tax time

[outside]

has anyone else done their tax return online via e-tax?
i did it for the first time yesterday, spent about 1/2 hour doing it, fairly straight forward.
what was your thinking of it, and did you get back what it claimed you would?

cheers
len

[1LOUDXFUTE]

ive done it online for about 6 years, nice and easy and Ive always got back what it claimed

[outside]

Originally Posted by 1LOUDXFUTE

ive done it online for about 6 years, nice and easy and Ive always got back what it claimed

how long did it take to come back?
the site says about 14 days.

[Polyal]

Yeap I too have been doing it online for about 5 years now. Quick and easy if your situation isn't overly complicated.

[outside]

not that you can claim much anyway, mines straight forward, just didnt see the point in paying the $175.00 in getting a accountant to do it.

[ADSXR8]

Originally Posted by outside

just didnt see the point in paying the $175.00 in getting a accountant to do it.

But don't forget, that's tax deductible. Along with the trip there and back...........

IMO, on many occasions I think seeing the tax accountant is money well spent. I am a qualified accountant (CFO) and I still see a tax accountant, it's their speciality of trade. They know more about the Australian Tax System than me and I generally learn something every year after seeing them.

[downthetrack]

I had a look at it a while back, but having various allowances it was far easier for me to see an accountant. She picked up heaps of stuff I would have missed otherwise, not to mention the cost is tax deductible as well as the trip there and back.

[ebxr8240]

Our tax accountant is a TOP guy.. Gone out on his own this year..
People go to him from Manly all the way to Mulgoa [Penrith]..
He use to be bricklayer before he took on accounting on and knows both sides..

[ZA-289]

I get my tax done by a pro, always get more back only costs $90 and its tax deducatble anyway!!

[Ralliart]

did mine earlier this afternoon, just claimed on

Uniform
Shoes
Laundry

i'll getting a good return this yr, but next yr i would;t be getting much

[TadKa]

Yeah I used E-tax this year. Last year it cost $110 at a H&R Block and I had to point out her mistakes that would have left me $350 out of pocket. I was stupid I basically worked it all out on etax but then went to get it done 'professionally'. Luckily though I knew how much I was meant to get back.

[Teflon Turbo]

i did mine for the first time too a couple of days ago, NAPSTER was harder to configure. Too easy.

I will do it all the time now.

[1LOUDXFUTE]

Originally Posted by outside

how long did it take to come back?
the site says about 14 days.

im pretty sure i had mine within the week

[MITCHAY]

I have done it via e-tax for roughly 3-4 years now and always have had my return or bill issued before 14 days. Very good IMO

[Tuddy200]

Did mine via E-Tax in the afternoon on Friday 3rd, was in my account by Monday Night this week. 7-ish working days.

[outside]

the wife did the ETR via the phone last week and it showed in the bank this morning, that was around 7 days as well.

[Polyal]

OK well after talking about how easy e-tax is Ive got a couple of questions if anyone can help.

1. During the year I have had private health cover, where do I enter that info? I didn't claim anything but wasn't there a penalty for not having it?

2. I was using a private car for work purposes, atleast 80% of the time, but work paid for fuel and I paid for maintenance. Ive looked at the car deduction section and cant find an appropriate section to put just servicing and maintenance costs. No log book was kept as I just showed receipts for fuel and work reimbursed me. I dont think any of the four options under car deductions for work covers it.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by ADSG6ET

But don't forget, that's tax deductible. Along with the trip there and back...........

IMO, on many occasions I think seeing the tax accountant is money well spent. I am a qualified accountant (CFO) and I still see a tax accountant, it's their speciality of trade. They know more about the Australian Tax System than me and I generally learn something every year after seeing them.

Agree with that. I'm a CPA and if my tax return was anything more convoluted than just usual salary and wage income I'd be seeing an accountant too. I have general/broad tax knowledge but nothing like the experts who do tax day in , day out

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Polyal

OK well after talking about how easy e-tax is Ive got a couple of questions if anyone can help.

1. During the year I have had private health cover, where do I enter that info? I didn't claim anything but wasn't there a penalty for not having it?

2. I was using a private car for work purposes, atleast 80% of the time, but work paid for fuel and I paid for maintenance. Ive looked at the car deduction section and cant find an appropriate section to put just servicing and maintenance costs. No log book was kept as I just showed receipts for fuel and work reimbursed me. I dont think any of the four options under car deductions for work covers it.

As for 2 you claim car allowance based on the cents per km method (no log book required) but you'd need to include the money reimbursed for petrol as assessable income...The claim is capped at 5,000 kms under this method.

Alternatively you can claim 12% of the cars original value provided you have travelled more than 5,000 business kms, no log book required


If the petrol reimbursement was more than the amount claimable under either method I'd be inclined to just ignore any car allowance claim

As for 1 , I haven't downloaded the 2009 software yet so can't comment except to say it must be there somewhere

[[Tonko]]

Havn't done mine yet, but i did learn i can write off the car stereo as a selling tool.
Wooo!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by GT0132

As for 2 you claim car allowance based on the cents per km method (no log book required) but you'd need to include the money reimbursed for petrol as assessable income...The claim is capped at 5,000 kms under this method.

Alternatively you can claim 12% of the cars original value provided you have travelled more than 5,000 business kms, no log book required


If the petrol reimbursement was more than the amount claimable under either method I'd be inclined to just ignore any car allowance claim

As for 1 , I haven't downloaded the 2009 software yet so can't comment except to say it must be there somewhere

Hmm the 12% rule seems ok, so I go off its original purchase price in 2000 (its the barina) which was $13k at the time? So that would be $1560, and then I get 80% of that being $1248?

As it so happens thats very close to all the receipts I have.

[toxicxr6uterus]

i agree, seeing an accountant is the way to go when your good friend is one its even better lol. but yeh i got more back through an accountant than e-tax.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Hmm the 12% rule seems ok, so I go off its original purchase price in 2000 (its the barina) which was $13k at the time? So that would be $1560, and then I get 80% of that being $1248?

As it so happens thats very close to all the receipts I have.

I don't think there's any need to take it down to 80%...I'm sure you get 12% of original value provided the car does in excess of 5000 business kms in the year. Remembering you'll need to include the petrol reimbursement as assessable income

[dbirdy]

I did mine, myself last year. Ended up getting alot more back. But just make sure you can proove everything i guess.

[outside]

got the return yesterday. back in 7 working days

[RG]

I get mine done by a pro, for the $65 it costs me I'd be crazy not to.

Got a very nice surprise this year too.

[Wally]

I own a business, so my personal taxation is very easy. Put it in last week, refund yesterday.

[Ralliart]

got mine this Morning, $2086, last time i'll be seeing that on my tax return for a while since i have just changed my tax rate to normal rate, good while it lasted.

[daikin]

my first time doing it last night. took me less than an hour and pretty straightforward, no sweat. just hope i got everything right my first time round!