Quick Tax/eBay Question: Records in Foreign Languages

[everard6920]

Sorry, I know this a little off-topic but the ATO can't seem to give me a straight answer. I will eventually get one if I call enough times, but in the meantime I thought someone might be able to just . . . answer the question. Tbh I'm curious and I can't call them again until Monday!

Does anyone have any experience with submitting documentation to the ATO in foreign languages? Do foreign language documents need to be translated, or can they be submitted in the foreign language/currency?

I ask because my wholesaler recently started sending me all of my stock invoices in Japanese, which I understand just fine , but I'm not sure that the ATO will.

Thank you to anyone who can help out.

[digital*ghost]

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@everard6920 wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with submitting documentation to the ATO in foreign languages? Do foreign language documents need to be translated, or can they be submitted in the foreign language/currency?

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I don't have any experience with submitting foreign language documents to the ATO, but I did a bit of a search and found two references to it on the ATO website - these aren't really related to stock invoices, as they talk about things like applying for tax file numbers, ABNs and registering for GST, but as it says the same thing on these two help pages, I'm just going to go ahead and presume it most likely applies in all circumstances.

"You must arrange for documents in another language to be translated into English and certified as a true and correct copy by an authorised translation service."

(Under topic: Copies of documents – applicants outside Australia)

and

"If the document is in a language other than English, you must provide a written translation certified as a true and correct copy by an authorised translation service. The translation must be completed by an appropriate embassy or a professional translation service accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI)."

(Under topic: Copies of documents – applicants within Australia)

[lyndal1838]

All documents submitted to any Government department has to be translated and authenticated by an authorised translation service.

The ATO is no exception.

But surely you don't have to submit invoices to the ATO on a routine basis.   Wouldn't translated invoices only be needed if you are audited?

If you are going to be audited you receive notice to give you time to get your documentation in order...and you don't necessarily have to produce everything.   It is usually just your account books and not the actual invoices.  The auditors sometimes ask for a random sample of your base paperwork.

If you are going to ask the ATO, check with them what you would need to produce in these circumstances.   It would be very expensive to get all your invoices translated "just in case".

[clarry100]

I would think that both DG and Lyndal are 100% correct in what they say.

A few years ago when we were applying for a residence visa for my wife we had to submit some supporting documents that were written in Chinese.

We had to have those translated, and the translations stamped, by an accredited translator for the immigration dept to accept them

So I would think the ATO would be no different in this regard.

These services do not come cheap by the way. I think you can expect to pay in the vicinity of $100 per page.

[everard6920]

Thanks, everyone (and yes, I meant for audits).

Might just ask my wholesaler to go back to sending them in English to save any drama down the track