ATO extends online tax services

Assistant commissioner Graham Whyte said eligibility for the ATO’s streamlined tax return lodgement system, myTax, has been expanded, with two million Australians expected to lodge using the service in 2015.

“Starting this year, you can also make amendments to your 2015 return, claim a refund of franking credits or complete a non-lodgement advice form if you don’t need to lodge a tax return, which in previous years you could only do by paper,” Mr Whyte said.

He also said another change implemented this year is a digital notice of assessment and tax receipt delivered to their myGov inbox.

“We know that for a lot of people, the days of the filing cabinet are over and it’s far more convenient to have electronic copies of personal documents.

“For the first time ever, people who lodge online with the ATO (via myTax or e-tax) will get their notice of assessment and tax receipt sent direct to their myGov inbox instead of via snail mail,” Mr Whyte said.

“This will make it easier for them to do their tax return next year, as they’ll have the relevant information at their fingertips without having to turn the house upside-down looking for paper copies.”