Do you need to hire an accountant for your tax return? An expert weighs in

You could see the phrase “Content EOFY” all around the spot at the minute, but the conclude of the economic year is not constantly a jovial time.

It also indicators “tax time”. And taxes can be, very well, difficult.

Although the ATO has built it rather uncomplicated for numerous individuals to file their tax return by pre-populating most people’s info — everyone’s get the job done and life scenario is different.

Lacey Filipich, a monetary educator, gives some direction on how to know if an accountant is appropriate for you when submitting your tax return.

Does anyone want an accountant?

According to Ms Filipich, men and women with extremely simple returns generally really don’t want an accountant.

To assess if your return is a simple a person there are a couple of issues to take into account.

If you are a person who earns an revenue from a single employer, normally, the income statement provided by the employer at the end of the fiscal calendar year is sufficient to complete your possess tax return, Ms Filipich claims.

You can do this on the MyGov web site, wherever these facts are pre-populated.

In addition to this, if you never individual any shares, expenditure properties or have any superannuation difficulties, you in all probability do not want an accountant either.

What if I have been doing the job from household?

If you’ve been working from home and you’d like to assert a deduction for any function-linked costs you can nevertheless do this without partaking an accountant.

WFH expenses can be finished when filing your tax return in MyGov.

It is really worth noting that even though you can however claim these expenses from July 1, an simple way you can do it is using the ATO’s shortcut method to operate out your deduction, which will will need to be carried out by June 30. 

If you’re submitting your individual tax return, the most up-to-date information and facts can be observed on the ATO website. The Australian Government’s Moneysmart internet site is also a fantastic resource, Ms Filipich suggests.

Which sorts of men and women need to search for out an accountant?

To start off off — it’s a excellent initial action to know that seeing an accountant is tax-deductible.

In accordance to Ms Filipich, the types of men and women who may possibly want to seek an accountant are:

• These with investments, for example in shares or actual estate.
• Anybody who is effective as a sole trader and operates under an ABN.
• Any person who owns a business enterprise and has an ABN for enterprise needs.
• Freelancers and contractors — and specifically everyone who has shifted from a long term staff to deal work in the course of the previous economical 12 months.

If you healthy into a single of the over categories, Ms Filipich recommends looking at an accountant to assure that you’re accurately reporting your income and will not be topic to any significant fines, as properly as maximising the deductions readily available to you.

What if I’m not certain?

Ms Filipich suggests that if you happen to be doubtful, it could possibly be worthy of seeing an accountant this 12 months, and then re-evaluating whether or not you need a person the next calendar year.

“If you you should not get much benefit out of it, never do it once again,” she says.

Maintain in head, having said that, that tax legislation alter each individual year. So if you have a significantly advanced economic predicament, it might be worth viewing an accountant annually.

“It is not affordable to expect that most people today will keep on top of these alterations — occasionally we have just bought to accept that this is a professional space,” Ms Filipich claims.

You can find also what Ms Filipich phone calls the Rest-Well Rule: If using the services of an accountant is going to make you really feel less stressed and assistance you sleep greater at night time, it is in all probability truly worth it.