I do feel for people who have problems with the ATO. On three occasions I have had them claim my personal returns were incorrect and I hadn't declared income. The ATO was wrong and the issues were finally resolved in my favour but it was a right proper PITA to deal with them. The intransigence was astounding where, despite providing proof, the ATO was taking the stance the data in front of them was right and I was wrong. Took five goes on one occasion to get them to reverse their view.
I do feel for people who have problems with the ATO. On three occasions I have had them claim my personal returns were incorrect and I hadn't declared income. The ATO was wrong and the issues were finally resolved in my favour but it was a right proper PITA to deal with them. The intransigence was astounding where, despite providing proof, the ATO was taking the stance the data in front of them was right and I was wrong. Took five goes on one occasion to get them to reverse their view.
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Back in the 90's I was working in Fiji as part of an Oz government aid program assisting the Fijian government to computerise their manual government systems, one of which was Taxation. There were a number of ATO mid level types assisting with the implementation. One of the things that struck me in conversations with these types was their attitude to the rest of Australia.
As far as they were concerned, all Australians businessmen were outright crooks, and the rest of Australia was trying to evade taxes.
I have seen nothing over the years to make me think the attitude of the ATO has changed at all.
Mick
Holy Scheit.
Albury !
Ever since my first , friendly " Desk Audit " , over three decades ago , ( had two more , since then ) all my tax returns have gone through that hell-hole of terror.
I've had this paranoid notion for years, that anyone on their watchlist, will have all their stuff looked at , there. Not " in your capital city" that they put on the envelope provided in the tax pack. Oh, and even though they tell you to put a stamp on that sucker , no need ! It will get through. Every time. ( As Michael Caine would say " not many people know this , but " )
Finally , here's a tip for anyone contemplating neg. gearing ( while it's still legal, hey ? )
Put every single receipt into a shoe box under the bed.
Don't DYO depreciation claims .Pay for a quantity surveyor . It will save you, so much hassle with the feds.
Garpal Gumnut
Ross Island Hotel
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I may be fortunate, but as a family with a number of trusts and a Super fund I've never paid excessive tax, less than many, a justifiable amount would be my guess despite in my younger years having a reasonable income.
I've never been audited and presently doubt I ever will be as I'm distributing my wealth to my children and spending it all before being reborn as a horny emperor with many wives.
I guess one just needs to be fortunate in having a good accountancy firm which doesn't attract the baddies ( ATO ) , work hard and set oneself up financially within one's risk parameters.
There have been setbacks through bad advice early on but it all came good or was offset against earnings.
Just my 2c. worth.
gg
I've never been audited and presently doubt I ever will be as I'm distributing my wealth to my children and spending it all before being reborn as a horny emperor with many wives.
I guess one just needs to be fortunate in having a good accountancy firm which doesn't attract the baddies ( ATO ) , work hard and set oneself up financially within one's risk parameters.
There have been setbacks through bad advice early on but it all came good or was offset against earnings.
Just my 2c. worth.
gg
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ATO is a top bully, the few times i have had to deal with them, proof or not, they are right.
In one case as it was below $50.. i gave up after emails exchanges, letters and ultimately a return trip to Brisbane cbd to try to have an in person contact..total waste of 4h as i was directed to a free computer with direct link to their website...
I am sure our interaction resulted in them claiming another fraudster stopped and a $40 gain , improving their kpis...
I let it go, they send me a letter telling me i should be grateful i had penalties and fines waived
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I have to say i have more respects for workers in a brothel than for ato employees...
Ha, I can trump that.
Above my desk , hangs an ATO cheque , as a result of just one of their 3 raids on Mr Big of tax dodgers.
It is for the sum of ... $ 6.37 . I kid you not. God knows what else it cost in wasted manhours.
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not very loyal to their own former staff , either
Dona Ferentes
Abrió la caja, vio al gatito, y sonrió
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Personally, I'd like someone go around all the car parks on the weekend, at the beach, the tourist sites, sports venues, etc and take photos of the Hiluxes, Explorers, Rangers, Tritons, etc. Then when the returns are lodged, ask about claims for vehicle usage; what proportion business v private?
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Will never work Donna, ATO employees do not work on weekends or after hours.
As for leaving the comfort of their home office to go searching car parks, no chance!
Mick
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Exactly. This is why I pay a bean counter to do the donkey and leg work on our individual and company tax rorts. Any problems then they are the first oprt of call to sort it out with the ATO.
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Fair go Dona The Toorak Tractors are a legitimate tax dodge. Even my wife's All Wheel Drive Subaru is one and it's legit.
My "shoe box." Everything stored as a PDF. Backed up to cloud, external hard disks (SSD's) and NAS.
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Never known a big company/corportation to be exceeding loyal to staff. They, the peasants, are just a number.
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Probably a couple of hundred dollars. Typical waste by a Govt body, just because they can.
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Well Mr Frog at least at the local brothel value for money and come away satisfied??????!!!!!!!!!!!
The ATO not too sure if there is value for money or satisfaction either.
I know from experience with the ben counting dept, a long wait at the counter is just that.
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Mr GG you obviously had one K Packer's bean counters on your side.
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In this day and age paying a bean counter is a necessity, rather than a want. Have been using one for most of my working life, and only been audited once about 40 years ago, over medical bills when our first son was born.
Fronted up to the AYP office in Perth and wasted several hours. Had all the relevant receipts in a jumbo envelope and then proceeded to dump them loosely on her desk, and I said I'll be off now, when you have finished please post them back to me. Is a very long episode. Handed back the pile of papers to me with no action will be taken.
Didn't want to have to sift through a ton of paper.
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one was rather long-serving and well up the pay scale in the state at retirement , another served for several years and successfully bamboozled six audit teams ( one team each year ) sent from Sydney
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Mr Divs love the last bit.
