Whose Fault This Is? ATO, Me or Tax Agent

newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 09:45
Last edited 12/03/2018 - 11:23 by 2 other users

Ok, early 2015 first year i started working full time, i did my tax as usual with a tax agent, general conversation, where i work and my expenses which wasnt much as usual since i work in office.
It wasnt a full year in my job and somehow the tax return was $5 thousands that time.
Last week i received a letter from ato indicating i need to pay back the $5k plus interest rate for few years…
I called them up they explained your current employee has sent us your full year salary that time and it wasnt taxed? Or declared? Something like that i couldn't make sense of since am pairing my tfn with them and have mentioned them to my tax agent, would be really silly of me to hide them since i also claim small expenses as well.

I know i cant win and i have to pay but is this a good really my fault for receiving that much and not asking? Mind you this was my 2nd of tax return in general.

I learnt my lesson and planning not to do tax return anymore for atleast for few years because of same reason and being too risky process.

Thoughts?

Financial

closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2018 - 09:49
    +2

    Something like that i couldn't make sense

    If you can't make sense of it how can we.

    I suggest you book in to see same tax agent and review that year to look for errors. Might cost you $100+ but could save you thousands.

    • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 09:51
      +1

      The tax agent was from westfield and they don't work there anymore.
      I think they meant my current employee wasnt listed there etc.
      Do i have a chance to win? Even tho they keep sayin they paid me and want it back.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2018 - 09:52

        Well make an appointment with a reputable registered tax agent and have them review your claim.

        I notice you joined ozbargain just as you would have been receiving your $5000 refund. What did you buy?

        • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 09:58

          Didn't spend it and saved it

      • Xyzzy on 12/03/2018 - 10:11

        How much did you earn in that financial year?
        How much tax did you pay? These should be on the group certificate you received from your employer.

    • EightImmortals on 12/03/2018 - 10:18

      It's tax law, it's not SUPPOSED to make sense.

  • Xyzzy on 12/03/2018 - 09:50

    Talk to the tax agent.

  • holdenmg on 12/03/2018 - 09:58
    +2

    If the former Australian Taxation Office deputy commissioner (and his son) can't get it right, I'm sure they will understand your matter.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2018 - 09:59
    -1

    did you do any dodgies ;)

  • toniyellow on 12/03/2018 - 10:08
    +6

    Your post is really hard to understand. If English isn’t your first language, you can access tax information in other languages https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Other-languages/
    If you are communicating with a new tax agent or the ATO, make sure they can understand you, it might be a misunderstanding that has led to this.

    Take your previous payslips, tax returns, the letter from the ATO, any documents you have and go see a new tax agent, one that has an office you can return to, not a westfield pop-up. If you confirm you do owe the money and you can’t pay the $5000 back in one go the ATO will often let you go on a payment plan.

    I learnt my lesson and planning not to do tax return anymore for at least for few years because of same reason and being too risky process.

    Don’t skip doing future tax returns, that is going to make your problem worse not better.

  • Baysew on 12/03/2018 - 10:30
    +6

    Would your current situation have something to do with your post ITP The Income Tax Professionals is trying to rip me off, help! where you got a Tax Return prepared, but refused to pay the fee and told them not to lodge?

    In your words -

    No, I didn't had my purchase receipts with me and I decided to not lodge it this year and leave it next year when I have more stuff to claim tax for

    • altomic on 12/03/2018 - 10:39

      ha ha!

    • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 10:49
      -2

      Go away plz not a good situation to joke around.

      • Baysew on 12/03/2018 - 11:00
        +1

        It certainly is no joke when the ATO comes after you.

        If you are not willing to pay a professional, at least give some respect to people that respond to you. They are often people who are working or have worked in the industry. You may not get any help in the future.

        In your previous post, it appears that you were not going to get a refund, hence ITP couldn't deduct their fee. It seems obvious that this must have something to do with your current situation, especially as you said that you wouldn't lodge a return.

        You are responsible for the information given to the ATO.

  • cashie on 12/03/2018 - 10:38
    +1

    I learnt my lesson and planning not to do tax return anymore for atleast for few years because of same reason and being too risky process.

    That’s a great idea…..NOT

    Anyone that wants a good read, I just went through the OPs posts, interesting read if you need to fill a bit of time https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/162667/nodes

  • BEPS13 on 12/03/2018 - 10:41
    +1

    By law, you must prepare a annual tax return. If you do not, mate the fines add up and it you can ut yourself into a world of pain. The lesson from this is to do your return!

    When you saw the tax agent, they would have asked you for your income. Every year, if you work for someone, within 14 days of year end they need to give you a payment summary. This is a one page form that lists all of your income, and the tax that the employer has withheld from you.

    You mentioned in that year, you hadn't been working for an employer for very long. did you have a job before that? Each income tax return needs to declare all of your income earned between 1 July and 30 June. So, for this year, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. Is there a chance you missed the income from your old job earlier in that year?

    also, are you new to Australia / new to Australia in 2015? Depending on your residency status, your tax rate may well be different. this could also have driven your issue.

    What you should do is:

    (1) Get the tax return form 2015
    (2) go to income - see how much is there
    (3) compare that to how much you got paid between 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. Does it look the same or is something missing? If it looks the same, go see an agent to get help, if it looks different you know what went wrong.

    Moving forward, just seeing an agent isn't enough, you need to actively tell them all of your income, all of your expenses, etc.

    edit I noticed you mentioned you started working full time early 2015 - to be 100% clear, you need to declare income from any casual work, part time work, ad hoc work, whatever. Not just full time work. When you go over point 3 above, please make sure you keep that in mind.

    • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 10:48
      -2

      Thank you so much! An answer i really needed and make sense.

  • mskeggs on 12/03/2018 - 10:50
    +9

    Didn't like the answers, unable to put forward a coherent question, so please close it up after I just call the respondents trying to help me spammers. Classy.

    • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 10:58
      -6

      No, thanks to BEPS13 his comment was the answer i was looking for, i just don't like how some ppl here get off topic quickly and act immature, am not in mood for trolls on Monday morning.
      Mate am asking serious question and look for an advice if you have id really appreciate it and thank you for it, if not you don't really have to comment.

      • John Kimble on 12/03/2018 - 11:00
        +2

        When is the best time to troll you then? Wednesday? Friday?

        • newbiesh on 12/03/2018 - 11:01
          -1

          Friday night

  • fossilfuel on 12/03/2018 - 11:02
    +2

    Lol he tried to delete his post content. Here it is.

    Ok, early 2015 first year i started working full time, i did my tax as usual with a tax agent, general conversation, where i work and my expenses which wasnt much as usual since i work in office.
    It wasnt a full year in my job and somehow the tax return was $5 thousands that time.
    Last week i received a letter from ato indicating i need to pay back the $5k plus interest rate for few years…
    I called them up they explained your current employee has sent us your full year salary that time and it wasnt taxed? Or declared? Something like that i couldn't make sense of since am pairing my tfn with them and have mentioned them to my tax agent, would be really silly of me to hide them since i also claim small expenses as well.

    I know i cant win and i have to pay but is this a good really my fault for receiving that much and not asking? Mind you this was my 2nd of tax return in general.

    I learnt my lesson and planning not to do tax return anymore for atleast for few years because of same reason and being too risky process.

    Thoughts?

    • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2018 - 11:19

      my head hurts from reading that

  • sw0rdy on 12/03/2018 - 11:06
    +3

    these threads just keep on getting better

  • ronnknee on 12/03/2018 - 11:20

    Username checks out.

  • Moderatormoocher on 12/03/2018 - 11:29

    AS OP already has his answer, this thread is closed.

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