If you are planning on doing your own tax return this year the ATO can help you get it right the first time.
Go online
The easiest way to lodge is online using the ATO's free lodgement service e-tax which can be accessed from the ATO website.
E-tax will be available from 1 July and is a popular choice for millions of Australians.
Not only is it a secure option, e-tax can help you get it right the first time by doing most of your calculations for you and it even gives you an estimate of your tax assessment based on the information you provide.
You can save time by selecting the pre-filling option which automatically downloads information we have received about your tax affairs straight into your tax return. Using the pre-filling service, you can download information such as:
- government payments, including pensions and allowances
- information from payment summaries including union fees and workplace giving
- bank interest, including interest from savings, term deposits and joint accounts
- dividend income details from share registries and most public listed corporations
- Medicare information, including some medical expenses and amounts you claimed back
- private health insurance details, and
- helpful reminders about amounts you may need to declare or claim in your return.
The downloaded information is pre-filled directly into the relevant sections of your tax return for you so you can review and compare against your own records.
The information is reported to us by employers, banks, share registries and other government agencies from 1 July, with most of it being available by August. If all your information is not available when you first try e-tax you can subscribe to our alert service within e-tax, which will let you know when more of your information becomes available to pre-fill into your tax return.
E-tax also has information on topics like capital gains and losses and work-related expenses that you can access at the click of a button. It also provides links to ATO rulings, relevant publications, help screens and other information on the ATO website.
TaxPack 2011
If you prefer paper, you can still lodge using TaxPack and copies will be available from 1 July at ATO shopfronts, most newsagencies, online through the publication ordering system on the ATO website or by calling our automated publication ordering service on 1300 720 092.
The short tax return
If your tax affairs are simple you may be eligible to use the Short tax return 2011 and lodge your return over the phone by calling 13 28 65.
If you lodged using the short tax return last year you will receive one in the mail shortly. You can also pick up a copy from ATO shopfronts or by calling our automated publication ordering service on 1300 720 092 from 1 July.
Using a registered tax agent
Registered tax agents have different due dates to lodge tax returns for their clients. If you are using a registered tax agent you must contact them by 31 October 2011.
Only registered tax agents can charge a fee to prepare and lodge a tax return.
A list of registered tax agents can be found at the Tax Practitioners Board website at www.tpb.gov.au or by calling 1300 362 829.
Low-income support
Tax Help is a free community service run by ATO-trained volunteers to help low income earners including seniors, students, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and Indigenous Australians.
If your income is around $50,000 or less and your tax matters are straightforward, you can call the ATO on 13 28 61 to find where your nearest centre is located and to make an appointment.
Help and assistance
If you need help with your tax return, you can contact the ATO in a number of ways:
Online
Visit the ATO website for information on different tax topics and access to calculators and tools to help you complete your tax return.
Over the phone
Call 13 28 61 between 8.00am and 6.00pm weekdays with questions about lodging your income tax return.
Remember to have your tax file number and have your last notice of assessment with you when you call.
To check the progress of your lodgement, you can call the ATO on 13 28 65. This is an automated service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you wish to speak to someone in a language other than English you can call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 for a three-way link between you, an interpreter and an ATO adviser.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment and have access to appropriate TTY or modem equipment you can communicate with a tax officer through the National Relay Service on 13 36 77. However, if you do not have access to TTY or modem equipment you can phone the Speech to Speech Relay Service on 1300 555 727.
Booklets, fact sheets and other publications
The ATO has a range of publications on topics like rental properties and capital gains tax which will help you complete your return correctly.
These publications will be available from 1 July 2011 on the ATO website or by visiting an ATO shopfront or calling our automated publication ordering service on 1300 720 092.
Visiting a shopfront
If you would prefer to make your enquiry in person you will need to make an appointment first by calling 13 28 61.
Last Modified: Friday, 10 June 2011