tax return

[Browny25]

I use my iphone for work emails (every day), can i claim a proportion of the bill?

[Sturtman]

cant claim work clothes that dont have logos on them. this stops anything being bought. to be able to claim on work clothes (not shoes) it requires the logo of your company on it.

i claim for usage for my car for my job. If your getting shafted you should go elsewhere. go to an accountant and you will be fine. Dont do it yourself.

Yes you can but they need to be work type clothes eg. king gee pants, shirts etc.

Protective clothing and footwear
The clothing and footwear protects you from the risk of illness or injury, or to prevent damage to your conventional (everyday) clothes, caused by your work or work environment - for example, steel capped boots, overalls, aprons, heavy duty shirts and trousers (but not jeans).
$

[gadj1976]

I use my iphone for work emails (every day), can i claim a proportion of the bill?

absolutely Browny. Work out a realistic % of work calls per month, then work out what that % of your bill is and claim it.

The ATO are less likely to target you if you go through an accountant. If you do your own pay and then don't go through an accountant, you're liable to review from the ATO.

because I'm a contractor, I can claim a percentage of;

internet
magazine subscription
australian computer society subscription
mobile phone
income protection insurance
accountant fees (for tax from the previous year)
negative gearing
travel to and from my investment unit interstate (twice yearly)
calculator
bank fees
parking fees (not parking fines!)
business cards
home phone

[Media Park]

E-Tax. 2010.

Claimed the maximum I could without receipts (I don't keep receipts)

Got a reasonable return (about $1500), very happy.

End of 2010. Letter from tax office.

Stuffed up my return on the internet, and I owe $1800 (roughly).

Been paying that since.

E-Tax 2011.

Claim nothing so I do not screw up.

Got just enough back this year to completely wipe out my tax debt.

[Jase]

Ah the joys of tax returns...

nearly 7 years ago, started work at a new place that had salary sacraficing...I thought you beauty, bit of extra coin in the pocket each week, sign me up for that... When I started, work asked me if I had a HECS (HELP) debt, yep sure do, so they said they would make all relevant adjustments to make sure I didn't have to pay a bill at the end of the financial year.

Went to the tax agent, he works it out, checks a few things, checks again... generates the expected return, hello $4500 bill...

That's right, my stupid place of work, didn't calculate my withheld tax properly and I've got a $4500 debt...

Since then I have made sure they take out the appropriate HECS amounts as well as 5% extra as forced savings...

Generally get about $2000 - $3000 return with minimal deductions these days (and that's doing it via etax)...

[Deep Heat]

Hi any advice would be greatly appreciated i havent done my tax for 6 years now as i was self employed for 5 and have now been employed fulltime for a year all my work when self employed was cash work any suggestions on what i can do to sort this out would be great .

[Sky Pilot]

Hi any advice would be greatly appreciated i havent done my tax for 6 years now as i was self employed for 5 and have now been employed fulltime for a year all my work when self employed was cash work any suggestions on what i can do to sort this out would be great .

Mate if you have got group certificates or other records of your earnings to cover the six years you didn't file tax returns and the ATO owes you money then you will be sweet. I went six years without filing and then just rocked up to an accountant in Ridgehaven who specialises in this sort of thing and I got a fat cheque back no fine no dramas. But if you owe the ATO you are in deep sh1t and the sooner you act the better you will be. Good luck

[gadj1976]

Ah the joys of tax returns...

nearly 7 years ago, started work at a new place that had salary sacraficing...I thought you beauty, bit of extra coin in the pocket each week, sign me up for that... When I started, work asked me if I had a HECS (HELP) debt, yep sure do, so they said they would make all relevant adjustments to make sure I didn't have to pay a bill at the end of the financial year.

Went to the tax agent, he works it out, checks a few things, checks again... generates the expected return, hello $4500 bill...

That's right, my stupid place of work, didn't calculate my withheld tax properly and I've got a $4500 debt...

Since then I have made sure they take out the appropriate HECS amounts as well as 5% extra as forced savings...

Generally get about $2000 - $3000 return with minimal deductions these days (and that's doing it via etax)...

Jase, legally they have to! I don't know what that actually means to you financially, but they should be held accountable.

[LMA]

For you tax guru's I got roughly a $18k payout from a previous employer where I only paid about $300-400 tax on the accrued leave component, will I be up for more tax ? And does anyone know if the money I got from payout should of been included in my estimate of income for the financial year for the Family Tax Benefit B payments ? If so on both, I am screwed.

[Sky Pilot]

For you tax guru's I got roughly a $18k payout from a previous employer where I only paid about $300-400 tax on the accrued leave component, will I be up for more tax ? And does anyone know if the money I got from payout should of been included in my estimate of income for the financial year for the Family Tax Benefit B payments ? If so on both, I am screwed.

Oh yeah mate your 18k payout IMO is declared income and subject to tax

[gadj1976]

For you tax guru's I got roughly a $18k payout from a previous employer where I only paid about $300-400 tax on the accrued leave component, will I be up for more tax ? And does anyone know if the money I got from payout should of been included in my estimate of income for the financial year for the Family Tax Benefit B payments ? If so on both, I am screwed.

Nope LMA, that would've been taxed appropriately and split into the appropriate Lump Sum A, B and C. Present that to your accountant or supply that and you should be fine.

[LMA]

For you tax guru's I got roughly a $18k payout from a previous employer where I only paid about $300-400 tax on the accrued leave component, will I be up for more tax ? And does anyone know if the money I got from payout should of been included in my estimate of income for the financial year for the Family Tax Benefit B payments ? If so on both, I am screwed.

Nope LMA, that would've been taxed appropriately and split into the appropriate Lump Sum A, B and C. Present that to your accountant or supply that and you should be fine.

Cheers, I do recall now the majority of the payment was a tax free component, just have to find it

[Q.]

Hi any advice would be greatly appreciated i havent done my tax for 6 years now as i was self employed for 5 and have now been employed fulltime for a year all my work when self employed was cash work any suggestions on what i can do to sort this out would be great .

If there is no record of you being paid cash, then your story is that for six years you lived as a Freegan and earned no income

[westcoastpanther]

Hi any advice would be greatly appreciated i havent done my tax for 6 years now as i was self employed for 5 and have now been employed fulltime for a year all my work when self employed was cash work any suggestions on what i can do to sort this out would be great .

If there is no record of you being paid cash, then your story is that for six years you lived as a Freegan and earned no income

If you were doing cashies and were also on centrelink go to an accountant, tell them you were on centrelink and get him to lodge 'return not neccessary' for those six years and lodge your tax this year normally.

[GWW]

Anyone know the level above which you can claim for medical expenses this year? In the past I think it was $1,500, but I've heard its increased to $2,000 for 2010/11, has anyone else heard that?

[westcoastpanther]

Go to the ATO site. You can only claim 20% of the maximum amount as a rebate.

[White Line Fever]

I understand the Medicare Levy is 1.5% and all taxpayers pay this.

If you and your 'spouse' combined make more than 150k you pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge another 1%

What defines a spouse?
Married?
De facto?
What if i had a really good friend who i shared a bed with ? Is she a spouse? Or a housemate?

[Drop Bear]

Paying tax is not compulsory.

[redandblack]

The medical expenses rebate limit has been raised from $1500 to $2000. There is a 20% rebate for payments above this.

eg: Spend $3000 (after health fund rebates) and you will get $3000 - $2000 = $1000 x 20% = $200.

Spouse includes de facto spouse.

The medicare levy surcharge applies if your income is over the limit and you don't have private health hospital cover.

[GWW]

Thanks redandblack.