At COTA ACT, we strive to make tax season stress-free with the help of the ATO’s Tax Help program.
This program allows anyone with simple financial affairs who earn $60,000 or less to get their tax return lodged free of charge between August and October every year.
We know that tax season can be challenging for some – depending on your lifestyle, there are many factors to consider if you are endeavouring to lodge your taxes yourself, without the help of a professional tax advisor or accountant. While you might experience challenges related to changes in tax law, technology barriers or tax software or a health issue that might make it more difficult for you to lodge your tax
return yourself, there are services available that can make this process easier for you.
COTA ACT’s accredited tax volunteer can help you lodge your tax returns online. They can also help you with:
- creating a myGov account
- lodging an amendment to your tax return
- claiming a refund of franking credits
- tell us if you don’t need to lodge a tax return.
So – let’s find out if you are eligible to receive Tax Help, and if so, how can you make the most of this free service?
Eligibility
To access this service, you must:
- Earn $60,000 or less per annum
And you must not:
- Run a business, including as a sole trader
- Work as a contractor – for example contract cleaner, taxi or uber driver
- Have partnership or trust matters
- Sell shares or an investment property
- Own a rental property
- Have capital gains tax (CGT)
- Receive royalties
- Receive distributions from a trust, other than a managed fund
- Receive foreign income, that is not a foreign pension or annuity
If you are not eligible for Tax Help with COTA ACT, you can contact the ANU Tax Clinic, which is available to individuals, small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and charities.
ANU Tax Clinic:
taxclinic@anu.edu.au
6125 4853
COTA ACT offers Tax Help on Thursdays from the 8th August to the 31st October at our COTA ACT office in the Hughes Community Centre. You can book a 1 hour appointment with our excellent Tax Help advisors today by calling (02) 6282 3777.
