I lodged the online tax return today - for my husband - and was shocked to get to the end and the estimate said a refund of $4250 was due. Is this what I should expect? He claimed $525 for work expenses, he is on a fairly poor/ average wage, only he works and we have 2 children, oh and we've only been here since Jan this year, on a 457.

I was expecting about $500 at the most - have i done something wrong? All the questions were straight forward, so I'm not sure where/ if i went wrong! Any help would be appreciated!

Kareena

Kar-kier,

If the answers have been truthful, and the questions addressed correctly, may I suggest that you just take the money and run? *kidding*.

I don't know the circumstances of how the refund was computed/calculated, but here's some karma hoping that the numbers are correct - $5K would be a very nice pressie from the tax-man indeed

Sounds about what i got last year for my first return Dont expect it to be so nice this year though unfortunatley

Thanks people!! Hoping it is right, would be a nice wee whack to tide us over!!

Does everyone who works need to file a tax return or just self emp in Oz?

I believe it is everyone who has had any income - but I'm no expert

what if you have no pay dockets

Sounds right. There would be a low income earner adjustment and all sorts there. So yes - you are getting more back in a rebate than you have paid most likely. Its a good thing

Your employer should give you a group certificate (yearly summary of pay and tax withheld) at the end of the financial year - in fact every employer that you have had during the year will give you one.

It's the bane of every working Aussie's life I can assure you! If you havent done one before though, I suggest you head off to a tax agent and get them to do it then you can see what you can claim for.

Are the kids in school cos there is the Education Tax Refund too which you can claim for.

As you were here for only part of the year maybe thats why you are getting a larger return as his emplyer would be taxing him at the rate of the full year.

If only one of you is working you could be getting the dependant spouse allowance. That's about 2.5k I think.

In our first year on a 457 we got a lot back too.
I believe it's to do with your tax calculated on a full year and you only worked a few months of the year.
Just don't expect it every year!

We arrived in November 08. Do we need to declare anything earned in the UK between July and Nov? I've not earned anything here as a stay-at-home mum but did in the UK. I received a rebate from UK Inland Revenue due to only working part of a year. I rang the ATO to ask and couldn't get a straight answer!

No - you are only a resident for tax purposes from the day you land. Anything before that should go on your UK tax return.

I was wondering about this...... When we arrived we were told by a friend to claim family assist and when we did this we had to declare our UK pay from June last year until present.... we were also told by the person in family assist that this would need to be declared on our tax return at the end of the year aswell! So I am very confused what to do? Was advised by someone else to get a tax accountant to do this for me.

gill