Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.

c Expand All C Collapse All

No you don’t.

We have a different process this tax season for both booking appointments and submitting documents.

Visit Tax Return Registration page to confirm you are ‘Tax Ready’ and register to have your tax return completed by us.

Once you have successfully registered you will be sent the link to our annual engagement letter and intake form. This new procedure is intended to streamline our processes by gathering relevant information that will give us a head start in preparing your return. It also provides a transparent costing of our services, so you know what you are paying for up front.

When you have signed and submitted the form, including uploading any required documentation online, your job will be created for the accountant and they will be in touch with you if they have any questions, or when your return is complete.

You will then receive your return to check and sign.

When the signed documents are received the accountant will lodge your return.

Then it’s in the ATO’s hands!

Their standard processing time for refunds is 14 business days. Each year the ATO will hold back a random selection of returns to complete manual calculations and ensure their internal systems are working. If we receive notice your return has been held up we will advise you immediately and keep a track of the 14 days. If the return has not been processed by then we will follow up with the ATO regularly until they have completed it.

For information regarding the documents you may need to organise prior to completing the online tax intake form, please click here.

If you would like to make a tax return appointment, see our revised process here: How do I book an appointment?

We have a different process this year for both booking appointments and dropping off documents for this tax season:

Visit: Tax Return Registration to confirm you are ‘Tax Ready’ and register to have your tax return completed by us.

Once you have successfully registered you will be sent the link to our annual engagement letter and intake form. This new combined form is intended to streamline our processes by gathering relevant information that will give us a head start in preparing your return. It also provides a transparent costing of our services, so you know what you are paying for up front.

When you have signed and submitted the form, based on your selection, you will be sent a link to the accountant’s calendar to choose a time and date that suits you.

You will receive a confirmation of your booking details.

When your tax return appointment is completed, the accountant will lodge your return.

Then it’s in the ATO’s hands!

Their standard processing time for refunds is 14 business days. Each year the ATO will hold back a random selection of returns to complete manual calculations and ensure their internal systems are working. If we receive notice your return has been held up we will advise you immediately and keep a track of the 14 days. If the return has not been processed by then we will follow up with the ATO regularly until they have completed it.

For information regarding the documents you may need to organise prior to completing the online tax intake form, please click here.

The ATO’s service commitment for processing returns is usually up to 14 business days. If the ATO’s information differs from the tax return information, any refund will likely take longer to receive.

Each year, the ATO will randomly select a sample of returns to perform manual calculations and ensure their systems pick up all the correct information. This is not an audit. In these instances, it can take up to 30 calendar days. If your return is randomly selected, we will notify you that your refund will be delayed.

We cannot take any follow-up action until the 30 calendar days have passed. Once the 30-day timeline has passed, we can call to chase up the status of your return. If we receive the notification that your return has been completed prior to the 30 days, we will follow our usual process to get your refund to you as soon as it is transferred to us.

The ATO is not processing any returns in the first half of July, so even though we understand you are eager to get your return done and your refund in your bank, you will still have a wait if you register early in July.

Other possible delays will be if you are on Centrelink payments or have Private Health Insurance (PHI) cover. Centrelink does not typically provide its information to the ATO before mid-July.

Private Health Insurance providers send out their statements at different times throughout July and sometimes even into the following months. If you have cover, we cannot complete your return without your PHI statement. This means if you register early to get it done, you will still have a wait for your refund.

We highly recommend waiting until you have all documents required for your return before registering to have your tax returned prepared, so we can make the process as smooth as possible.

For a comprehensive guide on what to bring to your appointment see: Preparing for Your Tax Return.

Our calendar is open Monday, 10th July. If you ‘Tax Ready’ and have all your necessary documents in order, you’re welcome to register to have your tax return prepared by us!

Click here to register.

What you need to bring to your appointment with your tax agent depends on your circumstances. Do you have a straightforward return, or do you own property and investments? Do you run a business?

Please click on this link for a comprehensive list of items your agent may require to prepare your tax return: Preparing for Your Tax Return.

If you are an employee of one or more employers who submit your income information to the ATO on your behalf and you only have some simple deductions to claim, then that would require a simple tax return.

People who only receive government payments (age pension, youth allowance, etc) will also generally require a simple tax return.

Things get a little more complicated when you have:

  • operated as a sole trader
  • a rental property
  • investment income, such as dividends or distributions
  • sold shares or real estate
  • traded in cryptocurrencies

If any of these apply, then more work is required by your accountant and therefore it will not be considered as a simple tax return.

If there are extensive work-related deductions, these too will push the preparation of a tax return beyond what is a simple tax return.

Can’t find the answer you are looking for? Feel free to contact our office.