The Australian Taxation Office has rolled out its annual support for taxpayers to ensure they get their tax returns right — its Pop-up Shops and Tax Help program.
Assistant Taxation Commissioner Karen Foat said the two programs helped thousands each year to get it right at tax time.
“Staff at our pop-up shops can explain the benefits of going digital, while our Tax Help program helps those on low incomes with simple tax affairs to do their return,” Ms Foat said.
“The pop-up shops provide face-to-face advice, guidance and support to taxpayers at community hubs, libraries, shopping centres, shows and universities around the country.”
She said the ATO wanted everyone to feel confident using its online products and services, regardless of whether they used an agent or lodged their own return.
“The pop-up shops will demonstrate the ATO’s online lodgment tool, myTax, and our smartphone app’s myDeductions tool,” Ms Foat said.
“Taxpayers will also be able to link their myGov account to the ATO, find lost super, lodge tax returns, apply for a tax file number and track the progress of their returns.”
She said the Tax Help program would feature around 800 ATO-trained and accredited volunteers at more than 600 locations across Australia, including local libraries, community centres and organisations in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.
“These volunteers help taxpayers with simple tax affairs, who are earning under $60,000, to lodge their tax returns,” Ms Foat said.
She said the volunteers were trained and accredited to provide a free and confidential service to help people complete their tax returns online using myTax.
