You have
Register for a free account to access unlimited free content.
Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
accountants daily logo

ATO kicks off ‘biggest ever’ taxpayer education campaign

Tax

The ATO has kicked off its taxpayer-focused tax time education campaign, with a series of tailored emails to tax agents and self-preparing taxpayers as it seeks to clamp down on work-related deductions.

By Jotham Lian 9 minute read

In emails seen by Accountants Daily, the ATO has sought to raise awareness of the myDeductions tool in the ATO app to “save hours of work at tax time” and help keep records in one place.

“This email is part of our broader Tax Time 2018 communication strategy. It was sent to previous myTax users who have not previously used myDeductions to upload their deductions,” said an ATO spokesperson.

“As part of this strategy we send tailored emails to self-preparing taxpayers to help them get their tax right throughout the year, with a focus on helping taxpayers as they are preparing and lodging their return.”

According to the ATO, further emails will be sent out to taxpayers with tailored information based on their past lodgements, including information about deductions they can and can’t claim; what income they need to declare; what their student loan repayment obligations are; and tips for rental property owners.

Tax agents will also soon be receiving education material to support their clients this tax time.

The education campaign comes after the ATO received a $130.8 million boost from the government to increase compliance activities targeting individual taxpayers and tax agents, as announced in the budget last month.

Work-related expenses has been a key focus area for the Tax Office, with commissioner Chris Jordan claiming that incorrect claims were more rampant in agent-prepared returns as compared to self-prepared returns.

CA ANZ tax leader, Michael Croker earlier warned of the “biggest ever” tax time education campaign and urged practitioners to adopt risk management practices in preparation.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jotham Lian

Jotham Lian

AUTHOR

Jotham Lian is the editor of Accountants Daily, the leading source of breaking news, analysis and insight for Australian accounting professionals.

Before joining the team in 2017, Jotham wrote for a range of national mastheads including the Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel NewsAsia.

You can email Jotham at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

You are not authorised to post comments.

Comments will undergo moderation before they get published.

accountants daily logo Newsletter

Receive breaking news directly to your inbox each day.

SUBSCRIBE NOW