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Important information 2020

Provides important information and instructions to complete and lodge your tax return.

Last updated 27 May 2020

Who can complete your tax return?

You can get someone else to complete your tax return for you:

  • A family member or friend can help you but they cannot charge you a fee.
  • Tax Help is a free service provided by community volunteers trained to help people on low incomes prepare their tax returns. Tax Help volunteers do not charge a fee for their assistance. Tax Help operates out of approved community-based centres. To make an appointment, see Tax Help program.
  • Only a registered tax agent can charge you a fee for preparing your tax return. To check whether an agent is registered, refer to Finding and using a tax practitionerExternal Link.

Whoever helps you:

  • you, no one else, must sign your tax return
  • you, no one else, are legally responsible for the accuracy of the information.

Lodge your tax return by 31 October 2020

You have until 31 October 2020 to lodge your tax return, unless we have allowed you to lodge it later, or you have a later due date because a registered tax agent prepares your tax return.

If you cannot lodge your tax return by 31 October 2020 contact us as soon as possible, before 31 October 2020, to find out whether you can lodge at a later date.

Failure to lodge on time penalty

We may apply a penalty for failure to lodge on time if your tax return is not lodged by the due date.

Generally, we apply one penalty unit for every 28 days (or part thereof) that your tax return is overdue, to a maximum of five penalty units. For more information regarding penalty units refer to Failure to lodge on time penalty.

We may apply the penalty even where there is no tax payable. However, our policy is not to apply a penalty where:

  • you lodge your tax return voluntarily, and
  • no tax is payable.

Where to send your tax return

Within Australia

To lodge online using myTax, see Lodge online. Most myTax refunds are issued within two weeks.

To lodge a paper tax return, either:

  • mail it in the pre-addressed envelope that came with it, or
  • mail it in your own envelope and address it to
    Australian Taxation Office
    GPO Box 9845
    (insert the name and postcode of your nearest capital city)

For example:

Australian Taxation Office
GPO Box 9845
SYDNEY  NSW  2001

Most refunds for paper tax returns are processed within 10 weeks.

From overseas

To lodge online using myTax, see Lodge online. Most myTax refunds are issued within two weeks.

To lodge a paper tax return, either:

  • mail it in the pre-addressed envelope that came with it, but first
    • cross out the barcode above the address
    • cross out IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY
    • write SYDNEY NSW 2001, AUSTRALIA
     
  • mail it in your own envelope and address it to
    Australian Taxation Office
    GPO Box 9845
    SYDNEY  NSW  2001
    AUSTRALIA

Most refunds for paper tax returns are processed within 10 weeks.

When can you expect your notice of assessment?

Our standard processing time for processing your tax return is:

  • two weeks if you lodge online
  • 10 weeks if you lodge on paper.

Your notice of assessment will be:

  • sent to your myGov inbox, if you have a myGov account, regardless of whether you lodge online or on paper
  • mailed to you, if you do not have a myGov account.

To check the progress of your tax return:

  • see Progress of return
  • phone 13 28 61, and
    • choose option 2 then option 1, or
    • ask one of our customer service representatives to do a search for you.
     

Your right to make a complaint

Where you believe we have not met your expectations or not conducted ourselves as outlined in the Taxpayers' Charter, we support your right to make a complaint. We are committed to treating complaints seriously, dealing with them quickly, fairly and learning from them.

If you disagree with a technical decision (dispute or object to an ATO decision) we have made about your tax affairs, you have the right to have the decision reviewed through the formal process. Refer to Dispute or object to an ATO decision.

Before deciding to lodge a complaint, we recommended that you try to sort out the issue with the ATO Officer you've been dealing with (or the phone number you've been given). If you are still not satisfied, talk to that officer's manager, and if you are still not satisfied, consider making a formal complaint.

How to make a complaint

To make a complaint:

  • lodge an online complaint at Complaints, compliments and suggestions
  • phone our complaints line on 1800 199 010 ā€“ 8.00am ā€“ 6.00pm, Monday to Friday (local time), except national public holidays
  • phone the National Relay Service on 13 36 77 (if you have a hearing, speech or communication impairment)
  • send a fax to 1800 060 063
  • write to
    Australian Taxation Office
    PO Box 1271
    ALBURY  NSW  2640

If you have previously lodged a complaint and you are not satisfied with the way it is being handled, or with the outcome, you may request for your complaint to be escalated to a more senior officer. To escalate your complaint contact ATO Complaints on one of the methods listed above.

The Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO)

The ATO will investigate your complaint and work closely with you in attempting to resolve your issue. If you're not satisfied, you may contact the IGTO at any time to raise your concerns. To contact the IGTO:

QC61601