FAQ

Simply phone reception on (08) 8211 7177 or email us freerparker@freerparker.com.au and we'll email, fax or post you out a list detailing the paperwork we require.

We're fully aware that your time is valuable and that you may not have the time to come in and meet with us, so for most individual income tax returns, simply request a Client Information Worksheet by calling reception on (08) 8211 7177 and you can post or drop off the required information to us.

For other business entities, please phone us to discuss what information we need you to provide.

If you have lodged your previous tax return with us you will usually receive an extension of time for certain lodgements such as income tax returns and business activity statements. However, if you have previously lodged your return late, have a payment plan with the ATO, or under other special circumstances, you may still be required to lodge by 31 October each year. We suggest you contact our office to check what date your tax return is due.

Under some circumstances, receipts (to a certain threshold) are not required, however, you must still be able to show the expense was incurred for a deductible purpose and that the claim is reasonable.

In order to maximise your tax deductions, we recommend you retain ALL your work and business related receipts.

For more information on keeping your tax records please refer to the ATO website.

Travelling to and from work is generally not claimable. However, you may be able to claim the cost of trips undertaken between home and work if you used your vehicle to carry bulk tools or equipment that you use for work and could not leave at your workplace.

There are four different methods allowed by the ATO for claiming car expenses. Of these four the most commonly used are either the cents per kilometre method or the operating cost method. For cents per km, there is a limit of 5,000kms you can claim in the year and it is based on a reasonable estimate of the kms you have travelled for work. The operating cost method claims a percentage of your vehicle's operating cost and must be substantiated by a logbook.

For more information on what travel is able to be claimed, please refer to the ATO website at the link below.
For more information on the log book requirements, please refer to the ATO website.

Depending on your previous lodgement & payment history, the ATO may accept a payment arrangement for you to pay off your debt via instalments. Interest may be charged on the outstanding debt. You can either give them a call on 13 28 65 (for an individual) or 13 72 26 (for a business to arrange yourself or contact us and we can organise this for you.

Please note, this automated payment arrangement phone service is only for debts less than $25,000.

For further information on the phone service and the information you will need to have ready, visit the ATO website.

Eligible families can claim a tax offset of 50% for qualifying expenses incurred on their children's education. Items which are able to be claimed include computer expenses, stationery, and text books. Some excluded items are school fees, uniform expenses and tutoring fees. The limit of your claim will depend on whether your children are in primary school or secondary school.

For more information, please visit the ATO website.

Individuals and families on incomes above the MLS threshold who do not have private patient hospital cover pay MLS for any period that they did not have this cover. This MLS is calculated at the rate of 1% of your taxable income, and is in addition to the 1.5% Medicare Levy.

For information on the thresholds and other information, please visit the ATO website.

From 1 July 2009, claims for Family Tax Benefits (FTB), including prior year claims, can no longer be lodged direct with your tax return to the ATO. Family Tax Benefits can be paid in fortnightly instalments, or as a lump sum payment. Claims for lump sum payments must now be lodged online at www.familyassist.gov.au or by telephoning the Family Assistance Office (FAO) on 136 150. If you already receive fortnightly instalments, the FAO will reconcile your FTB with the ATO once your tax return has been lodged.

The super co-contribution is a government incentive to increase super savings. If you are a low or middle income earner, you may be able to receive the super co-contribution from the government by making eligible personal super contributions to your fund.

For further information visit the ATO website.

The service standard for the Australian Taxation Office to process individual returns is 14 working days. However, in certain circumstances the ATO may take longer.

Please visit the ATO website for more information.

We can apply for this on your behalf or alternatively, you can apply yourself at www.abr.gov.au. The processing for an ABN application request can take up to 28 days.

A BAS is required if you have an ABN and are registered for GST. This BAS then reports to the ATO the amount of GST you have paid and the GST you have received. Your BAS may also report to the ATO any PAYG withholding requirements you may have (such as tax deducted from employee wages). If you are not registered for GST and are not registered for PAYG withholding, you should not receive a BAS from the ATO, and will not need to lodge one.

For further information visit the ATO website.

If you have an ABN, and your anticipated turnover exceeds $75,000 per annum ($150,000 or more if it is a non-profit organisation), or provide taxi services, you are required to register for GST. Simply phone our office to discuss this further, and we can arrange this registration for you instantly with the ATO.

For more information on GST visit the ATO website.

For new business clients, we offer a no obligation one hour meeting with one of our team to discuss your situation and for us to get to know a little about your business. We understand that choosing an accountant is a difficult decision and we believe this provides a great opportunity for you to get to know us and what we are about.

If after the first meeting you would like to appoint us to act on your behalf, we can discuss our fee structure.