Our A-Z Guide to tax and tax help

It’s tax time! All across Australia, people are preparing to get the best possible tax return they can. If you earned any income in Australia between the 1st of July 2023 and the 30th of June 2024, you must submit a tax return to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The deadline to lodge your own tax return is 31st of October 2024. If your income was less than $60,000, you have a basic run-of-the-mill income and some receipts to claim, but you’re not sure how to go about it, then the friendly team of Tax Help volunteers are here to help you.

Below is a little guide on tax and things to consider if you decide to seek tax help 👇

ATO 

This is the Australian Taxation Office.

Bank Details 

Please make sure you know your bank details and bring them with you to your tax help appointment.

Contact Details

The ATO will ask you to verify your email, phone number, and current address before you begin completing your tax return.

Deductions

These are things that you can claim for example work-related car, phone, appliances, or laundry expenses. 

Employment

If you had a job in the last financial year, you should have paid tax.

Food

If you have traveled for work, you may be able to claim some meals while you were away, be sure to have the receipts handy.

GST

When claiming an expense, you include the whole amount paid, including GST.

Health Insurance

If you do not have health insurance, you may need to pay the medicare levy depending on your age and income. If you are not a permanent resident, you are exempt from the Medicare levy. 

Interest

Interest will be included in your income if you have earnt any interest in your bank accounts. 

Joy

How you will feel once you receive your tax back after you claimed all your relevant work expenses! 

Kilometers

You can claim up to 5000km without a logbook if you use your car for work. 

Linking the ATO to MyGov

You will need to link the ATO to your MyGov account. Here are some tips on how to do this. If you are still stuck, our team can help you. 

MyGov

You will need a MyGov account to complete your tax claim. If you don’t already have one, you can create one here.

Non-resident

If you are an international student, you will need to lodge a tax return if you have earned any income in Australia. 

Overdue

This is not what you want your tax return to be! Make sure you lodge your tax on time to avoid any extra charges. 

Parking

If you have to pay for parking to work, this can be a tax deduction

Queues

Avoid the wait for an accountant and lodge your tax return online (unless your claim is complicated, then an accountant may be helpful!)

Receipts

You will need to bring these with you so we can help you make your claim

Student Advocates

That’s us! We will help you to prepare your tax return, or if it is too complex for us, we can find someone else to help. 

Tech

If your course is work-related, you may be able to claim part of your laptop or tablet on tax. You may also be able to claim headphones, smart watches, or your phone depending on your work. 

Uniform

If you have to wear a uniform for work and you had to pay for it yourself, you can claim the cost on your tax return and also expenses related to washing the uniform.

Vacation! 🏝

What you might be able to afford when you get your tax back, sadly, this probably isn’t tax deductible

Work From Home Claims

If you do any of your work from home, the easiest way to claim this is via the shortcut method, which is a rate per hour. Your tax help advocate can help you work out which method is best for you. 

X-Ray Vision

This is what the ATO has, so make sure you have checked over your claim and included all your income.

Your responsibility

It is up to you to ensure that you have everything you need to lodge your tax and that it is submitted on time. 

Zzz

You will be able to rest easy knowing you are all over your tax return requirements once you have contacted a student advocate for help.

We hope this guide helps you wrap your head around some of the tax terms! When you are ready to lodge your return, we can help you navigate the myGov and ATO websites to ensure you’re meeting your tax lodgement requirements. 

To book an appointment with one of our student advocates, or to find out more about our Tax Help, head to our website for more.