ATO Debt Referred to Debt Collector

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Australian Taxation Office

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  [Deactivated] on 13/06/2019 - 20:08

  +6

  …call the ATO and ask?

  • 

    dylanando on 13/06/2019 - 21:03

    Good luck..

  • 

    serpserpserp on 13/06/2019 - 21:11

    This.

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  realfancyman on 13/06/2019 - 20:08

  +3

  I think just setup the repayment plan and tell the debt collector that you are already in an agreement with ATO to pay the debt. Nothing to lose, worst case ATO will just cancel the repayment plan and you'll have to deal with the debt collectors

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  [Deactivated] on 13/06/2019 - 20:13

  +2

  Yeah I was in a similar situation couple of years ago over AGL bills. On first call debt collector politely asked if I want to talk about it and I said no because that payment is being made already. I paid the bill directly to AGL and never heard from DC again.

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  kyle on 13/06/2019 - 20:19

  +1

  The payment slip attached to the bottom of the Probe Group letter should be the standard ATO payment slip so the payment goes straight to ATO.

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  Sage on 13/06/2019 - 21:35

  +1

  Used to work for the ATO. You can just pay it, it's a negative balance sitting on the account.
  You can set up a payment plan which will stop additional fees.

  Another tip, if you're expecting a refund from your 2018 tax return then it'll be absorbed by the debt. So that can be a way to repay. (Obviously if you're expecting a debt you can put it off until the end of October)

  • 

    frugalmelbmillenial on 14/06/2019 - 00:20

    awesome, cheers for that advice!

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  crashloaded on 14/06/2019 - 08:42

  +1

  I thought once a debt recovery firm had taken over the debt they'd effectively purchased the debt and it had to be paid to them?

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  nicolemcmilllon on 14/06/2019 - 08:43

  -1

  Do you have a tax agent? They will be able to set up the payment plan with the ATO for you.

  If not, then call the ATO and set up a payment plan.

  Also, make sure you're not late on your 2019 return. You will most likely have a due date of 31st October 2019 even if using a tax agent :)

  • 

    frugalmelbmillenial on 14/06/2019 - 11:29

    I do! that's great, thank you :)

    • 

      crashloaded on 14/06/2019 - 12:05

      You can also set up payment plans through mygov.

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  coolsteps on 15/06/2019 - 18:01

  I got one of those too even though i had been paying most of my gst in advance still got hit with penalties and interest. i just submitted all the overdue bas paid it all off when i got the warning letter it would be handed over to a deb collector. then a few days later it was all up to date i called up the 1300 on the letter pleaded with them on medical grounds and they remitted all the penalties except the $523 + interest charged. I even earned only a couple dollars interest as i had paid most of it in advance but dont think i earned the 8.99% + rate they charged me. not sure how they work it all out ? i was told it doesnt count even though i paid most of it advance as i hadnt lodged the bas on time. op best call ato debt dept for advice and plead mercy with them.

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  Cipheron on 11/10/2019 - 02:59

  Old post, but I want to mention that ATO doesn't 'sell' debt to those companies, they just get them to set up payment plans. If you don't want to talk to Probe then set up a payment plan either via your tax agent or on mygov then after about a week the file Probe has will close automatically, since what Probe is supposed to do has already been 'actioned'.

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  Goldenwarrior on 11/10/2019 - 08:57

  I had this problem a few years back when the I had to start paying tax on investment income (was used to PAYE) and I didn't realise I had to log onto myGov to check each quarter.

  My accountant sent me the debt collection bill.

  I logged into myGov/ATO and paid it. Never heard back from the ATO or debt collector.

  Now I just put a reminder in my calender to pay the tax the day before it's due.