Late Tax Returns from My Early Years

urzu on 16/06/2015 - 22:55

Hello, wisdom of OzBargain,

To my surprise, I received a letter not so long ago about two tax returns I hadn't completed back in FY2010 and FY2011. I don't know why I didn't lodge, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind (probably stupidity).

Story of my income for those years:
This was at my arrival in Australia, as I landed in December 2009. Being 18, I did some casual work (job A) netting me a gross total of $660 for FY2010, with $0 withheld. For FY2011, I started working a new job, casual, but with more hours (job B), in June of 2011, so I only grossed about $200 with $2 withheld. I must've thought all of job B was in FY2012, because I have lodged all of my tax returns accurately and on time since then.

Actions:
I called the ATO and they sent me the forms I needed to fil out. Having earned so little, that was sorted quickly, and I posted them back last week.

So, here are my questions:
- What comes next? Will they correspond via email, post, or phone?
- What sort of fines am I looking at? (I'd, of course, rather avoid these, especially since I am probably owed money)
- Is there any way I can make sure my mail was delivered successfully to the ATO?

Financial

Related Stores

Australian Taxation Office
Australian Taxation Office

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 16/06/2015 - 23:08
    +1

    I don't think there are any fines. I also have outstanding tax returns that date back to 2012… which was the year I didn't even work, but I had an annuities set up. However I definitely wouldn't have earned enough from that to even get taxed.

    • plmko on 16/06/2015 - 23:13

      Hmmm I have a year where I didn't work but made some money off bank interest (still well below the TF threshold). Are we meant to still lodge a statement?

      • urzu on 16/06/2015 - 23:28

        From what I hear, you must always lodge. Pretty much as soon as you earned something.

    • urzu on 16/06/2015 - 23:28

      Did you end up lodging it? The only reason I was made aware of my outstanding ones was because I got a letter from the ATO…

      • scrimshaw on 16/06/2015 - 23:29

        Still not lodged. Will have to dig out some old paperwork and lodge it properly this year.

    • ozhunter on 17/06/2015 - 01:44
      +1

      I think you will only get fined if you owe money, and you would also have to pay interest on it.

  • sparkles on 16/06/2015 - 23:53

    I put in some late returns last year, I'm talking almost a decade old. They sent a letter saying I should have been penalised, but they aren't going to. Aren't they nice? Not sure whether this is standard practice, or whether you get an amount of free passes or whether it's determined by "who owes who" money.

  • gomertose on 17/06/2015 - 02:44
    +1

    Just lodged 6 years of late tax returns. As sparkles said, got a warning letter on lodgement saying that they will waive the fines as this was my "first offence". I actually owed the ATO money too, under $3000 over those years. I was liable for a general interest charge for the outstanding amount, but this was also waived. Needless to say, I paid it promptly. I'd say you'll get off with a warning letter. I suspect fines will be enforced in future if there is another late lodgement.

  • urzu on 17/06/2015 - 10:26

    Thanks for everyone's replies. You've got me reassured. If I do get asked to pay a fine, I'll look for a way to contest it, but am not expecting one

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