Tax Pre-filling

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  [Deactivated] on 17/03/2017 - 16:33

  +1

  Would they at least have all PAYG summaries back to 2007?

  If it's not available on the portal, it's not available on the portal. They probably have it in other internal systems. No idea how you access it.

  Why do you need pre-filing data going back to 2007? Surely you would have filed a tax return which contains all that info.

  I understand this historical service portal is only available to registered tax agents and not the tax payer themselves?

  You can get several years of pre-filing info by downloading the appropriate e-tax version of logging into that. I don't think you can go back to 2007 that way.

  And finally, has anyone ever used a cheap on-line tax agent?

  No, but there's plenty of people in shopping centers and high streets that will file tax returns for this price.

  I always wondered how they deal with receipts for rental properties etc.

  You probably need to upload the receipts or itemize the receipts yourself in a spreadsheet (or other form).

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    peterpeterpumpkin on 17/03/2017 - 17:32

    Thanks for the advice. I personally don't need that far back (it's just as far back as the portal goes). Though I do have a few years worth and a friend has almost back to 2007 so I'll see what e-tax yields.

    I'll have a look around Sydney shopping centres. I thought they don't really do flat pricing when you've got real estate investments and side businesses - defeating the purpose of a tax agent…

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      [Deactivated] on 17/03/2017 - 18:35

      I'll have a look around Sydney shopping centres. I thought they don't really do flat pricing when you've got real estate investments and side businesses

      Are you really that price sensitive to the tax agent fees? I mean the cost couldn't be more than a few hundred dollars, regardless of the agent you choose and the agent's fees are deductible.

      It's probably more important to find someone that's easy to work with and that you can use year after year.

      defeating the purpose of a tax agent…

      Not sure i follow what you're trying to say here - what's the purpose of a tax agent?

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        peterpeterpumpkin on 17/03/2017 - 19:03

        Re tax agent. When I was on a PAYG salary with no external income I just filled out the form. I assumed tech savvy people on salaries just used tax agents to help with deductions?

        Are they as capable as "accountants" or should I spend a bit more? If you haven't noticed I know nothing about tax.

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        [Deactivated] on 17/03/2017 - 22:27

        @peterpeterpumpkin:

        I assumed tech savvy people on salaries just used tax agents to help with deductions?

        There's lots of reasons for using an agent - laziness, reduced chance of audit, help with deductions, etc

        Are they as capable as "accountants" or should I spend a bit more? If you haven't noticed I know nothing about tax.

        Tax agent should be fine. You can probably find an accountant for the same price. It sounds like your tax is relatively simple, so an accountant will probably have a trainee do your returns anyway.

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    geek001 on 17/03/2017 - 17:43

    +1

    I just want to add that even if you found the e-tax software version for the correct year, you will not be able to download data from ATO servers. I think the servers stopped working for that year before the next financial year tax return is due.

    Prefilling is for your PAYG data, the bank interest data and medicare data only anyway. Prefilling saves time, but you can still get all that info if you kept your PAYG summary printout from your employer and bank statements.

    You will also still need to collect all the receipts and documentation for your deductions, if you want any. :)

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      peterpeterpumpkin on 17/03/2017 - 19:11

      Ah OK. Thanks!

      I assume tax agents though would get all the PAYG history as well? I assumed once a PAYG summary is issued by the employer there should be no need for mucking about with honesty based systems? It seemed more straightforward in the UK.

      I worked so many casual PAYG jobs I'm afraid I'll miss one and end up in an ATO detention centre.

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        [Deactivated] on 17/03/2017 - 22:24

        I assumed once a PAYG summary is issued by the employer there should be no need for mucking about with honesty based systems?

        https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-professionals/prepare-and-lodge/i…

        There's a bit of fraud occuring around this.