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You are not the only person who has a chill down their spine when they hear the words u201cATO Tax Audit.u201d There are a few warning signs that the ATO can recognise that might result in a tax audit being conducted. When you start working on your next tax return, having an understanding of some of these factors can help set your mind at ease and make the process go more smoothly. Tax season does not have to be a stressful and daunting experience for taxpayers and business owners in Australia as long as they are aware of the common errors that they should try to avoid making.
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How To Avoid Getting A Tax Audit by The ATO in2023 You are not the only person who has a chill down their spine when theyhear the words “ATO Tax Audit.” There are a few warning signs that the ATO can recognise that might result in a tax audit being conducted. When youstart working on your next tax return, having an understanding of some ofthese factors can help set your mind at ease and make the process go more smoothly. Tax season does not have to be a stressful anddaunting
experience for taxpayers and business owners in Australia as long as theyare aware of the common errors that they should try to avoidmaking. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), maintainingcompliance with the regulations is the most effective strategy to sidestep a tax audit.After submitting their forms, many taxpayers, having just finished the annual tax filing process, hold their breath in anticipation of an audit by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). However, things shouldn’t be like that atall. Approximately 2 million taxpayers are contacted by the ATO each year to clarify information that was included in their yearly return. There is nodoubt that it will be the same this year, but the ATO has reassured citizenson multiple occasions that there is nothing to be afraid of provided theyearly return is honest andaccurate. Ways You Can Avoid TaxAudits We have explained how you can lodge your 2023 tax without yougetting auditedbelow. 1. Ensure your deductions and calculations arecorrect Checking your numbers, then checking them again, is a smart method to make sure that everything is in order before you send in your tax return.It’s not the most thrilling activity in the world, but it is a good way to makesure that everything is in order. Working with a tax agent is a convenient methodto ensure that you click all of the right boxes since a skilled accountant will spot any errors and will bring them to your notice. Since it is simple tomake
mistakes, working with a tax agent is a handy way to ensure that you tick allof the appropriateboxes. 2. Keeping accuraterecords Everyone is fully aware that it is critical to keep the receipts for anyitemsthat they claim, regardless of whether those items are digital or tangible. Itis important to keep in mind that the ATO will scrutinise a cash-based firmmore thoroughly; hence, it is essential to keep records of all transactions. Ifyou want to avoid any problems, you should be particularly careful withyour records. This will assist, provided that you are not intentionallyunderstating yourincome.
Investing in reliable accounting software may be one solution to thisproblem. When it comes to organising your records, you can use one of the top accounting software in the market. In addition to providing the user with the opportunity to log in from any location, it streamlines the accountingprocess, resulting in a final product that is not only quicker but also more affordableand accuraterecords. 3. InsureYourself! Consider getting an insurance that covers audits. If you have audit insurance in place, you won’t need to worry about the professional fees that will bepaid as a result of handling an audit from the ATO. This can relieve some ofthe burden. The only charges that are covered by an audit insurance policy fortax compliance are the professional costs of examining and responding to an audit programme from the ATO. This insurance does not cover any director indirect costs that arise from unpaid tax liabilities, including fines andinterest on thoseliabilities.
4. Keep your documents for fiveyears. Whenever the ATO performs an audit, they will go back over your previoustax returns and look at their history. From the day you receive a notice of assessment until the day you must file your income tax return, the time limit for individuals and small enterprises is normally two years, while the time limit for other taxpayers is four years. Bear in mind that you are required to preserve your records for a time that is sufficiently long to cover boththe record-keeping period of five years and the review period for theevaluation. 5. Declare allincome
You must report all individual income that you get. If you run a business,you must report all business revenue. This includes any money you mayhave received through short-term contracts or freelance work as an individual (for example, driving for Uber), as well as any additional passive income suchas interest, share dividends, Airbnb rentals, and governmentperks. To identify unreported income, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses sophisticated data-matching technology. An investigation by the ATO may start if their detecting methods lead them to identify you. When you declareall of your income, this includes the contributions from both domestic and foreign sources. As a part of their efforts to ensure that all Australians pay the appropriate amount of tax on their income, the Australian TaxationOffice (ATO) has data-sharing relationships with more than 40 differentcountries. 6. Live a life that relates with your taxreturns An audit by the ATO might be prompted if you have a lavish lifestyle but declare a more modest amount of income than you make. For instance, ifyou frequently take expensive trips overseas or purchase fancy automobiles or yachts, this can lead the ATO to suspect that you are not declaring all of your income, which can subsequently lead to audits by the ATO. They will be perplexed as to how you can maintain the lifestyle that you do and why you have what appears to be unexplainedmoney. Auditors from the ATO are known to look through the social media accountsof people they have reason to believe are living lifestyles that areinconsistent with the incomes that they have stated. They are looking for evidence oflavish
spending, and they have access to data on both bank transactions andairline tickets. 7. Declare your eligibledeductions When preparing your tax return, you may be eligible to claim several different deductions; however, the specifics of these deductions are highly dependent on the line of work or industry in which you are employed. You are only permitted to claim legal deductions, and you are required to have receipts or other paperwork to back up any claims you make. Getting creative with your deductions is a poor idea because if you are discovered, you won’t just have to pay it all back, but you’ll also find yourself slammed with a big fine on topof that. Read also: Australia Tax Refunds: How to Get The Best ofIt? Usefullink: https://thekalculators.com.au/financial-record-keeping-for-ato-in-2023/ How to Avoid Getting Audited with TheKalculators When dealing with something as sensitive as a tax return, it is always suggested to seek the advice of a professional. Business owners canreceive assistance with taxation planning, consultation, and guidance from the Kalculators. When it comes to tax season, having your business’ tax returns properly prepared is necessary to ensure that everything is runningsmoothly.
We assist you in compiling your monthly, quarterly, and annual activity and instalment statements to ensure that the information submitted to the tax department is accurate and that your tax returns are accurate aswell. Our professionals are always ready to lend a hand! It’s easy, and you won’tbe taken by surprise when you work with The Kalculators. We listen and we deliver. We offer solutions to safeguard your assets, as well as assistance in decreasing your tax liability and making progress towards yourobjectives. Book a consultation today so we can help you through your taxreturn process. For more detail:https://thekalculators.com.au/ ← Working From Home Expenses: What’s Changed? Tax Deductions 2023FY