Australian tax thread 2013

g5fd6ow0hseima · 04-12-2013 1:39pm

Kiith wrote: »

Can you use e-tax when lodging an early tax return, or does it have to be paper based?

Yes it has to be paper based. I rang them with the question of whether I had to provide any evidence of my visa expiration (like for your super withdrawal) and they didn't seem to be aware of anything like that.

This link is a little better than the ATO's page on the same:

http://australia.gov.au/service/tax-leaving-australia-lodging-your-tax-return

Kiith · 13-12-2013 12:59am

Is there more chance of being asked to provide a medicare exemption form when claiming my tax back after i leave Oz?

I (stupidly) never sent off the form, and didn't get asked for it when claiming my tax back in July. I was going to send it this week, but it probably won't get processed till after Christmas, and i wanted to get my tax forms off as soon as possible. If they decide to request it, do they just put your tax return on hold till they get it?

cooker3 · 25-01-2014 9:14am

Random question.
I arrived in August so for 2 tax years ending 2013 & 2014 I'll be classed as resident. But if I work to August and leave does my residency status carry over or is a blank slate so I'd only be in the country 6 weeks for 2015 tax year which means I wouldn't qualify?

GiftofGab · 01-05-2014 3:40pm

Hey guys, I didn’t want to set up a new thread so just posting here. Has anybody ever went home for good then claimed an early tax back? I did and filled out a paper form, they received the form on 3rd March and told me it takes a max of 10 weeks to get your tax back. They said that it usually never takes that long and is processed before the 10weeks. However, it’s been 9 weeks and I still haven’t heard anything back. How long did it take you guys to receive your early tax return when filling it out by paper.

Kiith · 01-05-2014 3:50pm

I got mine 3-4 weeks after leaving Oz. Sent it in just before Christmas, and i got it 3 weeks after they re-opened in the new year. Definitely didn't take anywhere near 10 weeks. I'd give them a call to find out what the story is.

niva*sis · 14-05-2015 2:02pm

Hi all,

I got my PR last month (April) I was on a 457 prior to that. I am just wondering do I need to claim the Medicare exemption for the 9 months of this tax year? Also now that I am a resident will my tax change in any way? I used get a nice little nest egg in tax back previously so just wondering if that will change now?
Thanks...

Batgurl · 14-05-2015 2:21pm

niva*sis wrote: »

Hi all,

I got my PR last month (April) I was on a 457 prior to that. I am just wondering do I need to claim the Medicare exemption for the 9 months of this tax year? Also now that I am a resident will my tax change in any way? I used get a nice little nest egg in tax back previously so just wondering if that will change now?
Thanks...

You can only claim a Medicare exemption to the day you LODGED your PR application. Technically you've been entitled to Medicare (even if you didnt know or use it) since that day so you can't claim the levy back.

niva*sis · 15-05-2015 12:16am

Batgurl wrote: »

You can only claim a Medicare exemption to the day you LODGED your PR application. Technically you've been entitled to Medicare (even if you didnt know or use it) since that day so you can't claim the levy back.

Hi Batgurl

Thanks for that, any idea why it would be from the date you lodged? I lodged mine on the 2/12/2014 and was granted it on 01/04/2015 but during that time I still did not have Medicare for doctors, dentists etc. (im from the ROI)
Thanks.

Batgurl · 15-05-2015 1:35am

niva*sis wrote: »

Hi Batgurl

Thanks for that, any idea why it would be from the date you lodged? I lodged mine on the 2/12/2014 and was granted it on 01/04/2015 but during that time I still did not have Medicare for doctors, dentists etc. (im from the ROI)
Thanks.

Unfortunately you actually did. If you had gone into Medicare with your PR lodgement receipt, they would have issued you a temporary Medicare card.

Side note-Medicare doesn't cover dental.

jackbhoy · 15-05-2015 1:35am

niva*sis wrote: »

Hi Batgurl

Thanks for that, any idea why it would be from the date you lodged? I lodged mine on the 2/12/2014 and was granted it on 01/04/2015 but during that time I still did not have Medicare for doctors, dentists etc. (im from the ROI)
Thanks.

Because you qualify for Medicare from the day you lodge your PR application. Whether you actually use it or not is moot. They apply the levy based on eligibility only.

In similar circumstance myself but had private cover so should get it all back anyway.

Mellor · 15-05-2015 3:25am

jackbhoy wrote: »

In similar circumstance myself but had private cover so should get it all back anyway.

I don't think that's correct.

You still pay medicare if you have insurance. You are probably thinking of the surchange, where you pay 1-1.5% extra if you earn over 88K

one4one · 18-05-2015 2:57pm

Can someone please recommend an accountant in Sydney? Came to Australia in June and have worked from day one. Need an accountant to do my first year tax return.

Thanks in advance.

jackbhoy · 19-05-2015 3:45am

Mellor wrote: »

I don't think that's correct.

You still pay medicare if you have insurance. You are probably thinking of the surchange, where you pay 1-1.5% extra if you earn over 88K

Yep, you are right.

I have been exempt from Medicare until this year so haven't had to worry about it in previous tax returns.

eimear10 · 27-06-2015 11:07pm

Does anyone know a good accountant that's cheap and charges a flat rate instead of a percentage. I was there on working holiday visa last year. Thanks

Mellor · 29-06-2015 3:25am

eimear10 wrote: »

Does anyone know a good accountant that's cheap and charges a flat rate instead of a percentage. I was there on working holiday visa last year. Thanks

Any accountant I've use has charged a flat rate. $100-160 from memory

mighty magpie · 13-07-2015 3:21pm

Doing my own tax return on the ato website. Everything seems simple enough, not claiming for any deductions etc.

On the medicare exemption bit, do I enter 365 days at 2% if I haven't been in Australia for the full year? I notice if I put in the correct number of days the amount I'm owed decreases.

Can any problems arise if I lodge the tax return before getting back the exemption certificate? I'm leaving Australia next week.

Batgurl · 13-07-2015 10:24pm

How many days were you eligible to claim it?

That's what your cert will say. Last year nearly everyone I know got asked to produce the exemption cert before the return was processed. It's easier to do in au so I'd just do it before you go.

aido79 · 13-07-2015 10:52pm

mighty magpie wrote: »

Doing my own tax return on the ato website. Everything seems simple enough, not claiming for any deductions etc.

On the medicare exemption bit, do I enter 365 days at 2% if I haven't been in Australia for the full year? I notice if I put in the correct number of days the amount I'm owed decreases.

Can any problems arise if I lodge the tax return before getting back the exemption certificate? I'm leaving Australia next week.

As Batgurl said you just claim for the number of days you were eligible for.
If this is your first tax return I'm pretty sure you won't be able to do it online unless they've changed it.

mighty magpie · 13-07-2015 11:49pm

aido79 wrote: »

As Batgurl said you just claim for the number of days you were eligible for.
If this is your first tax return I'm pretty sure you won't be able to do it online unless they've changed it.

Eligilbe for the full year but only spent 8 months of that in australia. If that even makes sense.

What's their definition of eligible? Do you need to be in the country to be eligible?

I could lodge it now if i want. No mention of first timers not being allowed so far.

aido79 · 14-07-2015 11:39am

mighty magpie wrote: »

Eligilbe for the full year but only spent 8 months of that in australia. If that even makes sense.

What's their definition of eligible? Do you need to be in the country to be eligible?

I could lodge it now if i want. No mention of first timers not being allowed so far.

To be eligible you would need to either have applied for PR or have PR or citizenship. You can only be ineligible in your case for the time you spent in Australia.

They may have changed it so. I thought I read before that you couldn't do the first one online.

Mellor · 16-07-2015 6:26am

aido79 wrote: »

To be eligible you would need to either have applied for PR or have PR or citizenship. You can only be ineligible in your case for the time you spent in Australia.

They may have changed it so. I thought I read before that you couldn't do the first one online.

You have that backwards. You are ineligible once you apply for PR, have PR/Citizenship.
If you aren't eligible you can get a Medicare Entitlement Statement to say as much. I've never had to pay the levy for time outside of australia.

minzabud · 16-07-2015 10:37am

My holiday visa is up the first week in September, can I claim back any tax for July/August before I leave? The new tax on whvs comes in from July 2016?

witnessrenegade · 16-07-2015 10:03pm

minzabud wrote: »

My holiday visa is up the first week in September, can I claim back any tax for July/August before I leave? The new tax on whvs comes in from July 2016?

Leaving myself in the next month or so and won't be returning so want to claim my Tax and Super early also, has anyone done this themselves? Really don't want to go through an agency as the price they usually quote is way to high

jockey#1 · 16-07-2015 11:33pm

witnessrenegade wrote: »

Leaving myself in the next month or so and won't be returning so want to claim my Tax and Super early also, has anyone done this themselves? Really don't want to go through an agency as the price they usually quote is way to high

You can do all this yourself relatively easily. I helped a mate out with his early tax return. As paper tax returns arent issued until later in the tax year i was advised you just cross out 2015 on the tax return and write 2016. He received his refund within a few weeks.

witnessrenegade · 17-07-2015 12:14am

jockey#1 wrote: »

You can do all this yourself relatively easily. I helped a mate out with his early tax return. As paper tax returns arent issued until later in the tax year i was advised you just cross out 2015 on the tax return and write 2016. He received his refund within a few weeks.

Thanks, what's the story with Super? Is that pretty straightforward or do you have to show that you are not intending to return to Oz or request to cancel your Visa early so you can claim it? I have been giving various mixed reports from lots of different people over here, all of them very confusing!

minzabud · 17-07-2015 6:01am

Remember that super is paid into your account quarterly so wait 3 months or you may miss out on some payments.

jockey#1 · 17-07-2015 11:22pm

My mate done it himself. I think you need to prove that you are not coming back, i.e visa has expired or cancellation of PR. Also there is a tax of 35% or thereabouts so you will need to factor that in too.

Mellor · 20-07-2015 9:04am

minzabud wrote: »

My holiday visa is up the first week in September, can I claim back any tax for July/August before I leave? The new tax on whvs comes in from July 2016?

The new tax rules for WHV only apply for work down after july 2016.
whether you apply for this July/August after you leave in september, of after next july it won't affect your tax return.

mighty magpie · 06-08-2015 5:34pm

I've left australia and have my 2015/2016 group certificate for the work i done start of July.

Can I enter an early tax return on the ATO website? I've just completed the 14/15 tax return on the portal no problem.

rightyabe · 28-09-2015 1:28pm

hey I've a mate who was here in 2012 who never claimed his tax back for a year 2012/2013. He misplaced 1 of his group certificates but has the other 2 for that tax year.

how can he get that other group cert as that company is no longer around?

and whats his best way for applying?

niva*sis · 11-05-2016 1:10am

people of perth!!!!

who do you rate as better for doing a tax return with....

Mary Pike or Danny Chan????

catbear · 11-05-2016 12:16pm

niva*sis wrote: »

people of perth!!!!

who do you rate as better for doing a tax return with....

Mary Pike or Danny Chan????

You could do it yourself.

niva*sis · 12-05-2016 12:34am

catbear wrote: »

You could do it yourself.

Thanks Catbear but I prefer to go to accountants as they know what you can and cant claim for.

Bold Abdu · 12-05-2016 12:45am

I've used Mike Allely in Melbourne a few times. All done by email since first meeting so nice and handy.

Google Melbourne Tax Agent and you'll get him.

niva*sis · 09-07-2016 7:58am

Can anyone tell me what affect a fringe benefit has on your payment summary when claiming tax?

sponge_bob · 09-07-2016 2:19pm

niva*sis wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what affect a fringe benefit has on your payment summary when claiming tax?

None

niva*sis · 11-06-2017 6:28am

Bold Abdu wrote: »

I've used Mike Allely in Melbourne a few times. All done by email since first meeting so nice and handy.

Google Melbourne Tax Agent and you'll get him.

Hi bold abdu
Is he good at what u can and can't claim for? If I was doing it myself I wouldn't have a clue in terms of using my laptop and wifi claims and work clothes.

Australian tax thread 2013

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