Pollyana

Many thanks for that - I shall chase my friend into digging out the paperwork for the old ones and try and submit them all at once.

As for that one we submitted in July...guess it could be time to ring them

spouse of scouse

Polly, I once put in 5 years of tax returns at once. Each year can be done on the current year's form, with the date crossed out and the applicable year written in.

I had a uni debt, but each year I'd paid enough tax to cover it. I'd actually paid it off after the third year, but was still paying the higher rate of tax, so got a substantial refund. From memory, the ATO fined me approx. $100 for the late returns, it certainly wasn't much.

Pollyana

Thats useful to know, I shall arm myself with a pile of current forms and cross my fingers my friend gets a refund that covers the fine!

moneypenny20

A few years back a friend did about 5 years worth in one go and didn't get fined at all.

Beaverstate

As long as you are paying, its all good.

Pollyana

spouse of scouse

I dug out my old assessment form Polly - the money I had to pay wasn't a fine at all, it was interest on my HECS debt ($115). I think the bottom line is if the ATO owe you money, you're in the clear. If you owe them, they'll take the money plus interest.

Pollyana

Thanks heaps for that

Pollyana

Word of warning for anyone returning to Aus and using their previously issued TFN........
The ATO occasionally puts a stop on a TFN if they think it isn't being used any more - triggers for this can include someone cancelling their visa and returning home. The annoying thing is that they don't tell you they've done this. So you may return to Aus, start paying tax again on what everyone views as a perfectly valid number, but when you try and claim tax back, or open a mygov account......the TFN comes up as invalid and you have to phone them and ask whats going on. They will then lift the stop on the number.

Be warned - if returning, just contact them and check your number is still 'live'.

moneypenny20

Finally got around to doing the husband's. After a couple of minor wft moments, it was pretty straightforward. Most importantly we got a bit back. Be interested to know how long they expect you to take to do it as I thought I was relatively speedy but still timed out although they probably do that to everyone just to piss people off.

Pollyana

Just some feedback on this one.

Mucho thanks to all who posted, helped persuade the person concerned, who has now taken their large shoebox of paperwork to a tax accountant. Seven years worth of tax returns for person and partner, all filed in one go. Partner ended up with a small refund, person ended up with no refund but also no bill (pretty clever accounting methinks!). And no fines from the ATO for late filing.



One more small question (ready for this year!) - in those States where its necessary to have private heath care to cover ambulances, like WA. If you ONLY take out ambuance cover, nothing else, does that have any effect on the Medicare Levy Surcharge thing or isn't it worth mentioning?

ABCD......

I am pretty sure it would not be relevant.

Pollyana

Thats what I suspected! Thanks for the confirmation