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NSW ‘leading the charge’ in lodged tax returns: ATO

Tax

Fresh figures from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) show more than 2.7 million returns have been lodged by NSW residents.

By Emma Musgrave 10 minute read

As at 29 October, the ATO said the state was “leading the charge” with the 2.7 million returns lodged, followed by Victoria at 2.1 million and Queensland at 1.8 million. The lodged returns have seen more than $19.5 billion refunded so far.

With many still yet to file, assistant commissioner Karen Foat encouraged Australians to either lodge their tax return or register with a tax agent before 31 October.

“We are noticing some people are yet to lodge. If you plan to lodge with a tax agent, you may have a later lodgement date, but it’s important to contact your agent and get on their books now. If you are putting off your taxes because of a potential debt, don’t worry. Contact us if you need help to understand what support options may be available,” Ms Foat said

“You still need to lodge your tax returns on time if you can, even if you can’t pay by the due date. This will show us that you’re aware of your obligations and doing your best to meet them. Once we understand your situation, we can discuss whether a deferral or a payment plan is best for you.”

Ms Foat noted the average lodgement through the ATOs myTAX service takes under 30 minutes.

“While much of your information will already be in your return, we recommend taking the extra minute to get your return right,” she said.

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“Things like not updating bank account details, forgetting to include all income, or claiming deductions you are not entitled to can result in your refund being delayed.

“We’ve also been asking people to be aware of how their work-related expenses might be different this year. Of course, as expected, we’ve seen more people than ever make claims for working-from-home expenses. Unfortunately, we are seeing a small number of people not taking care to adjust their claims to their altered circumstances or making claims without sufficient evidence. Not being able to support your claim, if asked, may delay your refund and result in a penalty in the most serious cases.”

Emma Musgrave

Emma Musgrave

AUTHOR

Emma Ryan is the deputy head of content at Momentum Media and editor of the company's legal publication, Lawyers Weekly.

Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015 and has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.

A journalist by training, Emma has spent her career connecting with key industry stakeholders across a variety of platforms, including online, podcast and radio. She graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism).

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