How Do You Lodge Your Tax Returns?

LMarco1993 on 22/05/2016 - 16:17
Last edited 22/05/2016 - 17:04 by 2 other users

Just curious on how many people lodge their own tax return vs lodge through an accountant

Lodgement method: Self / Accountant
How long have you been using the lodgement method:
Do you get any help from ATO:
Any advice/fact you believe will be useful for others:

I'll start it off
Lodgement method: Self
Been lodging by myself for 2 years (only turned 21 and didn't have to lodge before)
Help from ATO: Have managed to lodge them by myself without any issues so far but did have to call last year because it took longer than usual to process
Fact: You need to lodge a "Non-lodgement Advice" if you don't need to lodge a tax return for the Financial Year and there is online calculator to see if you need to lodge or not ATO Calculator:

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  nocure on 22/05/2016 - 18:35

  +3

  Etax.

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  [Deactivated] on 22/05/2016 - 19:08

  +1

  Lodgement method: Self
  Never used an accountant. Never claimed anything dodgy or even legitimate and should have (legitimate claims).
  Help from ATO: I was audited once?
  Fact: Ask your coworkers if they claim anything to get ideas.

  I used to do paper tax but did online the past 2 years and it was SO EASY. My Gov does it all for you.

  FACT 2 - I want to lodge mine NOW but have to wait. It's so annoying because I wanted to lodge it before I went to travelling.

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    CheapskateQueen on 22/05/2016 - 22:49

    Why wouldn't you claim things youre legitimately entitled to?

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  CheapskateQueen on 22/05/2016 - 22:51

  I've always done my own returns for forever. Never used an accountant.

  E-Tax and now MyGov make things so easy. Before i knew anything about tax, it taught me everything i needed to know.

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  Randxyz123 on 22/05/2016 - 23:20

  Wait what? I have to lodge a non - Lodgement advice if I'm 21 and don't have a job?? Since freaking when?

  Thanks for telling me that Australia…

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    CheapskateQueen on 23/05/2016 - 09:02

    +1

    You have to lodge a tax return or non lodgement form for every tax year after you register for a TFN, regardless of how old you are. So if you registered at 16 but didn't work until 22,you need to lodge non lodgment forms for those 6 years.

    Lucky for you MyGov makes it super easy. It'll list all your outstanding years and at a click of a button you can "lodge" the non-lodgment form.

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  Utopian on 22/05/2016 - 23:23

  Morse Code.

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  Ryanek on 23/05/2016 - 10:00

  Having investment properties complicates things a tad so I have an accountant handle all my returns. I feel my time is worth more so I have him stress over the details. It helps that fees are tax deductible.

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    Euphemistic on 25/05/2016 - 11:28

    Been doing my own for many years.

    I went to a tax agent years ago due to getting an investment property. Set me straight on a few items and I've been doing my own ever since as they didn't really add value for me.

    e-tax is pretty easy now that it downloads a lot of your investment stuff, but it still pays to do some research on what sort of things you can claim.

    If you don't have any investments or much to claim I don't know why you wouldn't do it yourself.

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  fritzsticker on 25/05/2016 - 04:10

  Just use e tax. I have no investments nor shares..