The Tax legislation is a walk in the park right? Well not exactly, just ask the myriad of people who have shown up at Boston Accounting this year after having prepared their last years tax return using the E-Tax software provided by the ATO. These people thought it would be easy and didn’t want to pay a qualified accountant to do a seemingly simple tax return, but the tax office keeps a close eye on what gets lodged (especially e-tax prepared and lodged tax returns).
When people self lodge, errors are generally made, which the tax office identify, investigate, then issue an audit adjustment. These people are then forced to pay back their refund with additional interest and sometimes penalties on top of it all. It’s not worth the risk.
Would you remove your own rotten tooth? Perhaps in some pockets of Australia people do, but most people would see a dentist. Why risk an ATO audit for an honest mistake you may make by preparing your own tax return. Visit a qualified accountant.
Fancy yourself as a bit of a bush accountant? Know all the tax rulings? Even obtained verbal advice from someone at the ATO but didn’t get their name? Tate has been dealing with this a lot lately and would like to advise that under no circumstances should you rely on verbal advice from anyone at the tax office! It holds no weight in an audit (even if you wrote down the name of the ATO officer who gave you the advice).
Save yourself the pending grief and speak with Tate at Boston Accounting.
