Australian tax thread 2013

mandrake04

Kiith wrote: »

Right, doing it myself as i can't be arsed going to an accountant.

Question about the medicare exemption though...it says enter the number of days i was in that category. Is that literally the amount of days i've worked, or do i put in the full year?

The amout of days you have been in the country.

massdebater

mandrake04 wrote: »

The amout of days you have been in the country.

Are you sure about that mandrake? I could be mistaken, but I thought I put down 366 last year, even though I was only in the country 9/10 months. It's possible I'm remembering it wrong though.

mandrake04

massdebater wrote: »

Are you sure about that mandrake? I could be mistaken, but I thought I put down 366 last year, even though I was only in the country 9/10 months. It's possible I'm remembering it wrong though.

Sorry you are right full exemption is 365

You could C in the claim box

If you were a temporary resident for Medicare
purposes and have a certificate from the Medicare
Levy Exemption Certification Unit of Medicare
(see Category 3) print C in the CLAIM TYPE box.
Otherwise leave the CLAIM TYPE box blank.
We will work out your exemption entitlement.

Kiith

Hmm, too late. I put in the amount of days i've been here for. It still came up with (what i assume) was the correct amount though, or at least what i was expecting in ta back. Hopefully it won't matter too much.

darcy07

how do i go about getting a medicare exemption levy did my tax up and says im only owed 40 dollars said i had a medicare levy which i dont yet and says im owed 600 might be worth getting

mandrake04

Kiith wrote: »

Hmm, too late. I put in the amount of days i've been here for. It still came up with (what i assume) was the correct amount though, or at least what i was expecting in ta back. Hopefully it won't matter too much.

Sorry dude, you can still check if you paid any medicare levy because it will show in the medicare levy box on the summary.

Apollo_Creed

Apollo_Creed wrote: »

Hi guys,

Great thread.
I'm claiming taxback for a friend using the etax.
With regard to the medicare exemption cert, he didn't apply for the exemption last year and wants to claim back this years and last years.
Can I claim last years using etax?

Can anyone help me out on this one?

Legend100

Apollo_Creed wrote: »

Can anyone help me out on this one?

when you say this year and last year - do you mean 2013 tax return & 2012 tax return? ie years ending june 12 & june 13

if you do, did he already file a tax return for 2012?
If he did - I don't think you can do an amended return on e-tax so you will have to print the form and send it to the ATO, prob better to drop a letter with it declaring it is an amended return

For 2013, assuming no tax return yet submitted, just use e-tax to submit

Apollo_Creed

Legend100 wrote: »

when you say this year and last year - do you mean 2013 tax return & 2012 tax return? ie years ending june 12 & june 13

if you do, did he already file a tax return for 2012?
If he did - I don't think you can do an amended return on e-tax so you will have to print the form and send it to the ATO, prob better to drop a letter with it declaring it is an amended return

For 2013, assuming no tax return yet submitted, just use e-tax to submit

Yeah, meet y/e june 2012 and june 2013.

Yes, he did put in a tax return for 2012, when you say print the form, what form are you talking about? The medicare exemption cert??

Using e-tax for 2013 tax return.

Thanks for your help.

Legend100

Apollo_Creed wrote: »

Yeah, meet y/e june 2012 and june 2013.

Yes, he did put in a tax return for 2012, when you say print the form, what form are you talking about? The medicare exemption cert??

Using e-tax for 2013 tax return.

Thanks for your help.

No I mean a paper tax return form for 2012.
The medicare exemption cert is only a backup document for your return, i.e. proof you are able to claim an exemption to medicare just like you need proof of any donations you claim with a donation receipt from the charity.

I take it what you mean is that your friend did not claim exemption from medicare levy in 2012 in their tax return. If this is the case - you need to submit an amended paper tax return to the ATO for 2012. You don't need to submit the medicare exemption cert - it is only required if requested by the ATO.

chrisypaty

Hello,

I became an aus resident in January.

In part A2 - Other items - Part-year tax-free thresholdin 2012/13 did you become an Australian resident? Do I click yes for this part?

john.co

Just want to say thanks to everyone who posted info on Tax Returns on this thread (and previous years). Submitted mine and my gf's a fortnight ago by post and hers landed in bank account over the weekend.

(since we both submitted the exact same info, I'm assuming it's just a banking transfer delay and mine is on the way...hopefully!)

LaHaine

I submitted my tax return through etax. its been a few weeks so I contacted them to query the delay. They now say ive been chosen for a random tax audit. they say I probably won't get my refund until mid October?


does anybody have any idea why this would be the case? im extremely p'd off right now as ive been trying without success to find a job in brisbane for a few weeks now. My second year visa took a few weeks to process so its all money gone out the window.

nothings going right at the minute

Legend100

LaHaine wrote: »

I submitted my tax return through etax. its been a few weeks so I contacted them to query the delay. They now say ive been chosen for a random tax audit. they say I probably won't get my refund until mid October?


does anybody have any idea why this would be the case? im extremely p'd off right now as ive been trying without success to find a job in brisbane for a few weeks now. My second year visa took a few weeks to process so its all money gone out the window.

nothings going right at the minute

To be honest, it is rarely a random audit, the computer probably flagged something for verification purposes. I was looking at the 2013 stats the other day and there has already been over 30,000 returns been put forward for checking due to possible fraudulent claims.

Did you make any "big" expense claims?

mandrake04

Could possibly be occupation related.

Each year the Australian Tax Office picks out a number of occupations and uses them as a target to investigate their tax returns in more detail. The target is usually based on occupations which have had problems with tax returns in previous years.

The Major jobs on target for this financial year 2012/2013 are Sales Managers, Marketing Managers, Building Construction Managers and building labourers. The Australian Tax Office has already sent out over 218,000 letters to people living and working in Australia in those fields.

LaHaine

Nothing out of the ordinary.

I worked as a temp and then two jobs farming for regional work. claiming tax back for those jobs.

I claimed 110 dollars for high vis shirts and boots which were required for farm work . Thats the only expense. And that was a modest estimate as I didn't want to take the p*ss.

Legend100

LaHaine wrote: »

Nothing out of the ordinary.

I worked as a temp and then two jobs farming for regional work. claiming tax back for those jobs.

I claimed 110 dollars for high vis shirts and boots which were required for farm work . Thats the only expense. And that was a modest estimate as I didn't want to take the p*ss.

Was that 110 on top of the 300 without receipts or did you only claim the 110?

LaHaine

just the 110

poodles

You will get a letter in the post asking for receipts for anything you have claimed.

If you do not have receipts you will be able to withdraw the claim.
You will be fined for this if you are not able to provide a receipt. However you *might* get this waived as a good will gesture if it was your first time being audited / getting caught.

You should get your tax back around October - November.

poodles

Fine was under $200 iirc

LaHaine

poodles wrote: »

You will get a letter in the post asking for receipts for anything you have claimed.

If you do not have receipts you will be able to withdraw the claim.
You will be fined for this if you are not able to provide a receipt. However you *might* get this waived as a good will gesture if it was your first time being audited / getting caught.

You should get your tax back around October - November.

Why would I get a fine? My understanding was that you can claim up to 300 dollars without receipts?

poodles

Yea, as far as I can make out, you can claim up to $300 without receipts.

What was your total claims? $110 in total across your whole return?

could well just be a random audit in that case.

LaHaine

poodles wrote: »

Yea, as far as I can make out, you can claim up to $300 without receipts.

What was your total claims? $110 in total across your whole return?

could well just be a random audit in that case.

Yes just $110. That's why its strange. Just bad luck maybe.

Legend100

LaHaine wrote: »

Yes just $110. That's why its strange. Just bad luck maybe.

you say you were on a 417 - when did you arrive?

did you put down resident for tax and only claim part of the threshold (not the entire amount)

LaHaine

Legend100 wrote: »

you say you were on a 417 - when did you arrive?

did you put down resident for tax and only claim part of the threshold (not the entire amount)

Arrived last July. Resident for tax. Im not sure re threshold?

Legend100

LaHaine wrote: »

Arrived last July. Resident for tax. Im not sure re threshold?

July would mean you were here for the entire tax year so full threshold - providing you meet the residence criteria (they seem to be examining whv people for tax residence this year so it might be that)

other than that......you may actually be one of the random checks

LaHaine

Legend100 wrote: »

July would mean you were here for the entire tax year so full threshold - providing you meet the residence criteria (they seem to be examining whv people for tax residence this year so it might be that)

other than that......you may actually be one of the random checks

Fingers crossed!

Jbpc

I'll be heading home in a couple of weeks, anyone know whats the score about filing my return for next year. do I need to do it now or whats the story??

hussey

Jbpc wrote: »

I'll be heading home in a couple of weeks, anyone know whats the score about filing my return for next year. do I need to do it now or whats the story??

If you want your money back then yeah. Just fill out 2013 tax return (paper) cross off 2013 and replace with 2014 and mail it in

Apollo_Creed

Hi guys,

I'm currently doing a return for a friend. She is a hairdresser, who is de facto on her boyfriends 457 visa, and hence is claiming medicare exemption.
She has earned approx $47k and paid $7k tax.

I have claimed for a variety of expenses such as work uniform, laundry,shoes, salon expenses, PY tax return etc, and I'm coming out with a refund of approx $2,600.

Does this sound about right? I would have thought she would have got a bit extra give her expenses are about $3/4k...

Any input greatly appreciated.

mandrake04

Apollo_Creed wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm currently doing a return for a friend. She is a hairdresser, who is de facto on her boyfriends 457 visa, and hence is claiming medicare exemption.
She has earned approx $47k and paid $7k tax.

I have claimed for a variety of expenses such as work uniform, laundry,shoes, salon expenses, PY tax return etc, and I'm coming out with a refund of approx $2,600.

Does this sound about right? I would have thought she would have got a bit extra give her expenses are about $3/4k...

Any input greatly appreciated.

You only get back the rate of tax on the difference of Gross - deductions

If she earned $47K and had $4K expenses, then she only pays tax on $43K.

If for sake of argument her tax rate is 30% $4k of expenses would give a refund of $1200 not $4K.

countingdown

Can anyone recommended a suitable accountant in Melbourne who has dealt with tax refunds for 457 visa holders?

My tax refund estimate is incredibly low and I want to see if i might be making a mistake somewhere

aido79

countingdown wrote: »

Can anyone recommended a suitable accountant in Melbourne who has dealt with tax refunds for 457 visa holders?

My tax refund estimate is incredibly low and I want to see if i might be making a mistake somewhere

What makes you think you should get more back? If for example you work all year doing the same hours every week and earning the same wage every week for the year you will get nothing back apart from your medicare levy and the taxable part of any work related expenses. This will be the case for alot of people on 457 visas.

tonydude

Looking for some advice guys, my girlfriend is working as a beauty therapist on a whv and shes earning around 640 a week and 208 of it is being taken in tax, theres also a super of 60 on top of this, does this sound normal and can she claim the tax and super back when we leave Oz, thanks

jackbhoy

tonydude wrote: »

Looking for some advice guys, my girlfriend is working as a beauty therapist on a whv and shes earning around 640 a week and 208 of it is being taken in tax, theres also a super of 60 on top of this, does this sound normal and can she claim the tax and super back when we leave Oz, thanks

Sounds like she is being taxed as a non-resident (for tax purposes), on that salary I wouldn't expect to be pay more than $50-60 p/w in tax.

She should do a tax return for any tax years she has worked (don't have to wait until leaving) and if she is resident for tax purposes on that she would get most of that tax back. If she earns under 18k in a tax year then she should get all of tax paid back, plus medicare levy.

Super is different in that it is paid by employer, it is not a tax on gross income. There are ways to access that once you leave the country but tax office will take a chunk of it so it won't be much of a windfall...

Belt

I checked the status of my return and it says my assessment was issued a week ago; when can I expect the refund?

I chose bank transfer so thought it would have been put in immediately

monariek

Belt wrote: »

I checked the status of my return and it says my assessment was issued a week ago; when can I expect the refund?

I chose bank transfer so thought it would have been put in immediately

can you only check the status of your return if you lodge using etax?

Belt

Nope, I posted mine and can check; all you need is your tax file number! Don't have the link to hand, just google it

Anyone no how long the wait Is for the Medicare exemption cert? Sent my Medicare forms away 6 weeks ago and still no sign of a cert?
Thanks.

Noo

Serenity Worried Pancake wrote: »

Anyone no how long the wait Is for the Medicare exemption cert? Sent my Medicare forms away 6 weeks ago and still no sign of a cert?
Thanks.

I got mine in about 2/3 weeks

danotroy

Do you need a medicare exemption cert? My accountant, provided by the agency i work for, said there is no need to supply the exemption form. I didn't supply it last year and I Didn't get pulled up on it.

Can someone clear up the following hypotheticals.

If I earn 17900 in this new tax year and pay 3000 in tax will i get all 3000 back? (or a substantial amount)
If I earn 20,000 in the tax year and pay 3,500 in tax what would i get back?

massdebater

danotroy wrote: »

Do you need a medicare exemption cert? My accountant, provided by the agency i work for, said there is no need to supply the exemption form. I didn't supply it last year and I Didn't get pulled up on it.

No, you don't need it. I've done my last two tax returns without applying for my medicare exemption cert and received my tax back both times, no problem. On the off-chance you get audited, they may ask you to supply it and you can simply apply for it then.

danotroy wrote: »

Can someone clear up the following hypotheticals.

If I earn 17900 in this new tax year and pay 3000 in tax will i get all 3000 back? (or a substantial amount)

You get it all back because you are below the 18,200 threshold.

danotroy wrote: »

If I earn 20,000 in the tax year and pay 3,500 in tax what would i get back?

You only pay 19% tax on the 1,800 (the amount above 18,200). Although, with medicare exemption/expenses etc, it's likely you get the full 3,500 back.
The income tax threshold table is here http://www.superguide.com.au/how-super-works/income-tax-rates

Batgurl

danotroy wrote: »

Do you need a medicare exemption cert? My accountant, provided by the agency i work for, said there is no need to supply the exemption form. I didn't supply it last year and I Didn't get pulled up on it.

I think ATO are being stricter on it this year though. I didn't provide it last year and there was no hassle. This year however my accountant (same guy) won't submit my return without it.

I've heard a few people say the same about their guys as well.

jackbhoy

Batgurl wrote: »

I think ATO are being stricter on it this year though. I didn't provide it last year and there was no hassle. This year however my accountant (same guy) won't submit my return without it.

I've heard a few people say the same about their guys as well.

I submitted my own return sans cert, got refund and wasn't asked for cert.

Probably no harm to get it anyway but I'd say it's just a random selection/audit process they use to check.

cooker3

This was my first tax return and I randomly got audited but thankfully got the 4.5k back Thursday. Just the 9 weeks after submitting it...
They didn't ask me to submit the medicare exemption cert though so I may have missed a bullet there (seeing as I haven't bothered applying yet)

Hasmunch

I applied for my medicare exemption certificate last week and noticed on the website

If you live in Australia, but are not eligible for Medicare during all, or part of, any financial year, you can claim an exemption from paying the levy. To claim the exemption on your tax return, you must apply for a Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate.

You may not be eligible for the exemption if you:

• hold a permanent resident visa or have applied for a permanent resident visa
• were a resident of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Malta, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway or Slovenia before entering Australia

Anyone know if this is true, i thought we were eligible for exemption status?

john.co

@Hasmunch
Think this has been covered on this thread (or previous years) - AFAIK this is an error on the website - check out the actual Medicare Levy Exemption Certificate Form and you'll see it mentions Northern Ireland specifically, and not Republic of Ireland.
Someone else might be able to verify this is a mistake, but I know personally - I applied and was granted the Medicare Exemption Cert for the period when I wasn't on PR visa.

Jbpc

Hi guys,

Stupid Q alert! ...I worked for 3 months while in Oz, one month of it fell in 2013 tax year and the rest in 2014. I'm back home now and don't plan to return to Australia. What do I have to do regarding my return. I was in the low pay bracket (18 p/hr 30-40hrs a week) so I am more than likely owed only an irrelevant amount, so do I need to bother with the return at all??
Sorry about the silly Q but I'm clueless regarding this stuff.

Thanks

L'prof

Jbpc wrote: »

Hi guys,

Stupid Q alert! ...I worked for 3 months while in Oz, one month of it fell in 2013 tax year and the rest in 2014. I'm back home now and don't plan to return to Australia. What do I have to do regarding my return. I was in the low pay bracket (18 p/hr 30-40hrs a week) so I am more than likely owed only an irrelevant amount, so do I need to bother with the return at all??
Sorry about the silly Q but I'm clueless regarding this stuff.

Thanks

It's up to yourself, but you're probably entitled to the total amount of tax you paid while in Australia. I'd definitely be claiming it.

Batgurl

Jbpc wrote: »

I worked for 3 months while in Oz

How long were you physically here for?

Less than six months and you may find that you owe them money.