ATO reveals common tax time errors

Every tax time there are a number of common and easily avoidable mistakes that tax professionals make when lodging tax returns for their clients, according to the ATO.

The first is submitting incorrect client details, such as name, address, date of birth, bank account details or tax file number. The ATO is urging tax professionals to confirm these details with their clients and then compare them with those on the portal to make sure they match.

Secondly, the ATO receives a high volume of duplicate returns for the same year. If a client has lodged their own return and needs to correct a mistake, their tax professional must request an amendment rather than lodging a new return

Another common error is repeating information, or including unnecessary additional information. The ATO has told tax professionals that if they have already declared information at a previous question they don’t need to repeat it as additional information on their client's return.

Lastly, the ATO has warned that omitting information such as income, income test questions, spouse details and private health insurance information can prevent or delay the processing of a return. Tax professionals should make sure their clients provide all necessary information to enable them to lodge accurate tax returns.