topic Re: The ATO is mad! in Community Spirit

The ATO is mad!

lurker172602 — Mon, 11 May 2015 08:56:39 GMT

I got a letter today from the ATO stating, correctly, that I hadn't lodged a Tax Return since 2010, and demanding that I do so. I have been retired since then and indicated that on my 2009/10 return.
During the 2013/14 year I did work. FOR ONE DAY at the Federal election from which they withheld $4 in tax, even though I had signed and lodged the appropriate variation form.
So this afternoon I have spent a couple of hours registering with MyGov and completing a return for 13/14, and signing a declaration for the other years, so that they can return my $4.
I suspect I will have to complete another return this tax year because I, again, worked for one day at the state election. Even worse, this time they did acknowledge my variation form and didn't withhold any tax. So I will have to go through the process just to show that I don't owe them anything and they don't need to pay me a cent.

Madness!

Re: The ATO is mad!

donnashuggy — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:27:21 GMT

Our life is run by bots

Re: The ATO is mad!

donnashuggy — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:33:15 GMT

Last year when I didn't receive the form to lodge my BAS I called the ATO, they said my address was listed as invalid and that is why I didn't receive it. It is the same address I had been using for the past 12 years.

Re: The ATO is mad!

cherry*135 — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:41:46 GMT

Yep, looks like that pesky $4 w/held tax is to blame.

I did the Do I need to lodge thing on the ATO site, entering earnt under 18,200, had tax witheld.

You need to lodge a tax return

The decision is based on the following reason(s):

You have tax withheld from Australian income that you have received.

Re: The ATO is mad!

fiestas*girl — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:59:02 GMT

you are not required to lodge a tax return if you earn undwr $18,200 however, you are required to advise the ATO in writting or via your accoumtant that you are not required to lodge a returm.

if you have franking credits attached to dividends and earn under $18,200 you would still lodge a return to get this frankng credits refunded to you

Re: The ATO is mad!

cherry*135 — Mon, 11 May 2015 10:02:31 GMT

@fiestas*girl wrote:
you are not required to lodge a tax return if you earn undwr $18,200 however, you are required to advise the ATO in writting or via your accoumtant that you are not required to lodge a returm.
if you have franking credits attached to dividends and earn under $18,200 you would still lodge a return to get this frankng credits refunded to you

you are not required to lodge a tax return if you earn undwr $18,200 - Yes, normally a taxpayer wouldn't have tax w/held from their wages/salary if they earnt under that amount.

However, the OP has had tax withheld. From working a one off job on election day (not an employee as such).

The ATO website says you have to put in a tax return if you have had tax w/held - even if you earn under $18,200.

Re: The ATO is mad!

cherry*135 — Mon, 11 May 2015 10:11:31 GMT

Do you need to lodge a tax return? 2014

If any of the following applies to you then you must lodge a tax return.

Reason 1

During 2013-14, you were an Australian resident and you:

paid tax under the pay as you go (PAYG) withholding or instalment system, or
had tax withheld from payments made to you.

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-return/2014/Before-you-start/Do-you-need-to-lodge-a-tax-return-/

Re: The ATO is mad!

crosbystills — Mon, 11 May 2015 11:53:48 GMT

@fiestas*girl wrote:

if you have franking credits attached to dividends and earn under $18,200 you would still lodge a return to get this frankng credits refunded to you

It's not necessary to lodge a return. Simply ring up the ATO and ask them to send you a form to claim franking credits. You can do this up to 10 years retrospectively.

Re: The ATO is mad!

youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit — Mon, 11 May 2015 12:07:29 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
I got a letter today from the ATO stating, correctly, that I hadn't lodged a Tax Return since 2010, and demanding that I do so. I have been retired since then and indicated that on my 2009/10 return.
During the 2013/14 year I did work. FOR ONE DAY at the Federal election from which they withheld $4 in tax, even though I had signed and lodged the appropriate variation form.
So this afternoon I have spent a couple of hours registering with MyGov and completing a return for 13/14, and signing a declaration for the other years, so that they can return my $4.
I suspect I will have to complete another return this tax year because I, again, worked for one day at the state election. Even worse, this time they did acknowledge my variation form and didn't withhold any tax. So I will have to go through the process just to show that I don't owe them anything and they don't need to pay me a cent.

Madness!

Dear Lurker,

Thankyou for continuing to employ our minions at the ATO.

We are grateful for your ongoing support.

Dont forget to deposit your refund!

Re: The ATO is mad!

lind9650 — Tue, 12 May 2015 05:02:25 GMT

It's Joe Hockey, after the big Tax Dodgers.

How many $4.- does he need to make one billion?

Erica

Re: The ATO is mad!

monman12 — Tue, 12 May 2015 06:01:54 GMT

It's Joe Hockey, after the big Tax Dodgers.

How many $4.- does he need to make one billion?

Erica

Actually it is the small dodgers (cash in hand/black economy) that notch up many $billions:

Matthew Benns
The Daily Telegraph
August 27, 2014 12:00AM

EVERY time a tradie offers a cheaper quote for cash or a cleaner fails to declare a cash payment, the rest of Australia’s PAYG workers pick up a tab — as much as $25 billion a year.

I recently had a concrete slab poured for a new garage/shed and was quoted $2500. Wanted to pay by money transfer and an irate concreter said "cash". When I demanded a signed invoice he tried to add 10% (said GST) . Actually not legal after quoting.

I pointed out that I would be claiming a small % of the cost from the ATO (8% work office) and he would be well advised to be legal.

He never returned, after the slab had set, to cut the stress relieving grooves, which I then had to.

Re: The ATO is mad!

lurker172602 — Tue, 12 May 2015 06:15:01 GMT

Excuse me? I wasn't dodging anything. I was willing to let Joe keep my $4 that had been incorrectly withheld, but the ATO insisted I fill in all their forms so they could give it back to me.

Re: The ATO is mad!

k0llectable5 — Tue, 12 May 2015 06:18:19 GMT

I'm really amused at the amount of people here that are just such amazing little well behaved citizens. FGS whats the problem with tradies getting a few cash jobs here and there, or a business stashing a little of the daily cash takings for a rainy day. People who own their own businesses work really hard and long hours imo they deserve to pocket a bit of their earnings. I dont care if it's illegal, it's their right.

EVERY time a tradie offers a cheaper quote for cash or a cleaner fails to declare a cash payment, the rest of Australia’s PAYG workers pick up a tab — as much as $25 billion a year.

Thats bulldust imo. Just over exagerated hype to make sure all the "workers" declare every last penny and pay every cent thats due to the ato.

Re: The ATO is mad!

monman12 — Tue, 12 May 2015 06:53:59 GMT

" I dont care if it's illegal, it's their right."

If it is illegal, it is illegal. Not a right.

Do you suggest a society where individuals can choose to obey. or otherwise. what is the law of the land? That is called anarchy.

Re: The ATO is mad!

k0llectable5 — Tue, 12 May 2015 07:27:37 GMT

@monman12 wrote:
" I dont care if it's illegal, it's their right."

If it is illegal, it is illegal. Not a right.

Do you suggest a society where individuals can choose to obey. or otherwise. what is the law of the land? That is called anarchy.

Yes actually I do. Most people are good people who work hard, use common sense and they dont need the government to rule over absolutely every aspect of their lives. I dont endorse people to pay no tax at all, but I think it's fair for hard working business owners to take advantage of the cash side of their businesses wherever they can. This money will flow back into the economy in some way or other eventually anyway, so whats the big deal?

It's illegal to have an unregistered dog too, doesn't mean every person who hasn't registered their dog is an anarchist criminal... You always go to the absolute extremes with your counter arguements MM. There are always exceptions inbetween the extremes...

Re: The ATO is mad!

monman12 — Tue, 12 May 2015 07:45:34 GMT

"I think it's fair for hard working business owners to take advantage of the cash side of their businesses wherever they can. This money will flow back into the economy in some way or other eventually anyway, so whats the big deal? "

That is what a lot of the Geek population thought apropos paying tax..

If you do not like the law of the land use the democratic process to change it, otherwise you are just a petty criminal dodging tax..

"money will flow back into the economy in some way or other eventually anyway,"

Wrong, if everyone abrogated their responsibility to pay tax, the money would circulate outside of the government, with the result that none would be available to run the country.

Re: The ATO is mad!

lloydslights — Tue, 12 May 2015 08:07:14 GMT

I dont care if it's illegal, it's their right.

Is it their right to claim (steal from other taxpayers) for:

Mechanical Expenses and fuel for the fishing boat, mower and non-work related holiday road trips.

Hardware Purchases from the Green or Blue places for work around the home.

Don't forget, they could be paying the (slaves) labourers in cash. Reduce super, workers comp. PAYG tax, etc

Labourers probably claiming the dole.

Where does it stop?

DEB

Re: The ATO is mad!

lurker172602 — Tue, 12 May 2015 08:22:44 GMT

I dont care if it's illegal, it's their right

What about PAYG workers? Where is their "illegal right" to play the cash economy?

Re: The ATO is mad!

fiestas*girl — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:14:29 GMT

gee i better go tell the TPB and my employers that we are all wrong

heres a thought, IF you happened to have 45 deducted in tax from an intermittant or one off payment in a financial year WHY would you even bother to claim that back???, weighing up time energy and effort, for a measly 45 ?? i suppose the government of the day need all the money they can get, i would save my energy

now hang on, i hsvr to go call the boss and tell him the ebay forum says we professional tax accountants are wrong wrong erong

Re: The ATO is mad!

lurker172602 — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:58:32 GMT

Ok, let me explain it again.

I thought, because I had fallen well below the tax free threshold, I wasn't required to lodge a return. I was perfectly happy for them to keep my $4, and that would have been the end of it.

But ........... the ATO for whatever reason (but I suspect the $4 withheld) sent me a letter requiring me to lodge a return for every year since 2010.

I went to their "Do I need to Lodge" site and, because of the honest answers I made, found I did need to lodge a return for the 2013/14 tax year.

Believe me, I wouldn't have bothered to claim my precious $4 if they hadn't required me to.