I have just started my first job and my employer has asked for a Tax File Number.  What do I have to do? I have not lodged my tax return for the past three years.  Am I in trouble? I have just started a second job.  What do I need to know? My partner stays at home to care for our children.  Throughout the year, she worked for one week and earned $500.  From this a small amount of tax was withheld and she received a PAYG Summary (group certificate) at the end of the financial year.  Does she need to lodge a tax return? How can I reduce the amount of tax I pay? I am considering working overseas. Do I still have to lodge an Income Tax Return? I want to make a donation to an appeal for a tax deduction. How do I know if they are legitimate?

I have just started my first job and my employer has asked for a Tax File Number.  What do I have to do? You need to apply for a Tax File Number through the Australian Taxation Office.  Application forms are available at our office, or you can download one from www.ato.gov.au.  If you do not provide a Tax File Number to your employer, you may have more tax withheld from your pay than you need.  Go to Top

I have not lodged my tax return for the past three years.  Am I in trouble? You should lodge your tax returns as soon as possible.  A penalty and interest may be incurred from the ATO, even if you are to due receive a refund. Go to Top

I have just started a second job.  What do I need to know? You cannot claim the tax free threshold for more than one employer at a time.  It is better to claim the tax free threshold from the main employer and you will pay a higher tax rate on the second job. Go to Top

My partner stays at home to care for our children.  Throughout the year, she worked for one week and earned $500.  From this a small amount of tax was withheld and she received a PAYG Summary (group certificate) at the end of the financial year.  Does she need to lodge a tax return? Any earnings that have tax withheld, regardless of the amount, must be reported on a tax return.  This is the only way for the ATO to asses if a refund is to be paid. Go to Top

How can I reduce the amount of tax I pay? Salary sacrificing is one of the ways that you can reduce the amount of tax you pay, as your benefit is purchased with pre-tax dollars.  All are subjected to Fringe Benefits Tax, with the exception of mobile phones, laptops, etc, which are used primarily for work.  Fringe Benefits Tax is paid by the employer, therefore some employers may require their employees to reimburse the Fringe Benefits Tax amount from their salary package. Go to Top

I am considering working overseas. Do I still have to lodge an Income Tax Return? You will need to take into account the tax laws of the country you will be working in, along with your residency status. Australian residents are taxed on their worldwide income. This page outlines the tax implications in Australia if you are working or thinking about working overseas. If you are going to remain an Australian resident, you must still lodge an Australian Income Tax Return, reporting your world wide income. In this instance, you may be eligible to claim a foreign income tax offset. If you will no longer be an Australian resident, but still earning an Australian income, you may still have to lodge an Australian Income Tax Return if you have not had non-resident withholding tax deducted from your. Should you decide that you will no longer be an Australian resident and will not be earning income from any Australian source, you will not have to lodge an Australian Income Go to Top

I want to make a donation to an appeal for a tax deduction. How do I know if they are legitimate? Only donations to certain types of organisations are tax deductible. These organisations must be a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) on the Australian Business Register. You can check if an organisation is a DGR by searching the ABN or organisation name at www.abn.business.gov.au. There is no tax deduction for donations to overseas charities which are not DGR’s in Australia. Go to Top