Tax return prepared in an ITP office or shopping mall - The fee for tax return preparation depends upon the complexity of income and deductions involved and where the fee is paid by cash, cheque or credit card at the time of preparation or is deducted from the refund. Please visit a convenient location for a free quote as our prices can start from a low $79 for an accompanying spouse or a student under 18. That fee is tax deductible in the year paid. 

Online assisted tax return preparation - After submission of your personal income and expense items using our specially encrypted online form you will be contacted by email, phone or fax (your choice) by an experienced ITP Tax Consultant who will provide you with a firm quote before we complete and lodge your tax return.

We can deduct the ITP fee from the ATO refund and have the net funds deposited directly into your own bank account should you so wish. With the negotiation charges of the ATO cheque, the possibility of reduced refund by the ATO for unpaid child support and other overpaid DOCS charges, unpaid HECS charges together with the ITP costs spent in processing, an additional fee will be charged of around $30-$40.

On the "Search for an ITP Location" map of Australia if you click "Search" on the right hand side every ITP office in Australia will be listed alphabetically. Then scroll to the office closest to you then click on that location and all address and telephone details of that office will be displayed along with a Google locator map. If you wish to refine your search to a particular state then "click" on that state and only offices within that state will be included.

You may also insert the suburb you wish in that same ITP Office Locator box, then click on "Search".

If you insert your postcode in the lower ITP Office Locator box on that same right hand, then click on "Search" a drop down box will list the nearest offices to your postcode. Click on whichever office you choose and all address and telephone details of that office will be displayed along with a Google locator map.

You may also move the cursor over a preferred city location on the map of Australia and using the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out on that location. Then double click on that location and all address and telephone details of that office will be displayed along with a Google locator map.

1 July to 31 August - All ITP offices are open during the peak tax period 5 days each week and after hours and Saturdays. Although no appointment is necessary to lessen any waiting time the making of an appointment is recommended.
1 September to 31 October - Same hours except for those offices that are newer or in remote areas that may open with reduced hours.
1 November to 31 December - Most offices will reduce their hours and possibly some days and operate by appointment. Some 30% of offices may close completely until 1 July the next year.
1 January to 30 June - Most offices will reduce their hours with an additional 30% offices possibly closing until 1 July.
40% of ITP offices will be open all year to serve our many clients. Area head offices will have access to client files in those offices that have closed. 

We provide an "Assisted Online Tax Preparation service" - where you can prepare your tax return from wherever you are and whenever you like. This service is suitable for taxpayers who feel that they do not yet trust the Australian Tax Office eTax to correctly claim all they are entitled to, or are not yet sufficiently computer literate, or have problems with complex computer generated questions. The ITP service is essentially a "hybrid" online service, where you have the assistance of a skilled ITP Tax Consultant at all times in preparing your tax return. Communication is by a combination of online submission, email, phone or fax - using whichever method suits you best. At no time do you need to visit one of our offices for an appointment. This service can be accessed on the internet at www.itptaxonline.com.

We can prepare and lodge all past year's returns together at the same time. The current year's refunds will be returned in the normal period but there may be slight delays with refunds coming from the ATO for previous years returns and possibly not arriving together.

Some individuals do not have to lodge a tax return. Each person's situation will differ due to age, income and expenses. Seek expert advice from the ITP office nearest you, with details obtained from the ITP Locations link on this web site.

Under some circumstances receipts are not required, but in order to maximise your tax deductions, we recommend you retain all your work and business related receipts and bring them with you at the time of your return preparation. 

Last year the Australian Tax Office (ATO) was able to process almost 90% of returns within 10 working days. We are expecting this year however, that some delays may be encountered due to data matching between the ATO and Centrelink. If your refund has been with the ATO for more than 21 days then contact the ITP office that prepared your return for further assistance. 

If you are still missing one or more of your Payment Summaries then you need to contact that employer. If you can't get one from that employer then contact the Tax Office on 13 28 61. Don't forget to include all your payment summaries, even if you've only worked in a job for a couple of weeks.

We have experts in the preparation of Australian tax returns where the client is living overseas or has income or assets in countries with Double-Tax arrangements with Australia. You can contact either our Scott Bailey at his Burwood Sydney office on 612 9747 3611 or at scottbailey@itp.com.au  or Wendy Bailey at her Liverpool Sydney office on 612 9601 4111 or at itpliverpool@hotmail.com. 

A Tax File Number (TFN) is required in order to work and be properly recognised for tax purposes in Australia. An Application Form may be picked up from any branch of the ATO or at any of the over 250 ITP offices around Australia. 

Home to work and return travel is generally not claimable except in certain circumstances. Travel between jobs on the same day and travel for work (ie. visiting clients, doing pick-ups or deliveries) would be claimable. If you use public transport then keep all receipts and/or diary records. If you use your own car then you need to keep a log book of all business mileage travelled and all expenses of the car including petrol, repairs, registration, insurance and interest on a car loan. 

You need to include dividends and any other interest earned on bank accounts. Don't forget to include all interest, even if you've already closed the bank account. Also if you've quoted your tax file number when opening a bank account then you need to declare that interest in your individual tax return, not in a partnership or trust tax return.

You may receive a fine or interest penalty charge from the ATO if you lodge your return late. Generally if you are entitled to a refund those penalties are minimal. ITP has lodgement extension facilities that will minimise such charges. Contact your nearest ITP office to have them notify the ATO that you are now an ITP client. 

No. The tax you are required to pay is calculated on your total income earned during the whole year. Whether all your income is earned in 1 day or 12 months makes no difference.

If you purchase a computer for use in your work or business, you can generally claim a percentage of the depreciation that pertains to your work or business use. The depreciation allowed will depend on the expected life of the computer or how long it is expected to be current. 

There are different methods for claiming expenses in relation to the business use of your motor vehicle. These can be complex so to maximise your potential claim you should maintain a daily mileage log book for at least three months of the year and a record of any expenses for the full year. Call in to your nearest ITP office for a copy of their Log Book and a brief explanation of how to record and maintain it. 

The amount you can claim will depend on the income levels of you and your individual family members, the age of your children and any amount already received through Centrelink payments. It is therefore important that you bring all these details with you when you attend an ITP office to have your return prepared. 

Deductions for uniforms can only be claimed if the work uniform is specific and identifiable to your organisation (such as chef's checked pants) or protects you from injury whilst you are at work. You can't claim the cost of a plain uniform or conventional clothing, such as white shirt and black pants or skirt which is commonly worn by waiters and waitresses, even if your employer tells you to wear them.

Only study directly related to your current job may be claimed as a self-education expense. For example if you were a waiter and you were studying book-keeping then you wouldn't be able to claim the cost of the course as a work related expense - even if you were looking for work as an accountant.

Some government payments and allowances are included as taxable income, others are not. It's important that you declare any taxable payments such as age pensions, Newstart allowance, youth allowance or Austudy in your tax return. A complete list of payments which do not need to be included on your tax return can be determined when you meet with an ITP Consultant.

This tax offset means many seniors can reduce the amount of tax and Medicare levy they pay. In some cases people may not have to lodge a tax return.

We conduct Tax Training Courses that teach you both the theory and practice of income tax preparation, including all of the latest tax changes including GST and the techniques for interviewing clients. There are 16 lessons plus two examinations and are conducted between February and early June for all who are interested. Some areas divide this course into two courses and only successful graduates from the first course are invited to attend the second course.

These courses are conducted at our Area Head Offices across Australia over a 10 week period usually two nights per week with a further 2 week computer training course for graduates. Some courses are even run full-time during the day in selected areas. The course fees vary in each area but are usually between $500-$700 for the full course. Please consult the head office site listed by each State closest to you to make further enquiries. 

You are required to complete a TFN Declaration Form. This will be given to you by your employer. 

We provide the best possible service for the most reasonable fee. This one time fee gives you:
On the spot service.
Personal attention from specialist consultants.
Complete industry checklists to search for every legal deduction.
Final checking, recording and lodgement of your return.
All year advice about your return.
Our fees are fully tax deductible in the year paid. 

Super Fast Refund is not a guarantee, but it's a commitment that we'll make every effort to get your return back to you as soon as possible, not weeks. Obviously, restrictions will apply depending on the scope of needs for each individual return, and of course any delays experienced by the ATO. 

Every aspect of a client's tax return will be held in strict confidence. Every return will be prepared by an ITP specialist consultant and double checked prior to lodgement. Every legitimate deduction or rebate will be claimed. If we make an error that results in additional tax or penalties imposed by the ATO over and above your correct position we will pay that penalty or interest. Throughout the year, clients can discuss with us all matters relating to their personal taxation affairs without charge.