Students from the Australia National University (ANU) are ready to help people with their tax obligations this tax season.
The University said that students operating the 2020 ANU Tax Clinic would help taxpayers navigate the new COVID-19 tax measures, with the support of tax professionals from the community.
The ANU said the service would reach more people this year, extending beyond Canberra to southern NSW and was operating exclusively by phone and video-conferencing to comply with COVID-19 health restrictions.
Lecturer at ANU’s Research School of Accounting, Sonali Walpola said this year’s 2020 tax returns would have several new elements to consider due to the pandemic.
“Tax time can be stressful at the best of times,” Dr Walpola said.
“But people may have additional questions due to the COVID-19 tax measures, with Jobkeeper payments administered by the ATO and with a simplified process for some deductions now being possible,” she said.
“This year we’re expecting lots of questions about deductions for home office expenses.”
Dr Walpola said that to be eligible for help from the Tax Clinic, people must be unrepresented by a tax agent and have an individual income under $60,000.
“COVID-19 has made it difficult for people in regional areas to access services,” she said.
“The beauty of the ANU Tax Clinic this year is that people won’t even have to leave their homes to take advantage of this free service.”
She said the extended service would cover the ACT, Yass, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Jindabyne, Cooma and the south coast region from Eurobodalla down to Eden.
Further information on ANU’s Tax Clinic, including how to make an appointment can be accessed at this PS News link.
