Did you know that over 2.9 million Australians lodged their tax returns using e-tax in 2009?
If you’re anything like me, you’re 20-something years old and consider yourself tech-savvy enough to lodge your tax return using the ATO’s [Australian Tax Office] handy e-tax software for the first time.
And, if you’re nothing like me, you’ve already navigated the labyrinth unscathed in just under an hour and have already taken your significant other out to stimulate the economy.
But if you really are like me then you might appreciate some of my handy hints.
The first thing you need to know is that e-tax is only available for Windows PC. So if you use a Mac you need to ask one of your PC friends (we all have them, it’s the 21st century after all) to borrow their computer for an hour or so.
The second thing is to be patient. It’s not the software’s fault you didn’t listen to your parents when they told you to keep receipts and now you can’t claim deductions and offsets. So keep your cool, it won’t be long before you forgo prudence and purchase that iPad or Xbox or gorgeous pair of shoes.
The essentials you need are: your TFN (that’s ’tax file number‘), and last year’s ’notice of assessment‘ . This is used for identification purposes. And of course you’ll need your banking details if you prefer the ATO to EFT your deposit to your account.
If you don’t have your previous notice of assessment they may ask for the gross balance of your PAYG-summary in conjunction with your TFN. If this doesn’t work than you have the option of saving your file and coming back to it once you call the ATO to obtain your notice of assessment.
Your notice of assessment can also be downloaded if you have kept the e-tax software from 2009.
One handy feature for first time users of e-tax is that you can save your progress and come back to it later. This is great when you realise you’ve forgotten the balance of your HECS/HELP debt.
To get started you'll need to go to the ATO website and download the e-tax software then follow the onscreen prompts to install. E-tax offers a pre-filling service, so once you enter your personal details you’re on your way.
E-tax has built in calculators so all you need to do is enter your income and it will do the maths.
You will need to declare how much bank interest you’ve accrued over the last financial year and this can be accessed quite simply for online banking users, otherwise check your last statement.
Once you’ve filled everything in, you can view a summary which includes your estimates and any liabilities (hopefully not). Once you’ve checked it over you’re ready to lodge!
Make sure to print your receipt and keep it for 5 years, like at your mother’s place, probably in the third drawer in the kitchen.
If you’re anything like me you will go out and buy a sealable folder for future receipts that you keep in your car.
If you’re anything like me, you’re 20-something years old and consider yourself tech-savvy enough to lodge your tax return using the ATO’s [Australian Tax Office] handy e-tax software for the first time.
And, if you’re nothing like me, you’ve already navigated the labyrinth unscathed in just under an hour and have already taken your significant other out to stimulate the economy.
But if you really are like me then you might appreciate some of my handy hints.
The first thing you need to know is that e-tax is only available for Windows PC. So if you use a Mac you need to ask one of your PC friends (we all have them, it’s the 21st century after all) to borrow their computer for an hour or so.
The second thing is to be patient. It’s not the software’s fault you didn’t listen to your parents when they told you to keep receipts and now you can’t claim deductions and offsets. So keep your cool, it won’t be long before you forgo prudence and purchase that iPad or Xbox or gorgeous pair of shoes.
The essentials you need are: your TFN (that’s ’tax file number‘), and last year’s ’notice of assessment‘ . This is used for identification purposes. And of course you’ll need your banking details if you prefer the ATO to EFT your deposit to your account.
If you don’t have your previous notice of assessment they may ask for the gross balance of your PAYG-summary in conjunction with your TFN. If this doesn’t work than you have the option of saving your file and coming back to it once you call the ATO to obtain your notice of assessment.
Your notice of assessment can also be downloaded if you have kept the e-tax software from 2009.
One handy feature for first time users of e-tax is that you can save your progress and come back to it later. This is great when you realise you’ve forgotten the balance of your HECS/HELP debt.
To get started you'll need to go to the ATO website and download the e-tax software then follow the onscreen prompts to install. E-tax offers a pre-filling service, so once you enter your personal details you’re on your way.
E-tax has built in calculators so all you need to do is enter your income and it will do the maths.
You will need to declare how much bank interest you’ve accrued over the last financial year and this can be accessed quite simply for online banking users, otherwise check your last statement.
Once you’ve filled everything in, you can view a summary which includes your estimates and any liabilities (hopefully not). Once you’ve checked it over you’re ready to lodge!
Make sure to print your receipt and keep it for 5 years, like at your mother’s place, probably in the third drawer in the kitchen.
If you’re anything like me you will go out and buy a sealable folder for future receipts that you keep in your car.
