Around 260,000 Australians who received family assistance payments in 2014/15 are being reminded to finalise their tax requirements or risk missing out on their full entitlement for that year.
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said customers have 12 months from the end of each financial year to take action to ensure that they receive all the payments and supplements that may be available to them.
“The department is writing to these families over the next fortnight to advise them to lodge their 2014/15 tax return, or to let the department know that they are not required to lodge, by 30 June 2016,” Mr Jongen said.
“The rate of Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Benefit paid to customers is calculated using the customer’s family income estimate.
“At the end of the financial year, payments are balanced against the customer’s actual income, to ensure they receive the correct entitlement, including the end of year Family Tax Benefit supplement.”
Mr Jongen encouraged customers who are required to take action to consider digital service options.
“The easiest way to tell the department you do not need to lodge a tax return is through the Express Plus mobile app or your Centrelink online services account,” Mr Jongen said.
“You can also lodge your tax return through your Australian Taxation Office online services account. Both services can be conveniently accessed via myGov.”
The department has a range of handy information and tools to help families plan ahead for the future, such as the online rate estimator, the News for Families subscription service and the Family Update Facebook page.
Visit the department’s website to find out more about these services or humanservices.gov.au/taxtime to learn more about lodging your tax return for family assistance.
To login or register for a myGov account go to my.gov.au
Audio
Spoken by Department of Human Services General Manger Hank Jongen.
Download audio: Family tax lodgement 14-15 grab 1 (MP3, 563KB)Transcript: We have written to around 260,000 Australians who received family assistance payments last financial year. Because they risk missing out on their full entitlements if they don’t finalise their 2014/15 tax requirements by the 30th of June.
Download audio: Family tax lodgement 14-15 grab 2 (MP3, 563KB)
Transcript: Families need to lodge their tax returns for the 2014/15 financial year – or tell us if they’re not required to lodge one by the 30th of June – so we can pay their full entitlements for Child Care Benefit and Family Tax Benefit for last financial year.
Download audio: Family tax lodgement 14-15 grab 3 (MP3, 516KB)
Transcript: Families have until the 30th of June this year to make sure their 2014/15 tax requirements are finalised. If this deadline is missed, they will most likely miss out on their family assistance payments.
Download audio: Family tax lodgement 14-15 grab 4 (MP3, 795KB)
Transcript: You can lodge your tax return through your Australian Tax Office online services account which is available through myGov. If you are not required to lodge a tax return for last financial year, you can tell the department using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app, or through your Centrelink online services account, which is also available through myGov.