TAX RETURN DOCUMENT & INFORMATION CHECKLIST

To help things run smoothly at your appointment, we have prepared a checklist for you to read through in advance.

Please note: Although we have the ability to retrieve details from the ATO relating to your payment summaries (from employers or Centrelink) and income from banks and financial institutions, it is not always available or up to date (especially if you come in July and early August). It's always best to have original documents to cross-check where possible, so if you could bring this information with you to your appointment it would be greatly appreciated.

What you will need to provide:

  • Photo ID (if you are a new customer)

  • BSB and Account Number (so we know where to transfer your tax refund)

  • Tax File Number

Income

  • Copies of any income payment summaries/group certificates

  • Lump Sum and Termination Payment Summaries

  • Government Payment Statements

  • Amount of interest earned from banks and/or building societies

Receipts for expenses to be claimed: 

  • Motor vehicle expenses

    • Average weekly KM's traveled in your personal vehicle where significant work duties were undertaken (excludes travel to and from work) OR;

    • A copy of your log book if one was maintained

  • Protective boots or protective uniform 

  • Self-education expenses

    • Costs for any university courses undertaken during the financial year, where there is a direct connection between education and current work activities - study must maintain, lead to or improve a skill or specified knowledge within the field you are working in

    • Paid for training that lasted for a few days or a couple of weeks and was not reimbursed by the employer

  • Mobile phone expenses

    • How much was paid each month for mobile phone and internet and what percentage of the phone and internet use was work related?

  • Union fees

  • Stationary

  • Outdoor work expenses

    • e.g. sunscreen, sunglasses or hats

  • Travel expenses

    • Interstate or overseas travel to attend seminars, conferences and meetings and paid for meals, accommodation and airfares

    • A travel diary must have been maintained from day 1 and the expenses must not have been reimbursed by the employer

  • Tools and equipment expenses

    • This will need to be depreciated if it cost more than $300.00

  • Home office expenses

    • Expenses for a home office that was maintained as a separate room to study and conduct research for work

    • What were the average hours spent in the office per week?

  • Details of any assets such as tablets, phones or computers purchased and used for work purposes

    • What percentage of the use of that asset would be work related?

  • Any gifts or donations made in particular income year to the ATO registered organisations such as Red Cross, Salvos, Paralympics, etc.

  • Prior year accounting fees

If you are looking for further information regarding what expenses you may be able to claim under your occupation, or information regarding what type of information you are required to keep, please visit our Tax Toolkit.

Offsets:

  • Annual Private Health insurance statement

  • Main residence where you spent more than 183 days during the year

  • Travel to remote places such as; Jabiru, Tennant Creek, Katherine etc. and length of stay for personal and work purposes

  • Any dependent children living with you - if they were not with you for the full year provide a provide number of days they were with you

  • Spouse details - full name, date of birth and taxable income in each year

If you own an investment (rental) property, you will need to provide:

  • Date property was first rented

  • No of weeks property was rented

  • Property address & ownership

  • Property agent summary- if managed by a property agent

  • Quantity surveyor/depreciation report

  • Expenses to be claimed:

    • Insurance cost

    • Body corporate

    • Water & sewerage charges

    • Repairs & maintenance

    • Capital improvements or renovations to premise - type of improvement, date occurred and cost involved

    • Replacement of any fixture or fitting – details of item replaced, date of purchase and amount

    • Gardening/pest control

    • Smoke alarms & batteries

    • Annual home loan interest charges

    • Council rates

    • Land tax (if applicable)

    • Legal cost (if applicable)

    • Postage & stationery costs

If you have sold your investment (rental) property during the year:

  • Date that the property was purchased along with the amount paid for it

  • Date that the property was sold along with amount received for it

  • Dates that the property was rented out between and the dates it was used as a main residence before it was rented out as investment property

  • Expenses related to the purchase and sale of the property - e.g Stamp duty paid at the time of purchase, brokerage fees, agent fees, advertising , conveyancing fees, etc.