Students doing your tax return
Jul 23rd 2009, 12:56 am
#1
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Students doing your tax return
Hiya,
just back from doing our tax return and just wanted to clear up how you can claim some $$ back for the fees paid out.
We hadn't claimed last year and were told that you get back $1200 for every $6000 paid in college fees. We also heard that you had to have proof of doing a similar role back across and that your studies were to get qualified or further your career.
Basically, it is this. . .if you are studying alongside working in the same profession then the fees paid out come off your gross wage/salary for the year meaning that you don't pay tax on the amount.
The accountant suggested that as my hubbie haddn't earned enough to claim the full $24,000 this year, we put $12000 through this year and the other half at tax time next year. So hubby hasn't paid any tax again this year. . .whoop whoop. . nice wee refund!!
Cheers
Mandy
just back from doing our tax return and just wanted to clear up how you can claim some $$ back for the fees paid out.
We hadn't claimed last year and were told that you get back $1200 for every $6000 paid in college fees. We also heard that you had to have proof of doing a similar role back across and that your studies were to get qualified or further your career.
Basically, it is this. . .if you are studying alongside working in the same profession then the fees paid out come off your gross wage/salary for the year meaning that you don't pay tax on the amount.
The accountant suggested that as my hubbie haddn't earned enough to claim the full $24,000 this year, we put $12000 through this year and the other half at tax time next year. So hubby hasn't paid any tax again this year. . .whoop whoop. . nice wee refund!!
Cheers
Mandy
Jul 23rd 2009, 10:27 am
#2
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Re: Students doing your tax return
good to know Mandy. Thank you!
Jul 23rd 2009, 12:13 pm
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Re: Students doing your tax return
We were told (as with others on our course) that you could only claim against course fees if you were already working in that sector before you started the course, which of course on our visa you can't.
Jul 23rd 2009, 9:53 pm
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Re: Students doing your tax return
Yeah that's why I posted as there is so much miss information around!! As long as you are working in the industry that you are studying in. . you can claim.
cheers
Mandy
cheers
Mandy
Jul 24th 2009, 11:43 pm
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Re: Students doing your tax return
Now I am very confused, as there are a few people on my course, all who thought last year they could claim course fees, but about 3 of them had tax agents telling them they couldn't UNLESS the course started after the work. It would seem odd that so many tax agents were wrong.
Jul 24th 2009, 11:49 pm
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Re: Students doing your tax return
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/co....htm&page=1&H1
under the things you need to know bit, looks like it is indeed true that you CAN NOT claim your fees if you started the job after the course.
under the things you need to know bit, looks like it is indeed true that you CAN NOT claim your fees if you started the job after the course.
Jul 25th 2009, 3:40 am
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Re: Students doing your tax return
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/co....htm&page=1&H1
under the things you need to know bit, looks like it is indeed true that you CAN NOT claim your fees if you started the job after the course.
under the things you need to know bit, looks like it is indeed true that you CAN NOT claim your fees if you started the job after the course.
I am merely passing on information that may benifit others and would suggest that individuals check it out when they are doing their tax return. . .
Cheers
Mandy
Jul 25th 2009, 8:20 am
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Re: Students doing your tax return
If I remember correctly ... mandyp's husband is here on a student visa? And is working to get the 900 hours (or however many you need) to pass the TRA???
If that is the the scenario, then you CANNOT claim the course fees (or any other costs associated with the course). Doing so is tax fraud.
The ATO can and do audit tax returns. If you are found out, you will have to pay the tax you avoided paying, plus interets, plus fines (and they are hefty). And it is YOU the taxpayer, who is responsible for the information contained in your tax return - not your dodgy tax accountant/agent.
As for incurring expenses in the 2009 year, but only claiming half and claiming the rest next year. (Ignoring for a second that you cannot claim any of it anyway ...): You cannot do this either. Expenses (if you are entitled to claim them - which in this case you are not) must be claimed in the year in which they were incurred. Your dodgy/creative tax accountnat is hoping by not claiming all of the expenses this year (a very large amount), you will escape the notice of the ATO.
This may work.
But you have to ask yourself whether you want to risk the consequences: If you are found out and depending on how the ATO charge you, you may scupper your chance at a permanent visa - just for the sake of paying a little bit tax.
If you decide you want to "fix" this (I realise mandyp doesn't know the tax rules and just fell prey to a dodgy tax accountant): Go online or visit another tax agent and file an "Amendment". Once you are in the Amendment, there is a drop-down box to classify your error. Choose "client error". Then go to D4 and show $0 as the amount you want to claim and it will all be fixed. (You will end up getting a smaller refund or perhaps paying a bit tax.)
If that is the the scenario, then you CANNOT claim the course fees (or any other costs associated with the course). Doing so is tax fraud.
The ATO can and do audit tax returns. If you are found out, you will have to pay the tax you avoided paying, plus interets, plus fines (and they are hefty). And it is YOU the taxpayer, who is responsible for the information contained in your tax return - not your dodgy tax accountant/agent.
As for incurring expenses in the 2009 year, but only claiming half and claiming the rest next year. (Ignoring for a second that you cannot claim any of it anyway ...): You cannot do this either. Expenses (if you are entitled to claim them - which in this case you are not) must be claimed in the year in which they were incurred. Your dodgy/creative tax accountnat is hoping by not claiming all of the expenses this year (a very large amount), you will escape the notice of the ATO.
This may work.
But you have to ask yourself whether you want to risk the consequences: If you are found out and depending on how the ATO charge you, you may scupper your chance at a permanent visa - just for the sake of paying a little bit tax.
If you decide you want to "fix" this (I realise mandyp doesn't know the tax rules and just fell prey to a dodgy tax accountant): Go online or visit another tax agent and file an "Amendment". Once you are in the Amendment, there is a drop-down box to classify your error. Choose "client error". Then go to D4 and show $0 as the amount you want to claim and it will all be fixed. (You will end up getting a smaller refund or perhaps paying a bit tax.)
Last edited by ozhappy981; Jul 25th 2009 at 8:23 am.
Jul 25th 2009, 9:58 am
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Re: Students doing your tax return
If I remember correctly ... mandyp's husband is here on a student visa? And is working to get the 900 hours (or however many you need) to pass the TRA???
If that is the the scenario, then you CANNOT claim the course fees (or any other costs associated with the course). Doing so is tax fraud.
The ATO can and do audit tax returns. If you are found out, you will have to pay the tax you avoided paying, plus interets, plus fines (and they are hefty). And it is YOU the taxpayer, who is responsible for the information contained in your tax return - not your dodgy tax accountant/agent.
As for incurring expenses in the 2009 year, but only claiming half and claiming the rest next year. (Ignoring for a second that you cannot claim any of it anyway ...): You cannot do this either. Expenses (if you are entitled to claim them - which in this case you are not) must be claimed in the year in which they were incurred. Your dodgy/creative tax accountnat is hoping by not claiming all of the expenses this year (a very large amount), you will escape the notice of the ATO.
This may work.
But you have to ask yourself whether you want to risk the consequences: If you are found out and depending on how the ATO charge you, you may scupper your chance at a permanent visa - just for the sake of paying a little bit tax.
If you decide you want to "fix" this (I realise mandyp doesn't know the tax rules and just fell prey to a dodgy tax accountant): Go online or visit another tax agent and file an "Amendment". Once you are in the Amendment, there is a drop-down box to classify your error. Choose "client error". Then go to D4 and show $0 as the amount you want to claim and it will all be fixed. (You will end up getting a smaller refund or perhaps paying a bit tax.)
If that is the the scenario, then you CANNOT claim the course fees (or any other costs associated with the course). Doing so is tax fraud.
The ATO can and do audit tax returns. If you are found out, you will have to pay the tax you avoided paying, plus interets, plus fines (and they are hefty). And it is YOU the taxpayer, who is responsible for the information contained in your tax return - not your dodgy tax accountant/agent.
As for incurring expenses in the 2009 year, but only claiming half and claiming the rest next year. (Ignoring for a second that you cannot claim any of it anyway ...): You cannot do this either. Expenses (if you are entitled to claim them - which in this case you are not) must be claimed in the year in which they were incurred. Your dodgy/creative tax accountnat is hoping by not claiming all of the expenses this year (a very large amount), you will escape the notice of the ATO.
This may work.
But you have to ask yourself whether you want to risk the consequences: If you are found out and depending on how the ATO charge you, you may scupper your chance at a permanent visa - just for the sake of paying a little bit tax.
If you decide you want to "fix" this (I realise mandyp doesn't know the tax rules and just fell prey to a dodgy tax accountant): Go online or visit another tax agent and file an "Amendment". Once you are in the Amendment, there is a drop-down box to classify your error. Choose "client error". Then go to D4 and show $0 as the amount you want to claim and it will all be fixed. (You will end up getting a smaller refund or perhaps paying a bit tax.)
There are quite a number of friends and other students on hubbies course that are doing the same thing, through several different agents and all have been told they can claim.
Only thing i had heard was passed on from a friend who's agent asked for proof of previous occupation and said that there was a very slight chance that it wouldn't go through, but that it should be fine.
Cheers
Mandy
