• checklist of eTax and Assessable Income 
• checklist of eTax and Allowable Deductions

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your  tax refund and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started! 

Claiming Computers and Software

(last updated 1/04/2014)

You can claim a deduction for the work related proportion of depreciation on the cost of computers. If you use your computer for private purposes you must apportion your depreciation amount between work related and private use.

You can also claim a deduction for the work related proportion of the cost of repairs to your computer and interest on money borrowed to finance its cost.

Costs incurred in acquiring, developing or commissioning computer software are depreciable and deductible over 2 ½ years at the rate of 40 per cent per year for the part of the year you owned the software. However, you may be able to immediately claim such costs in full where you incurred them:

• before 1 January 2000 and for the principal purpose of ensuring that an existing computer system is year 2000 compliant or
• in acquiring one copy of a particular unit of software during the current year, and its cost was less than $300 or
• in acquiring more than one copy of a particular unit of software during the current year, and the total cost of all the copies you acquired was less than $300.

In all cases, you must apportion your claim between work related and private use.

See this post for details and a checklist of Low Value Pool Depreciation.

For help with your eTax return see our eTax Return Checklist.

Web Based Tax Return App:

A benefit of using eZtax, our web based tax return app, is we have the genuine online tools, knowledge and experience to get the best tax refund for our clients, making it easy to complete your annual tax return online.

Our Web Based Tax Return App will step you through all the necessary questions to increase your 2014 tax refund estimate and take into account all relevant tax deductions and tax offsets. Try it now. Its FREE to get started!